Andrea "Liga" Ligabue - Italy

This section contains the columns of Andrea "Liga" Ligabue, who will be reporting from Italy.

About Andrea "Liga" Ligabue:

Andrea born in 1972 in Modena (Italy) ... since he was a child he really enjoyed spending time making games to play with his friends at school (sometimes also during the lessons!). When he was 16 he joined the club TreEmme, the biggest game club in Italy (founded in 1980!). He started his game career as a RPG player first, than as a Game Master for several years. In club TreEmme, Andrea also started playing wargames, Battletech and most of the old GW and AH games. It was a very nice experience because every week there was several games to learn and play! During a working period in Denmark he met Mik Svellov at the Viking Con and started to play German Games (in 1999 almost no one in Italy knew about these games) ... and from that moment he tried to "import" and play these games with as many people as possible in Italy!

He was involved in the organization of ModCon (the biggest game convention in Italy that took place the last week of September in Modena) from 1998; from 2000 he was the one that takes care of the whole Boardgames area and helped its exponential growth. He was involved (administrating, writing reviews, moderating forums) in the Goblin's Lair project (www.goblins.net), started in May 2003 which is now the biggest games web site and community in Italy. Now he plays games two times every week at club TreEmme and also at home with his wife and his daughter.

He is always thinking about designing his own good games, but there are so many nice games to play that he spends most of his free time playing and reading rules! Andrea has worked as a Theoretical Chemist in the Department of Chemistry (Modena) from 1998 and from 2004 he also works in the IT group of the University, programming and administrating the computer network. He is married to Serena since 2000 and they have an almost 5 year old daughter (Caterina) that started her game career very early by eating some pieces (the largest and most colorful ones) of her father's games. Andrea also like a lot to play videogames and he has played rugby for 17 years until his right shoulder decided that was the moment to stop!

Andrea lives in Modena, Italy.

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Headlines March 7, 2008 - Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: ILSA Magazine #2 January 2, 2008 - Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: try to play the biggest WoW games ever November 28, 2007 - Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Happy Birthday Boardgame News! November 17, 2007 - Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: HomoLudens, a new Italian publisher November 13, 2007 - Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Best of Show 2007, all the winners November 11, 2007 - Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Kingsburg win the Best of the Best 2007 November 4, 2007 - Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: ILSA Magazine #1 October 29, 2007 - Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: from ModCon to Essen, a mediterranean view on the European Autumn Cons October 24, 2007 - Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Lucca Comics & Games 2007 October 12, 2007 - Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Medievalia FAQ and Tutorial now available September 24, 2007 - Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: ILSA, a new free boardgames magazine September 18, 2007 - Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: ModCon 2007 Preview

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Articles

Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: ILSA Magazine #2

I’m proud to announce the #2 of the new free boardgames magazine.

ILSA: Informazione Ludica a Scatola Aperta (that means something like information about games with open box).

50 pages of reviews and articles: DSP, Twilight Struggle, RA and YS. The number #2 is about the number “2”! Includes an exclusive interview to Cyril Demaeged.

The magazine is in Italian only but the interview is in English. The cover is from Jacopo Ziliotto.

Download the Number 2
Download the Number 1
Download the Number 0

The issue are also viewable online from issuu.com

Source: ILSA

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: try to play the biggest WoW games ever

Next try to play the largest WoW game ever, with more than the 34 pilots of PisaCon 2007, will be at the Encontro Nacional de Boardgames - Leiria (Portugal) the 26th of January, 2008.

A game with at least 35 miniatures will be tried.

LeiriaCon has a tradition of very nice WoW games. This is a 12 planes game from the previous edition (img1 and img2).

The designer Andrea Angiolino will be there. Meeting time is 10 o’clock in the morning (no Dawn Patrols for us Southern people...).

Please enlist there

Happy flights,

Source: Andrea Angiolino

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Happy Birthday Boardgame News!

Two years ago I was embarked in a nice project called Boardgame News. Rick Thornquist decided to try to invent a website about boardgames, thanks to his great experience with Gamewire. I was recruited, through a strange successions of events, into the staff to give an insider view of the Italian game community and more or less that’s what I have done in these two years. We were not sure about the possibility of this website but thanks to Rick’s great energy, the ability of the people included in the staff (apart from me, all the others were great and respected gamers), and great support from publishers and gamers, BGN became what is it now.

