Convention Preview News

Updates to BGN's Convention Previews page, which provides extensive coverage of the board games you can expect to see at the International Toy Fair Nuremberg (in February) or at Spiel (in Essen, Germany in October).

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Headlines May 6, 2008 - Convention Preview News: Huang Di and Athene Delayed February 11, 2008 - Jeff Allers Wants to Cuts You … a Slice of Pie February 8, 2008 - Lucca Games and daVinci present “Miglior Gioco Inedito 2008” February 8, 2008 - Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update February 7, 2008 - Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update February 6, 2008 - Nexus Announces 2008 Line-up: Conan x2, War of the Ring, Minis Galore February 5, 2008 - Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update February 4, 2008 - Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update February 2, 2008 - Age of Conan - Updated Info February 1, 2008 - Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update January 31, 2008 - Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update January 28, 2008 - Shanghaien - Coming from Schacht, Pelek, Abacus

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Articles

Convention Preview News: Huang Di and Athene Delayed

JKLM Games has delayed the release of Huang Di and Athene – both originally due for release at the upcoming UK Games Expo at the end of May – due to production issues, according to David Norman. The games should instead be available in July, but Norman says, “we will have demo copies at the Expo for people to try.”

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Jeff Allers Wants to Cuts You … a Slice of Pie

At the Nuremberg convention, Winning Moves Germany announced that one of its fall releases would be a game by BGN’s own Jeff Allers. I mentioned in a November 2007 news item that the game was called American Pie, but the published name will be different.

As for how the game came into being, Allers had been thinking about the “pie rule” used in San Marco. “My inspiration was the whole pie division problem and how I wanted another game that dealt with this tension,” he says. “Even the theme was intuitive—if you’re going to have a game about pie division, why not use the theme of actually dividing a pie?”

That’s right—American Pie has you slicing and serving pies, five pies in fact. If you’re the dealer, you deal out enough pie slices to create a pie; each slice is one of eight flavors (chocolate, cherry, key lime, etc.), and each of the flavors has a different number of cards in the deck. You then divide the pie in a number of slices equal to the number of players—but you can’t rearrange slices before cutting. At the end of the game, a player who holds more slices of a type of pie than anyone else scores points equal to the total slices of that type. During the game, you also have the opportunity to eat slices to score points. Are your eyes bigger than your stomach?

The game is still being developed—and titled—so I’ll publish a full preview closer to its publication date. I’ve played the prototype in an early version and think it’s a fantastic 15-minute game that’s perfect for non-gamers. The only thing better would be real pie!

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Lucca Games and daVinci present “Miglior Gioco Inedito 2008”

Lucca and Puccini at Nuernberg Spielwarenmesse 2008

Best Unpublished Game 2008

Twenty-one are the editions of the contest, five those where the publication has been awarded, two since the opening of the contest to projects from all over the world…and 150 years since the birth of the Master Giacomo Puccini!
Emanuele Vietina and Domenico di Giorgio, coordinator-in-chief of Lucca Games and Editorial Director of daVinci Editrice respectively, proudly present at Spielwarenmesse 2008 the new, most awaited main theme of the BEST UNPUBLISHED GAME contest, that will be awarded at Lucca Comics & Games 2008. The most important Italian exhibition dedicated to comics and games will be held once more in the historical centre of town from October the 30th until November the 2nd .

Source: Emanuele Vietina

Read more...

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Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update

The 2008 Nuremberg convention preview has been updated as follows:

Kosmos
24 - Added
Cro-Magnon - Added details and image
Domino Knobelspass - Added
Globalissimo - Added details and image
Der goldene Kompass: Duell der Panzerbären - Added details and image
Im Reich der Wüstensöhne - Added details and image
Keltis - Added details and image
Kennen Sie Di? - Added details and image
On Top - Added details and image
Toledo - Added details and image
Ubongo: Das Duell - Added details and image

Links to the complete Nuremberg preview: publishers A-M & publishers N-Z

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Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update

