Hi evrybody, I am the publisher of the game. First of all, sorry for my english. I respect everyone's opinions. I recognize that a game is like cabbages: you like it or you don't. But, as my mother used to tell me when I was a child: "Etienne, it's not because you don't like it that you have to say it's not good" ;-) So, concerning Babylon, I invite you all to get your own experience. On the other hand, I have to defend some things that are said in this video and in the comments: 1) No, the material does not move in the box. We designed it for this: there is an inner lid designed to take the shape of the storage compertments and block all the pieces of the game. You can store it vertically, shake it and turn it in all directions, nothing moves. 2) The art: I am categorical: it is not AI. We hired The Creation Studio to design the box and the other elements of the game. The designer is called Nic Lim. We received drafts, validated some things and rejected others during the creation of the game and the cover. So please stop to say fake things. 3) The "fragility" of the construction: I have played dozens of games and watched hundreds of games in many fairs and I can say that I have rarely seen players make their building fall. Of course, it can happen, but if you pay a little attention, everything goes well. We have obviously studied several possibilities to improve the stability (in particular with magnets or double-layer tiles with holes perforated to put the pillars, but all that did not change the fact that a clumsy person remains a clumsy person, and the game would have cost much more) Of course, those who have a cat must lock it in the kitchen. ;-) 4) The material is not big enough? Of course, we could have made it with double size. But it would have cost double price ! Anyone who knows anything about game publishing knows what I'm talking about. There are still 352 plastic pieces in this game. And it's very good quality plastic. 5) Is the game experience not deep enough? Is the scoring not optimal? Well, this is a family game, for 30 to 60 minutes (depending on the number of players). The goal of this game is to have fun with the family. So, it's true, there is not much interaction between players, but the goal is precisely the individual pleasure of building in 3D. Besides, after counting the VP, most players are happy to see their "masterpiece" in front of their eyes. All the fun is there, and it doesn't matter if we won or lost. The designer (Olivier Grégoire) is a friend for 15 years. We live near each other and we often play together. He showed me the first prototype of Babylon 8 years ago. But he is never happy with what he does, and he makes a lot of games at the same time, so it dragged on... And we too, at Geek Attitude Games, were working on other projects, including Brussels 1893 - Belle Epoque, of which I am also the designer (maybe you know it). We finally signed the game in 2021, but with Covid we were not able to meet very often. That's why Babylon was only released in 2024. But I can tell you that we worked a lot on the game. Before there were meeples, the mechanics were more "expert", it was us who chose to make it more family-friendly. So, I just wanted to explain some things so that you all have the good information. It's up to you to make your own judgment. But before that, try to play it at least once. I'm sure you'll be happy... at least most of you. ;-) Thank you very much for reading me.
I store the game vertically without issue. Stairs were indeed bent, but they're easily repairable. Dexterity plays bigger role than I want. I painted my game components and they look great! For me, the biggest issue is the scoring, which is just meh. But the game is a solid 7. It's a cool 3D puzzle.
Tom really got my attention at the beginning of the rules overview when I thought he said "terrorist tiles"! My wife repeatedly tells me I need to get my hearing checked.
maybe the reasons pieces not stay in place is because the tiles is linen finish? and the 3D pieces also has glossy finish on it so glossy + glossy means less friction between them. If the tiles is not linen finish, and the side where 3D pieces lay on the tiles is smudged or have matte finish, maybe they won't easily be knocked over?
I’m not sure what expectations they had-this is a 30-minute family game. I’ve had no issues storing mine vertically or carrying it around; the pieces stay perfectly in place. The stairs are incredibly flexible and can easily be bent back into shape, even without using hot water. As for the "annoying events" critique: there’s literally just one negative event (-1 Pillar), while all the others either let you gain more Pillars or Symbols. That hardly qualifies as annoying. Regarding clumsiness: I’ve played this game with over 10 different people and watched many others play it at a convention. I’ve never seen anyone accidentally knock over their pieces. Maybe they were exceptionally clumsy? The only valid criticism, in my opinion, is the way the rule for determining how many Pillars you get is written. While the wording is a bit complicated, it’s actually very easy to explain once you understand it. Personally, I appreciate that the rulebook thoroughly covers all edge cases rather than being vague or incomplete. If you’re looking for more complexity, you can always include the promo expansion.I’m not sure what expectations they had-this is a 30-minute family game. I’ve had no issues storing mine vertically or carrying it around; the pieces stay perfectly in place. The stairs are incredibly flexible and can easily be bent back into shape, even without using hot water. As for the "annoying events" critique: there’s literally just one negative event (-1 Pillar), while all the others either let you gain more Pillars or Symbols. That hardly qualifies as annoying. Regarding clumsiness: I’ve played this game with over 10 different people and watched many others play it at a convention. I’ve never seen anyone accidentally knock over their pieces. Maybe they were exceptionally clumsy? The only valid criticism, in my opinion, is the way the rule for determining how many Pillars you get is written. While the wording is a bit complicated, it’s actually very easy to explain once you understand it. Personally, I appreciate that the rulebook thoroughly covers all edge cases rather than being vague or incomplete. If you’re looking for more complexity, you can always include the promo expansion.