Some thought that there was no need for another BG website since almost everything could be found on BGG: That is partially true. I use BGG daily and it is great for getting info about games, but what make also BGN special is the focus on the news (releases and previews) and the presence of an editor and an editorial staff: people that you can start to know, to trust, who are responsible for BGN’s content. Also one of the greatest BGN feature was the omni-comprehensive Essen preview! So, when one year ago Rick decided to let his creature alone and start a new project, we were all worried about the future of BGN: What is a realm without a king? A ship without a captain? A kitchen without a cook? A coffee without caffeine? Games without a gamer? ... we needed a new editor who was competent and enthusiastic like Rick and also with the energy and ideas to put BGN ahead. We were lucky since W. Eric Martin is that kind of person and also he was able to arrange a fantastic Essen preview! So after one year under Rick’s guide, the second year, Eric’s kingdom, was also great for us and for readers!

So, singing “happy new year” to BGN we move into the third year. What is the editor preparing for us? Where will BGN go this year? Will there be still enough games to preview/review ? Will the English version of Agricola be printed soon enough to save the lives of game addicts?

For me also this two years was great: I was able to interview more than 30 Italian designers—at the beginning I wasn’t sure there were more than 30 Italian designers!—and preview almost everything nice that was released in Italy (everything not so nice was released as well, but that’s part of the job!) and I hope to continue in this adventure!

Happy birthday BGN. Good luck King Eric! ... and good play to all!
Liga

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: HomoLudens, a new Italian publisher

HomoLudens is a new Italian game publisher.

The first game, Constantinopolis, will be published in Nuremberg 2008.

If a publisher’s style will be marked by his first title we are attending the rising of a new gamers games company.

In the next months, as soon as the game will be in his final form, I’ll post a full review of Constantinopolis.

Good play
Liga

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Best of Show 2007, all the winners

Here is the official and complete list of all the awards and the winners for the Lucca Comics & Games Best of Show 2007.

The Best of Show is the prize Lucca Games award to the best games shown at the fair. From 1993 to 2005 there was a difference between Best Italian Game and Best Translated Game but this distinction was dropped starting from 2006.

Source: Fabrizio Paoli, Best of Show Coordinator

Read more...

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Kingsburg win the Best of the Best 2007

Kingsburg, by Andrea Chiarvesio and Luca Iennaco, published by Counter-Stratelibri wins the 2007 Best of the Best at Lucca Comics and Games.

Kingsburg won also the Best of Show in the Boardgame cathegory.

I’ll post the official Lucca Comics & Games press release in the following days, including all the winner in the other categories and side awards (as soon as I got it).

Source: Lucca Comics & Games

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: ILSA Magazine #1

I’m proud to announce the #1 of the new free boardgames magazine.

ILSA: Informazione Ludica a Scatola Aperta (that means something like information about games with open box).

50 pages of reviews and articles, all about International Gamers Awards 2007, including a special behind the scene and exclusive interviews to Vlaada Chvatil and Bruno Cathala.

The magazine is in Italian only but the two interviews are in English. The cover is a special tribute from Jacopo Ziliotto (illustrator) to the two winners! Here you can see it in a small thumb and also the editorial staff.

Download the Number 1
Download the Number 0

Good play and happy read!
Liga

Read more...

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: from ModCon to Essen, a mediterranean view on the European Autumn Cons

Hi gamers,

here I’m with my personal report of the two biggest European events in the season of the falling leaves. To be exact, this trip will have to end in Lucca Comics & Games Festival (next week end) but since I’ll not be able to attend I decided to report now.
Why mix all together ? Because ModCon was for me the occasion to see and play most of the Italian’s news and so my Essen report will necessary has been Italian-less ... and that is not fair for one who profess to be the Italian’s games prophet in the world!