The 2008 Nuremberg convention preview has been updated as follows:

intellego holzspiele
Die Räuberleiter - Added

Nexus
Added all the titles mentioned in a news item posted yesterday

Links to the complete Nuremberg preview: publishers A-M & publishers N-Z

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Nexus Announces 2008 Line-up: Conan x2, War of the Ring, Minis Galore

Italian publisher Nexus Editrice has announced its 2008 line-up just prior to the Nuremberg convention starting on February 7. At the top of the list are three delayed projects: Age of Conan: The Board Game (now due June 2008); the Collector’s Edition of War of the Ring (August 2008 - Gen Con), and Battles of Napoleon: The Eagle and the Lion, with artwork by Mike Doyle (June 2008). Other items in the Nexus line-up:

• Ad Astra—called Cassiopeia when I spoke with Roberto di Meglio about the game in October 2007—is the first title in Nexus’ new Designer’s Collection. Ad Astra, designed by Bruno Faidutti and Serge Legat, is a space exploration game.

• MotoGrandPrix is a racing game that includes miniature motor bikes to represent the players.

• Garibaldi will be released in an international edition.

• Operation World War II, a miniatures game developed from the board game Operation Overlord, designed by Massimo Torriani and published by Italeri.

• A Conan the Barbarian miniatures game, with prepainted 35mm figures; the first release in the series will be Cimmerian Rage, and additional sets with figures from the Conan storyline will be added in supplemental figure packs.

Finally, there’s a ton of Wings of War items spread throughout the coming twelve months:

• February—Flying Legend and Eagles of the Reich, two booster packs for the WW2 series; also, a miniatures package of WW1 airplanes
• April—Immelmann and Dogfight Squadron, two booster packs to add more planes to the WW1 series
• June—Fire from the Sky, a new game set for the WW2 series; also, a miniatures package of WW1 airplanes
• October—Flight of the Giants, a new game set for WW1 that introduces a nunmber of bombers
• December—Balloon Busters, a boxed set of WW1 miniatures that will include models for Drachen Caquot/AE800 and Nieuport 11 in two different painting schemes

In addition to all of this, Nexus is taking a cue from its line of WW1 miniatures for Wings of War and releasing a series for WW2. The 1/196 scale pre-assembled and pre-painted planes from the first years of that international conflict will be sold in complete sets and as individual planes. The first release will include the Supermarine Spitfire, Messerschmitt Bf 109, Mitsubishi A6M2 “Zero” and Grummann F4F-3.

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Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update

The 2008 Nuremberg convention preview has been updated as follows:

alea
Wie Verhext! - Added image

Californian Products
Dolfino - Added

Ludorum Games
Ice Flow - Added

Queen Games
Batavia - Added
Enuk der Eskimo - Added
Das Haselnuss-Bande - Added

Ravensburger
Verdrehte Sprichwörter - Added

Links to the complete Nuremberg preview: publishers A-M & publishers N-Z

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Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update

The 2008 Nuremberg convention preview has been updated as follows:

daVinci Editrice
Borneo - Added
Gonzaga - Added
Lupusburg - Removed

Nexus Editrice
Age of Conan - Updated image and description

Phalanx Games
Weites Land (Westward Ho!) - Removed because Phalanx is no longer publishing this

Selecta Spielzeug
Quatana - Added

Links to the complete Nuremberg preview: publishers A-M & publishers N-Z

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Age of Conan - Updated Info

Nexus Editrice has posted an update on Age of Conan: The Board Game, which is a slightly revised title from what was first announced. A more important change might be in the number of players, which was changed from 2-5 to 2-4. In the initial description, each player would control one of Aquilonia, Nemedia, Hyperborea, Turan or Stygia—but Nemedia (along with other small nations) has been punted into a deck of cards that introduce political, commercial and religious events and give player short-term targets.

As was the case before, Conan is not tied to any kingdom in particular, but he may help those who are skilled in obtaining his cooperation—and somehow managing him. Each kingdom has a unique Kingdom Deck that includes characters, armed units, spells and special events to recreate its character in the game. Conan is pretty much a “force of nature” which players try to push in the right direction through an auction system. While the ability to control Conan could help guide you to victory, it’s not essential to have the big guy on your side—and he could become a threat to your realm if you’re not careful.

