Author Topic: Pyramid Board Games (Read 3712 times)

GSNFAN3000 · « **on:** August 27, 2006, 02:44:21 PM »

I have a question about the Pyramid Board Games. I understand the difference between each version. However , I just want to know which version of the board game is the best version:

Milton Bradley Editions (1974-1981)
Cardinal (1986) and Endless (2000) Editions
Endless Games Version (Donnymid)

(I'm asking this because I'm in a Pyramid mood and I bought Endless' version of $25k Pyramid on eBay)

Dbacksfan12 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 27, 2006, 02:46:17 PM »

[quote name=\'GSNFAN3000\' post=\'129333\' date=\'Aug 27 2006, 01:44 PM\']

Endless Games Version (25k Pyramid)
Endless Games Version (Donnymid)

[/quote]
Do explain to me what the difference is between the two.

Quote

Milton Bradley Editions (1974-1981)

Nice for a collection, useless otherwise (no Winner's Circle).

clemon79 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 27, 2006, 02:48:56 PM »

[quote name=\'Modor\' post=\'129334\' date=\'Aug 27 2006, 11:46 AM\']
Nice for a collection, useless otherwise (no Winner's Circle).
[/quote]
Well, quite useful for front-game material, which is why I have the two copies I do. Writing pithy category names is far easier than writing the lists.

But, yes, as a standalone game, it's crap.

If I was going to get one to use as a standalone game, I'd get either the Cardinal or first Endless versions, and I'd be surprised if there was a lick of difference (in terms of material) between the two.

GSNFAN3000 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 27, 2006, 02:55:04 PM »

[quote name=\'Modor\' post=\'129334\' date=\'Aug 27 2006, 02:46 PM\']
[quote name=\'GSNFAN3000\' post=\'129333\' date=\'Aug 27 2006, 01:44 PM\']

Endless Games Version (25k Pyramid)
Endless Games Version (Donnymid)

[/quote]
Do explain to me what the difference is between the two.
[/quote]

I don't have a copy of the Donnymid version but from pictures (from BoardGameGeek) I've seen, The Donnymid version plays more like the 2002 version with a Magic Red Window, which I believe is not needed; and from the 25k Pyramid pics, It looks similar to the Cardinal version.

clemon79 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 27, 2006, 03:00:49 PM »

[quote name=\'GSNFAN3000\' post=\'129338\' date=\'Aug 27 2006, 11:55 AM\']
I don't have a copy of the Donnymid version but from pictures (from BoardGameGeek) I've seen, The Donnymid version plays more like the 2002 version with a Magic Red Window, which I believe is not needed.
[/quote]
The categories also seem to have that Donnymid "flair" to them, which is certainly something I could do without.

(That said, the advantage to the red window is that one player on each team does not have to give throughout the entire game, which you kinda can't get around in the Cardinal and First Endless versions.)

GSNFAN3000 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 27, 2006, 03:07:58 PM »

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'129339\' date=\'Aug 27 2006, 03:00 PM\']
[quote name=\'GSNFAN3000\' post=\'129338\' date=\'Aug 27 2006, 11:55 AM\']
I don't have a copy of the Donnymid version but from pictures (from BoardGameGeek) I've seen, The Donnymid version plays more like the 2002 version with a Magic Red Window, which I believe is not needed.
[/quote]
The categories also seem to have that Donnymid "flair" to them, which is certainly something I could do without.

(That said, the advantage to the red window is that one player on each team does not have to give throughout the entire game, which you kinda can't get around in the Cardinal and First Endless versions.)
[/quote]

Again, looking at the pic, the decoding part of the sheets are not really decode-able as it there is not red covering it like the Milton Bradley versions.

JasonA1 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 27, 2006, 04:02:00 PM »

The red-screen protection on Donnymid is not done particularly well, as one could make out the words on a previous turn with a small deal of effort. Of course, me and my friends have better things to do than to cheat at board games, but I disgress.

I dare say, overall, that the Donny reissue is your best bet. You can stay faithful to the old giver/receiver rules, there are 6 words but a 30 second sandtimer, plus the easier Winner's Circle common to Donnymid. As a game show purist, these changes would annoy you, but for trying to play the game as much as possible with a group of anybodies, these leniencies make it easier for everybody to stay competitive.

-Jason

The Ol' Guy · « **Reply #7 on:** August 28, 2006, 12:32:33 AM »

I remember calling Milton Bradley and asking why they did not stay faithful to the end game. Their reply was, in so many words, "Well, who's going to judge proper clues?" A little more ink in the rulebook with "Here are examples of legal clues" and "Here are examples of illegal clues" wouldn't have been so tough to do. After all, they managed to find a way to put in rules for clues in Password.

clemon79 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 28, 2006, 12:52:36 AM »

[quote name=\'The Ol' Guy\' post=\'129417\' date=\'Aug 27 2006, 09:32 PM\']
I remember calling Milton Bradley and asking why they did not stay faithful to the end game. Their reply was, in so many words, "Well, who's going to judge proper clues?"
[/quote]
Didn't stop the Donnymid folks.

comicus · « **Reply #9 on:** August 28, 2006, 01:19:06 AM »

The 1986 Cardinal issue (with Dick Clark on the box top) blows them all out of the water. I've owned them all... the Endless remake was, like many of their efforts, haphazardly slapped together ("Thing _____ Would Say" at the top?), and a lot of the front game material for the Donnymid version seemed as though it was written by a high school cheerleader after a valium and a NyQuil chaser. The flaws of the earlier versions have already been succinctly discussed.

clemon79 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 28, 2006, 01:49:36 AM »

[quote name=\'CountdownRound\' post=\'129421\' date=\'Aug 27 2006, 10:19 PM\']
the Endless remake was, like many of their efforts, haphazardly slapped together ("Thing _____ Would Say" at the top?)
[/quote]
God, really? I figured they would have copied the Cardinal version wholesale.

Neumms · « **Reply #11 on:** August 28, 2006, 01:00:35 PM »

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'129423\' date=\'Aug 28 2006, 12:49 AM\']
[quote name=\'CountdownRound\' post=\'129421\' date=\'Aug 27 2006, 10:19 PM\']
the Endless remake was, like many of their efforts, haphazardly slapped together ("Thing _____ Would Say" at the top?)
[/quote]
God, really? I figured they would have copied the Cardinal version wholesale.
[/quote]

I never saw that mistake. I think it's pretty good, and I can actually get friends to play it. The one partner giving every round issue is a nit, but games are short enough that it's not that terrible. Sure, they could have done better, but the game is not nearly as aggravating as others.