Just a short paragraph to say what ModCon and Essen are been to me before jumping in a game by game report. ModCon is the greatest Italian games con and in the last five years boardgame is quickly expanding to be the largest area in Modena event. Tournaments but also a really big and cowled area for free boardgaming. As our international special guests (Andreas and Karen Seyfarth in the past years, Christophe Boelinger from 2006 and this years also William Attia) could confirm, the boardgames area is really active, rich of games opportunity, big and small publishers, designers and play testers, self publishers, family and everything you need to satisfy your boardgame voracity! 3 days full of gaming and playing. Sadly I was also deep involved on the organizational side of the event, so boring practical task often keep me away from the tables. I was anyway able to cut time for playing, interviewing, testing and chatting and finally my balance was more than positive! On the other side Essen was for me in the last five years the real opportunity to have a full immersion in gaming, This year my official role as Boardgamenews press man and my role in the International Gamers Awards committee has stolen some time from pure gaming but was nice to have possibility to meet and talk with designers, gamers and publishers I was used just to email during the rest of the year. I was just sorry to not be able to have a brainstorming session with Eric, my editor here at BGN ... but we was both so busy that we are been able only to say hallo each other a couple of time running in opposite directions ... perhaps next year! Anyway also Essen was for me a really thumb up!

Read more...

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Lucca Comics & Games 2007

After ModCon (September), Essen (October) another big game appointment is approaching for Italians and Europeans Gamers; Lucca Comics & Games 2007. Last year more than 80,000 visitors from all the world.

The Italian Games and Fantasy Show hits the XXI edition.

Lucca Comics & Games, the main italian gaming and fantasy festival is back, bringing larger room for exhibitions and the usual lot of rich cultural propositions. This year’s edition features an even larger showroom: more than 7.500 square meters dedicated to great publishers, international guests, exhibitions and play areas, with a total gaming area surpassing 15.000 mq.

Dr. Rainer Knizia will be special guest in Lucca this year with a dedicated exhibition called “Giochi con la K Maiuscola!” (Games with the capital K!)

Source: Lucca Comics & Game

Read more...

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Medievalia FAQ and Tutorial now available

Medievalia FAQ and a flash tutorial (lesson one and lesson two) are now available on Giochix.it web site

Source: Giochix.it

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: ILSA, a new free boardgames magazine

I’m proud to announce the birth of a new free boardgames magazine.

ILSA: Informazione Ludica a Scatola Aperta (that means something like information about games with open box). It is a fanzine made by gamers for gamers with the aim to talk about games by the gamers point of view, without secret, with “box open”. ILSA is not periodic but we have so many things to say that it will be out often!

The number 0 is freely available for download from here.

I’m sorry for most of you but the magazine is in Italian only ... but it could be a good reason to learn our beautiful language.

Good play
Liga

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: ModCon 2007 Preview

Hi gamers

this week end will be the highest moment in the Italian Gamers life, since it will be ModCon again: thousands of gamers filled in the Polisportiva Sacca spaces, grabbing tables and games, playing tournaments, flipping cards, moving meeples and rolling dices, close to strange peoples dressed like Vampires or Orcs while, in the backyard, an incredible amount of tables are invaded by painted miniatures resembling armies from the past, the present and the future!

This is ModCon! This is a convention! The game room with over 300 boxes to take and play; more than 15 boardgames tournaments and events including Caylus, Dungeon Twister, Memoir’44 and Puerto Rico. Designers and publishers showing new products and releases. A nice window on the Italian market just few weeks before Essen.

Of course I’ll be there, from 21 to 23 of September, playing, photographing and reporting news and events, with a special for the new boardgames release.

Read more...

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Cosa Bolle in Pentola ? #35 - Luca Borsa

Hi gamers

was a long time Cosa Bolle in Pentola ? was missing from the BGN pages. I was thinking to have caught almost all Italian designers but luckily they seems to rise like mushrooms after an heavy rain. Most are still not yet really known because I go to harvest when they are just came up.

If you want I go to dig up someone in specif please drop me an email at .
The complete list of all the interview with the link to the BGN pages.

Today my flower bud is Luca Borsa, known in Italy with the nick Mesaverde. 

Read more...