According to Nexus, the mechanisms in the game were inspired by their own War of the Ring, but taken in a different direction since the player’s goal is to increase power and influence, not fight a complete war. In addition to lots of dice for various actions, the game includes hundreds of miniatures with different figures for each army.

The new release date given is June 2008, which makes sense as the Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures MMORPG from Funcom (for both PC and Xbox) is due in late May. The thumbnail cover shown above was a placeholder released last year; the final cover is shown below:

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Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update

The 2008 Nuremberg convention preview has been updated as follows:

Clementoni
Gisborne - Added images and description

Tilsit
Amsterdam - Added
Frankenstein - Added

Links to the complete Nuremberg preview: publishers A-M & publishers N-Z

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Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update

The 2008 Nuremberg convention preview has been updated since January 25th as follows:

Abacusspiele
Shanghaien - Added

Clementoni
Gisborne - Added images

Cocktail Games
Cin Cin - Added image
Saugut - Added image

eggertspiele
Change Horses - Added image, description
Neuland - Added image

Hans im Glück
Die hängenden Gärten - Added image and description
Stone Age - Added image and description

Read more...

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Shanghaien - Coming from Schacht, Pelek, Abacus

In addition to Aquaretto, Michael Schacht has another title coming from Abacusspiele early in 2008: Shanghaien, codesigned with Roman Pelek. Here’s a translated description of the game play from the publisher:

At the start of each round, six cards are lined up between the players with each card corresponding to the numbers 1-6 on a die. The cards show sailors of different nationalities or special actions with which the players can influence the die results or enlarge their team. The player take turns rolling dice and assigning one of them to a card until a player wants to get out and start shanghaiing, at which point the cards are distributed to whoever has more dice on their side. At the end of the game, the player with the stronger team in a nationality scores the strength of the weaker team in victory points; if a player has a monopoly on a team, then he scores the full value of his own team.

Shanghaien is for two players only, ages 8+, with a playing time of 20 minutes. Pirates and special-powered dice games have now intersected…

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The Golden Age - Coming from Colovini, Baù, Phalanx

Phalanx Games has announced that it will release The Golden Age, by Leo Colovini and Giuseppe Baù in May or June 2008. A big box game, The Golden Age involves the history of the Netherlands in the 17th centry with artwork by Michael Menzel.

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Aquaretto = Zooloretto on Land, But Different

A few more details about Michael Schacht’s forthcoming Aquaretto. As you might have expected from the name, Aquaretto has players controlling water parks instead of land-based zoos—yet the gameboards are green. Hmm.

Your possible actions each turn remain the same: turn over a tile, take a set of exposed tiles, or take a special action. If you pair a male and female of the same species, a baby animal is dropped into the pen; if you fill up a pen, you receive money and workers, which allow you to take special actions. Unlike the strict pens of Zooloretto, you have more freedom in placing the sea animals, yet different species must maintain a certain distance between them or else there’s a blood feud. (Okay, maybe not.)

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Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update

The 2008 Nuremberg convention preview has been updated as follows:

Abacusspiele
Anno Domini: Jubiläumsbox aus Metall - Added
Anno Domini: Showbizz - Added
Aquaretto - Added a name and details

Amigo
Horus - Added

Clementoni
Gisborne: Die ersten Kartographen - Added

Parker
Deukalion - Added

Spel-Maker
Die Türme von Babylon - Added

Links to the complete Nuremberg preview: publishers A-M & publishers N-Z

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Ninety More Words About Aquaretto

A bit more information about Aquaretto has leaked out, such as the number of players (2-5), suggested age (10+), and playing time (45 minutes). More interestingly was this paragraph:

Aquaretto will be a standalone game that can be combined with Zooloretto to form a larger and “substantially more demanding” game. The mechanisms used in Aquaretto are similar to those in Zooloretto, so you’ll pick it up quickly—assuming you’ve played the original game, natch—but the well-known flows into new mechanisms, which means you’ll need new tactics as well!