I’m not sure what expectations they had-this is a 30-minute family game. I’ve had no issues storing mine vertically or carrying it around; the pieces stay perfectly in place. The stairs are incredibly flexible and can easily be bent back into shape, even without using hot water. As for the "annoying events" critique: there’s literally just one negative event (-1 Pillar), while all the others either let you gain more Pillars or Symbols. That hardly qualifies as annoying. Regarding clumsiness: I’ve played this game with over 10 different people and watched many others play it at a convention. I’ve never seen anyone accidentally knock over their pieces. Maybe they were exceptionally clumsy? The only valid criticism, in my opinion, is the way the rule for determining how many Pillars you get is written. While the wording is a bit complicated, it’s actually very easy to explain once you understand it. Personally, I appreciate that the rulebook thoroughly covers all edge cases rather than being vague or incomplete. If you’re looking for more complexity, you can always include the promo expansion.
Tom, did you know we are not sure if the Gardens were real? The other six wonders, yes, but the hanging gardens are the odd man out where some suspect they are fictional
@@Tenebyss The problem lies in people like you who use AI for everything without even knowing anything. One of the kings of Persia at the time named Sennacherib wrote about the gardens in his chronicles. We also know there was a giant blue pyramid constructed. The pyramid was covered in gardens and was later disassembled by concurring forces after the kingdom split. Babylon had a river that flowed through it and was green and lush because of a working water system that existed. But anyways, you don’t care about facts that’s just what your type is like.
I took a look at the cover in detail on BGG and it frankly screams AI-generated to me. Has anyone found a credited artist? All I've seen is a link to a company that makes "production art," no actual artist names, which is also a massive red flag. **EDIT: To clarify, I am not accusing the publishers of knowingly using AI. I was asking for information about the artists, because it has some hallmarks of AI-generated. The publisher made a post on BGG stating that "Art is digital hand-made by The Creation Studio." I am leaving this comment up, along with the publisher's reply, for context.**
@@HALOX30 Nothing is inherently bad. What is definitely bad is 1) Companies using AI and not disclosing it to the public. It forces us to wonder what other elements of the game were designed by AI and not by a human that they're also not telling us about. Could that "fun game" be entirely a product of AI, mechanics and all? Wouldn't you want to know if it was? 2) Choosing not to hire human artists, and therefore removing opportunities for humans to create art and get paid. Whatever your thoughts on the ethics of AI art in general and its use of copyrighted material without permission or royalty payments, it is inarguable that using it removes the opportunity for a trained artist to pay their bills. And no, saying "they could just get jobs making AI art" isn't an acceptable response, as it misses the point entirely.
This question was already addressed on BGG and confirmed to be handmade. I honestly don’t understand why it matters so much if artwork is AI-generated, especially when it looks this good. Would you prefer artwork that’s undeniably human-made but visually unappealing, like in some 2F or Lookout Games? If you’re misidentifying real artwork as AI-generated, isn’t that a clear sign it’s time to rethink this "witch hunt"? If you can’t reliably tell the difference, what’s the point? Do you also refuse to hire construction companies that use excavators, insisting on "hand-built" houses, because machines reduce manual labor opportunities? The logic just doesn’t hold up. By all means, criticize lazy AI-generated art with visible flaws or poor quality. But when there’s no clear evidence of AI involvement and the result is excellent, maybe it’s time to move on from this obsession.
Hi evrybody,
I am the publisher of the game.
First of all, sorry for my english.
I respect everyone's opinions.
I recognize that a game is like cabbages: you like it or you don't. But, as my mother used to tell me when I was a child: "Etienne, it's not because you don't like it that you have to say it's not good" ;-)
So, concerning Babylon, I invite you all to get your own experience.
On the other hand, I have to defend some things that are said in this video and in the comments:
1) No, the material does not move in the box. We designed it for this: there is an inner lid designed to take the shape of the storage compertments and block all the pieces of the game. You can store it vertically, shake it and turn it in all directions, nothing moves.
