Pictureka
by Hasbro
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Toys and Games Reviews of Pictureka
Customer Review: Not a balanced game for kids
Summary: 2 Stars
Our eight year old loved this game, but the 6 year old was frustrated to the point of tears several times. The bidding is probably fun for some people, but when one just wants to bid astronomically high EVERY time it ruins it for everyone. There is no counter balance, and don't think this was strategy- she simply realized that she would get to play on EVERY red if she just kept outbidding everyone.
Well naturally we thought up the "lose a card" rule, but the bidding cards are all over the board (People? I found 18 people before the sand was half gone) so it is really difficult to gauge so we made the rule that you lose a card if you find less then half of your bid. It didn't change anything, because the younger was so afraid to lose a card that he still wouldn't bid.
We came up with other solutions to ensure fairer play, but everything we could think of punished the younger more than curtailing the older. Sure it would be nice if we could just say, "let your brother win a bid," but that doesn't work, and frankly we shouldn't have to modify the game because PB didn't bother to balance it. We haven't tested any of the other ideas, many of which involve additional materials (pen and paper for secret bidding, more dice for random "bidding") and again, I don't think I should have to redesign the game.
Maybe that's fun for other people, or their kids aren't as dramatic about the bidding. There are some other issues, one I mentioned earlier that the red cards seem to cover too wide a range of possibilities. We had bids of 4 where 16 cards were found and bids of 18 where only 3 things were found. Something like "teeth" comes up, and most everybody and everything has teeth.
That brings me to the third big thing- what's a teeth? Well, sure it sounds easy but there is clearly a single tooth on the board. Ok, not that big of a deal, but if a single tooth is one of "teeth" then, are four flowers drawn together one "flowers" or four "flowers". Over thinking it you say? What's a beard? Should the guy with stubble count for a beard? How about "Something you sit on" (can't remember the exact phrasing)? As I point out, you sit on the ice cream cone, and everything else on the board. Maybe not intentionally, but when the time is running down and someone is trying to get to 12 things, there isn't a way to pause and have a discussion about why or why not the car hood is viable as "something you sit on".
The last is that, well it's hard to keep the kids from cheating. I'm not talking about, say, discussing what constitutes a fly before the game, and whether or not the mosquito image counted as a fly, and then drawing "insects or spiders", that's just remembering something about the board. I'm talking about letting the kids take the time to make sure they understand what "transportation" is without allowing them to look at the board while doing so. Apart from once there wasn't intentional cheating, but constant accusations of cheating doesn't make the game any fun either. And I don't know about your kids but mine WANT to read the cards and most of the educational value I think is removed if the parents just have to read the card to start the timer fairly (not to mention the occasional explanation of words like "transportation").
We have only played once, and the kids were DONE with the game. We played a long game of classic monopoly the night before, and they were already asking for that again over playing Pictureka! a second time. Even the one who loved it didn't want to give it a second go. The other one, well after finding out he didn't like it I waited a bit and then said, "Hey, what would you think if we could get rid of the bidding, would you like it then?"
"That would be GREAT!" he replied.
Yeah, so many minor issues, one major one- the red cards stink because the bidding is open ended and carries no consequence, but has the outright reward of getting to play that turn. Without some balanced consequence that doesn't punish an already conservative player, the bidding is just outright BROKEN and ruins the game.
It is a shame too, because otherwise the game is very good and the other minor issues would not prevent any of us from wanting to play again.
Customer Review: Great for all ages!
Summary: 5 Stars
This game is great for all ages!
At first I thought, what happens later on when we all memorize the items on the board? Won't the game get boring?
The answer is: The game offers 9 tiles of pictures. There are pictures on both sides so during your play, you may rotate, flip or switch tiles to keep us gussing where the item is. It is how the game doesn't get old.
As we take turns, we roll a die of colors to pick which pile of cards we choose from. Red, Blue or Green.
Red for: bidding. That person bids how many he/she thinks they'll find of that particular item on the board before the timer runs out. The next player can outbid or pass)
Blue: All play. Whoever finds this particular item on the board wins that card.
Green: Personal. You find that particular item before the timer runs out.
The object of the game is to collect 6 cards. It can be changed to whatever you'd like it to be. 9 cards, 12 cards for longer game play or even 4 for shorter game play.
It's a cute game, my sons 8 and 9 loved it and so did the adults. The quality of the game is pretty good. At first I thought this game was going to be easy to find objects on the board but it isn't so.
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Customer Review: Great concept
Summary: 3 Stars
In theory, I love this game.
We are wild about Walter Wick's "I Spy" books and "Can You See What I See" books. We are really good at finding pictures and scanning -- that's what is needed for this game.
The rules are simple -- roll a color dice to choose a color card, then follow the card. The person who finds the picture wins the card -- first player who collects 6 cards (or whatever number) wins the game. Our 5-year-old won the first game -- fair and square.
There are also opportunities to change the game by flipping the game board and to challenge other players by bidding to find a higher number of items. All great.
So, this should be a game I love -- everyone has the skills to play, it forces players to pay attention and scan for items, it moves FAST, the kids enjoy it.
But I don't love it. Too many of the pictures are gross-out -- find a farting bull, find smelly feet, find a steaming pile of poop, find body odor coming from someone's armpits... It isn't the ENTIRE game, but it is inescapable.
Fine for a good-natured grin, but the potty humor cuts down on how and when (and with whom) we will enjoy the game.
Customer Review: Loads of fun, easy for kids to understand, worth every penny!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have a hard time finding games good for just two people (myself and my son) and this one fits the bill! We opened the box, pulled out all the pieces and the boards, set everything up, read the instructions, and were playing the game within 5 minutes.
Since our first game a month ago, we've played this about twice a week. When given the choice of TV, video games, or Pictureka as of late, it's easily been Pictureka! I like this game because I don't have to fake losing. Kids and adults can play this pretty evenly. It takes little skill - just being able to look for shapes/drawings, in a much more interestingly drawn version of Where's Waldo. The pictures are fun and funny.
I highly recommend this game. My son gives it two thumbs up.
UPDATE 11/6/2009: We're still playing Pictureka! quite often. I'm so glad to see it's held my and my son's interest after all this time. It's never sat long enough to get dusty!
Customer Review: Addicting, excitable, different!
Summary: 5 Stars
I currently have family visiting. Eleven of us all played this game one night. My 5 yr. old grandaughter found items first some times! The oldest playing was 58. We all cracked up all through the game. Lots of laughter & yells. One thing differently good about this game is that everyone can equally play, without the intimidations of not being able to draw, act, guess or show how smart you are. (Or lack of.) We found the bidding part was better if we made the rule that if you can't fulfil your bid, you have to forfeit a card you've won. That way it keeps everyone from bidding into the silly numbers of 20, just to be able to play. A consequence works much better & makes the game cruise along at a better speed. We all played several hours. All during the day & into the night. It's just as fun to play with 4 as it is with 11.
I'm recommending this game to everyone. Nobody leaves it with a complex. Or a sore loser.