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Game Master Magazine #11

It is now available the #11 of Game Master Magazine, edited by Stratelibri together with KDS Distribution and Raven Distribution.

In this issue reviews of Zooloretto, Dust, Kanji Battle, World of Warcraft, Haloclix, True 20, Sine Requie, Star Wars rpg

Together with GMM 11 you can get Teenager Manga Mutanti or winter deck of A Game of Thrones

Source: www.stratelibri.it

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Gone CardBoard Italy: Bulp and Medievalia release announced

Giochix.it announce that the two card games: Bulp! and Medievalia will be available for Essen 2007 with multilingual rules.

Soon I’ll post here the preview of the two games.

The entries are been added to Gone CardBoard Italy page

Source: Michele Quondam Giochix.it

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Gone CardBoard Italy - Easy School release date announced

Easy School, a new card game by Michele “Favar” Mura (more on this in the next weeks) will be published by RedGlove in September 2007.

This entry has been added to Gone CardBoard Italy

Source: Michele “Favar” Mura

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Post Scriptum web site has a new look!

For the release of the new Angelo Porazzi game, LovePigs, Post Scriptum renew his web site

Source: Mario Sacchi / Post Scriptum

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Gone CardBoard Italy - July Update and Vacation

Gone CardBoard Italy has gone a massive update.

I’m starting this night for a 2 weeks of vacation in Sardinia, far away from the net. So, the usual flux of news from Italy will slow down in these days. I’ll be back writing again from 18th of July.

good play to all
Liga

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Cosa Bolle in Pentola ? #34 - Gabriele Mari

Hi gamers

today I’m going to interview Gabriele “Sandman” Mari, a new Italian designer. His game, Garibaldi: La Trafila, will be published this year by Nexus Games for the bicentenary of Garibaldi. Gabriele is also involved in La Ludoteca dei Cacciatori di Teste, a place in Ravenna that is the first Italian game bar: a mix between a pub and a game room.

Here is Gabriele interview:

Read more...

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: LovePigs release date announced

LovePig, the new party game from Angelo Porazzi, is now in press and will be released in June.
It will be also available at Angelo Porazzi Games / Post Scriptum booth in Essen 2007.

Publisher: Post Scriptum
Designer: Angelo Porazzi Angelo Porazzi Games
Players: 4-14
Ages: 6+
Playing Time: 15-30 minutes

LovePig (Porcellini) is a game that tests the feelings between couples: dad and daughter, wife and husband, teammates, school friends, co-workers, grandmother and nephew, and so on. The more you know about your LovePig, the more you are able to create questions that you are sure your friend will answer in the way you will recognize, in relation to answers given by other gamers. The more that gamers know you, the more they will try to change their answers to confound you in funny and unusual ways. Mixed in with these psychological questions are some extremely funny “physical” texts that are weird and unusual.

This information has been added to Gone Card Board Italy.

The first official LovePig tournament will take place in ModCon, 21-23 September, Modena (Italy). In the following The LovePigs Story

Source: Angelo Porazzi

Read more...

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Garibaldi La Trafila

Nexus Games announce the release of Garibaldi La Trafila, a board game about “La Trafila”:

Publisher: Nexus Games / La Ludoteca dei Cacciatori di Teste
Designer: Gabriele Mari
Players: 2-6
Ages: 10+
Languages: Italian only, but Nexus is working on an English edition

August 1849, Garibaldi and his forces, hunted by Austrian, French, Spanish, and Neapolitan troops, fled to the north with the intention to reach Venice, where the rebellers were still resisting the Austrian siege. They shore at Magnavacca and start an epic march in the hinterland. Garibaldi took momentarily refuge to San Marino, with only 250 men still following him. Anita, who was carrying their fifth child, died near Comacchio during the retreat.

The game will be released (the Italian version) the 4th of July, for the 2nd centenary of the birth of Garibaldi.

The entry has benne added to Gone CardBoard Italy

Source: Roberto di Meglio (Nexus) and Gianluca Santopietro (La Ludoteca dei Cacciatori di Teste)

int the following some pictures

Read more...