2) The art: I am categorical: it is not AI. We hired The Creation Studio to design the box and the other elements of the game. The designer is called Nic Lim. We received drafts, validated some things and rejected others during the creation of the game and the cover. So please stop to say fake things.
3) The "fragility" of the construction: I have played dozens of games and watched hundreds of games in many fairs and I can say that I have rarely seen players make their building fall. Of course, it can happen, but if you pay a little attention, everything goes well. We have obviously studied several possibilities to improve the stability (in particular with magnets or double-layer tiles with holes perforated to put the pillars, but all that did not change the fact that a clumsy person remains a clumsy person, and the game would have cost much more) Of course, those who have a cat must lock it in the kitchen. ;-)
4) The material is not big enough? Of course, we could have made it with double size. But it would have cost double price ! Anyone who knows anything about game publishing knows what I'm talking about. There are still 352 plastic pieces in this game. And it's very good quality plastic.
5) Is the game experience not deep enough? Is the scoring not optimal? Well, this is a family game, for 30 to 60 minutes (depending on the number of players). The goal of this game is to have fun with the family. So, it's true, there is not much interaction between players, but the goal is precisely the individual pleasure of building in 3D. Besides, after counting the VP, most players are happy to see their "masterpiece" in front of their eyes. All the fun is there, and it doesn't matter if we won or lost.
The designer (Olivier Grégoire) is a friend for 15 years. We live near each other and we often play together. He showed me the first prototype of Babylon 8 years ago. But he is never happy with what he does, and he makes a lot of games at the same time, so it dragged on... And we too, at Geek Attitude Games, were working on other projects, including Brussels 1893 - Belle Epoque, of which I am also the designer (maybe you know it).
We finally signed the game in 2021, but with Covid we were not able to meet very often. That's why Babylon was only released in 2024. But I can tell you that we worked a lot on the game. Before there were meeples, the mechanics were more "expert", it was us who chose to make it more family-friendly.
So, I just wanted to explain some things so that you all have the good information. It's up to you to make your own judgment. But before that, try to play it at least once. I'm sure you'll be happy... at least most of you. ;-)
Thank you very much for reading me.
Thanks for the information! I'm sure many others will enjoy the game! We look forward to seeing what you both do next!
I store the game vertically without issue. Stairs were indeed bent, but they're easily repairable. Dexterity plays bigger role than I want.
I painted my game components and they look great!
For me, the biggest issue is the scoring, which is just meh. But the game is a solid 7. It's a cool 3D puzzle.
Tom really got my attention at the beginning of the rules overview when I thought he said "terrorist tiles"!
My wife repeatedly tells me I need to get my hearing checked.
Sounds more like you need to get your game box security checked!
Had a totally opposite experience.
Dice Tower! Thank you for another great review and recommendation.
maybe the reasons pieces not stay in place is because the tiles is linen finish? and the 3D pieces also has glossy finish on it so glossy + glossy means less friction between them. If the tiles is not linen finish, and the side where 3D pieces lay on the tiles is smudged or have matte finish, maybe they won't easily be knocked over?
Torres was a great game and nothing fell over.
Great review
That makes me sad I literally just 2 minutes ago got the game on my doorsteps too
I’m not sure what expectations they had-this is a 30-minute family game.
I’ve had no issues storing mine vertically or carrying it around; the pieces stay perfectly in place.
The stairs are incredibly flexible and can easily be bent back into shape, even without using hot water.
As for the "annoying events" critique: there’s literally just one negative event (-1 Pillar), while all the others either let you gain more Pillars or Symbols. That hardly qualifies as annoying.
Regarding clumsiness: I’ve played this game with over 10 different people and watched many others play it at a convention. I’ve never seen anyone accidentally knock over their pieces. Maybe they were exceptionally clumsy?
The only valid criticism, in my opinion, is the way the rule for determining how many Pillars you get is written. While the wording is a bit complicated, it’s actually very easy to explain once you understand it. Personally, I appreciate that the rulebook thoroughly covers all edge cases rather than being vague or incomplete.
If you’re looking for more complexity, you can always include the promo expansion.I’m not sure what expectations they had-this is a 30-minute family game.
I’ve had no issues storing mine vertically or carrying it around; the pieces stay perfectly in place.
The stairs are incredibly flexible and can easily be bent back into shape, even without using hot water.
As for the "annoying events" critique: there’s literally just one negative event (-1 Pillar), while all the others either let you gain more Pillars or Symbols. That hardly qualifies as annoying.
Regarding clumsiness: I’ve played this game with over 10 different people and watched many others play it at a convention. I’ve never seen anyone accidentally knock over their pieces. Maybe they were exceptionally clumsy?
The only valid criticism, in my opinion, is the way the rule for determining how many Pillars you get is written. While the wording is a bit complicated, it’s actually very easy to explain once you understand it. Personally, I appreciate that the rulebook thoroughly covers all edge cases rather than being vague or incomplete.
If you’re looking for more complexity, you can always include the promo expansion.
Don’t be sad, try it for yourself! You might like it more than them :)
I saw this on display at Spiel Essen and as soon as I saw the very tiny components, I lost all interest.
Could have been a bigger and sturdier game
@@HALOX30 Of course ! For twice the price !
Nah, this game is way better than this review makes it look. Is it a bit fiddly? Yes. But that does not take away from its fun factor.
I’m not sure what expectations they had-this is a 30-minute family game.
I’ve had no issues storing mine vertically or carrying it around; the pieces stay perfectly in place.
The stairs are incredibly flexible and can easily be bent back into shape, even without using hot water.
As for the "annoying events" critique: there’s literally just one negative event (-1 Pillar), while all the others either let you gain more Pillars or Symbols. That hardly qualifies as annoying.
Regarding clumsiness: I’ve played this game with over 10 different people and watched many others play it at a convention. I’ve never seen anyone accidentally knock over their pieces. Maybe they were exceptionally clumsy?
The only valid criticism, in my opinion, is the way the rule for determining how many Pillars you get is written. While the wording is a bit complicated, it’s actually very easy to explain once you understand it. Personally, I appreciate that the rulebook thoroughly covers all edge cases rather than being vague or incomplete.
If you’re looking for more complexity, you can always include the promo expansion.
Tom, did you know we are not sure if the Gardens were real? The other six wonders, yes, but the hanging gardens are the odd man out where some suspect they are fictional
They are real..no one thinks they are fake..
@@therealBocaStudiosincorrect, though I applaud your confidence
@@Tenebyss The problem lies in people like you who use AI for everything without even knowing anything. One of the kings of Persia at the time named Sennacherib wrote about the gardens in his chronicles. We also know there was a giant blue pyramid constructed. The pyramid was covered in gardens and was later disassembled by concurring forces after the kingdom split. Babylon had a river that flowed through it and was green and lush because of a working water system that existed. But anyways, you don’t care about facts that’s just what your type is like.
I took a look at the cover in detail on BGG and it frankly screams AI-generated to me. Has anyone found a credited artist? All I've seen is a link to a company that makes "production art," no actual artist names, which is also a massive red flag. **EDIT: To clarify, I am not accusing the publishers of knowingly using AI. I was asking for information about the artists, because it has some hallmarks of AI-generated. The publisher made a post on BGG stating that "Art is digital hand-made by The Creation Studio." I am leaving this comment up, along with the publisher's reply, for context.**
Why is ai generated a bad thing. This is a fun game.
@@HALOX30AI art is awful. Not even considering this game is that’s the case
@@HALOX30 Nothing is inherently bad. What is definitely bad is
1) Companies using AI and not disclosing it to the public. It forces us to wonder what other elements of the game were designed by AI and not by a human that they're also not telling us about. Could that "fun game" be entirely a product of AI, mechanics and all? Wouldn't you want to know if it was?
2) Choosing not to hire human artists, and therefore removing opportunities for humans to create art and get paid. Whatever your thoughts on the ethics of AI art in general and its use of copyrighted material without permission or royalty payments, it is inarguable that using it removes the opportunity for a trained artist to pay their bills. And no, saying "they could just get jobs making AI art" isn't an acceptable response, as it misses the point entirely.
Agreed! It sucks big time. I abhor AI art, it devalues human endeavour.
This question was already addressed on BGG and confirmed to be handmade. I honestly don’t understand why it matters so much if artwork is AI-generated, especially when it looks this good. Would you prefer artwork that’s undeniably human-made but visually unappealing, like in some 2F or Lookout Games?
If you’re misidentifying real artwork as AI-generated, isn’t that a clear sign it’s time to rethink this "witch hunt"? If you can’t reliably tell the difference, what’s the point?
Do you also refuse to hire construction companies that use excavators, insisting on "hand-built" houses, because machines reduce manual labor opportunities? The logic just doesn’t hold up.
By all means, criticize lazy AI-generated art with visible flaws or poor quality. But when there’s no clear evidence of AI involvement and the result is excellent, maybe it’s time to move on from this obsession.
Shame :/