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Dust (Editrice Giochi) release date announced

Editrice Giochi announce they will distribute Dust (by DustGames), a new boardgame in the world created by the illustrator Paolo Parente.

The game, designed by Angelo Zucca and Spartaco Albertarelli will be officially presented at GAMA SHOW in Las Vegas in the end of April

On Keleidos Games web site you can find infos and pictures.

The game has been added to Gone Cardboard Italy

Source: Spartaco Albertarelli / Kaleidos Games

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: WarAngel 11th generation released

After 2 years of play-testing, Angelo Porazzi release the 11th WarAngel Generation. 10 new races to play including Chineses (and their dragon!), Dogs and TimeLords. Also already available 9 of the 10 specific maps for these new races.

The expansion is at the moment available only in Italian. Translated in English you can get all the generations up to the 8th, with the possibility to get also single races already painted and mounted on wooden blocks with the Create Your WarAngel option.

This new has been added to Gone CardBoard Italy

Source: Angelo Porazzi / Angelo Porazzi Games

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue - Nexus Games release dates announced

Nexus Editrice has posted me update release dates of his products:

April 2007: Wings of Wars - Miniatures Serie I
May 2007: Wing of Wars : Dawn of War
July 2007: Rattle Jungle, Wing of Wars - Set Base deluxe, Micro Mutants Evolution
September 2007: Wing of Wars - Miniatures Serie II
November 2007: Age of Conan
Late in 2007: Battles of Napoleon

All this entries are been added to Gone CardBoard Italy

Source: Roberto di Meglio / Nexus Editrice

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Angelo Porazzi Games released Scaraball - Dodecaedron 2007

Angelo Porazzi Games release Scaraball - Dodecaedron 2007.

He also announced the release of the 11th WarAngel Generation.

All this news are been added to GoneCardBoard Italy

Source: Angelo Porazzi / Angelo Porazzi Games

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Gone CardBoard Italy - Massive Update

Gone CardBoard Italy has gone a massive update.

Thanks to the help of Michele Favar Mura the page will be updated better and often than before.

Source: Andrea “Liga” Ligabue / La Tana dei Goblin

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Cosa Bolle in Pentola ? # 33 - Francesco Rotta

Hi gamers

today I’m going to interview one of the few Italian designers totally devoted to the abstract side of the games hobby and known in Italy in these days for his game, OXXO, distributed together with the monthly magazine Focus Giochi.

Here is Francesco Rotta interview:

Read more...

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: Best Unpuplished Game Contest - Lucca Comics & Games 2007

daVinci Games and Lucca Comics & Games are proud to introduce to you the official proclamation for “Gioco Inedito”, the Best Unpublished Game award - (or BUG Award, to be short).

Gioco Inedito is a ten-year contest for non professional game designers, run by Lucca Games during Lucca Comics & Games, the most important Italian con on Games and Comics (85.000 visitors during the 2006 edition, and one of the five most important cons world-wide).

The contest, born in 1994, has been supported since 2004 by daVinci Games, which supports judging and publish and distribute the winning game.

Starting from this year on, the contest goes International: designers from any country may submit their games.

The theme for this year contest is: ”Andata e ritorno - Round trip”

You can read the complete proclamation in English (PDF) or in Italian (PDF), if you prefer.

Source: Silvano Sorrentino / daVinci Games

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: playing C&C:A with miniatures!

A great new for Commands & Colors: Ancient players.

Inspired by Don Clarke’s Scenario X, which meshes DBA and Commands & Colors Ancients (C&CA) game systems, Strategia e Tattica is now able to offer the whole range of 68 ancient armies (see the Full message here), in 15 mm. scale, finely painted and ready to be deployed on the battlefield.

Some armies are formed by miniatures designed and manufactured by Strategia e Tattica, other armies will be assembled using miniatures made by the best firms (Essex, Chariot, etc), following the costumers request.

Source: Roberto / Strategia e Tattica

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Andrea “Liga” Ligabue: RaceTheWind box art

Here (read the full article) is a picture of the board and box of the new Ghenos Games RaceTheWind

Source: Ghenos Games

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