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And the Zooloretto Expansion for Spring 2008 Is…

Still not announced. That said, online retailer Milan-Spiele is listing a title called Aquaretto from Abacusspiele as a Nuremberg 2008 release. As partial confirmation, Rio Grande Games also has Aquaretto listed as a March release on a recent order form. Guess we’re headed to a water park this time—I call dolphins!

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Gisborne - Coming from Clementoni

Clementoni will release a new title from Carlo A. Rossi in 2008 called Gisborne: The First Cartographers. Here’s a brief description of the game:

The end of the 18th century: The first seafarers of Europe land on the Northern Island of New Zealand, start to explore the country and draw maps of it. Who clears the path quickest through the difficult terrain towards the opposite coast? Who draws the most valuable maps and who uses the opponent’s moves optimally, so that he gets famous as the best cartograhper?

Source: Liga

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Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update

The 2008 Nuremberg convention preview has been updated as follows:

Amigo Spiele
Lauras Stern: Augen auf! - Added
Lauras Stern: Auf Reisen - Added

Ravensburger
BLOX - More details and images added

Links to the complete Nuremberg preview: publishers A-M & publishers N-Z

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BLOX - A New Kramer and Co. Title from Ravensburger

Wolfgang Kramer is one of three designers, along with Hans Raggan and Jürgen P. K. Grunau, responsible for the forthcoming BLOX from Ravensburger. Here’s a translated description of the game:

Get out your forklift! In this diversified building game, the call goes out: Who will use tactics and good luck with the cards to erect the most valuable towers? Who will clear them out and collect the most points? And who will throw the other players from the playing field at the right moment?

BLOX is due out in March 2008. For pictures of the prototype and difficult to read German rules, head to the BLOX page on Wolfgang Kramer’s website.

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Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update

The 2008 Nuremberg convention preview has been updated as follows:

Intellego Holzspiele
Cublino - Added
Sudoku Color - Added
Der Waldspziergang - Added

Ravensburger
BLOX - Added
Fluch der Mumie - Added
Other kids’ games added

Links to the complete Nuremberg preview: publishers A-M & publishers N-Z

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Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update

The 2008 Nuremberg convention preview has been updated as follows:

HABA
Thirteen titles added, and no, I’m not going to list them all. I’ve already typed them up plenty of times. Next!

Links to the complete Nuremberg preview: publishers A-M & publishers N-Z

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Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update

The 2008 Nuremberg convention preview has been updated as follows:

Zoch Verlag
Cheesy Gonzola - Added
Fladderadatsch - Added
Jubiläumsausgabe Zicke Zacke Hühnerkacke - Added
Suleika - Added

Links to the complete Nuremberg preview: publishers A-M & publishers N-Z

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Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update

The 2008 Nuremberg convention preview has been updated as follows:

alea
Wie verhext! - Added

Amigo Spiele
Images added for most games along with some descriptions

Kosmos
Many kids games added, along with Einfach Genial BMM, a new push-your-luck game using the piece from EG

Links to the complete Nuremberg preview: publishers A-M & publishers N-Z

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Convention Preview News: Wie Verhext! - Coming from Alea

Wie verhext!—which translates to something like “Jinxed!"—is the next alea title, and it will be presented at the Nuremberg game convention in mid-February and available in stores in mid-March. Here’s my (roughly) translated description of the game:

In this enchanting game by the young Viennese author Andreas Pelikan, 3-5 players from ages 9 and up will slip into repeatedly changing roles. Whether it’s now the druid Drax or the assistant Gemalher, one can never be sure that these roles will come into use. Because the players, who come after you in turn, will in the truest sense of the word have the better cards. It’s like being jinxed! So one must always weigh whether one wants everything (and perhaps get nothing at all) or be satisfied with a little, which is at least certain. After about 45 minutes, with much gloating and yet more bluffing this simple, funny card game about a witch, magician and alchemist, which is rated a 2 on the alea scale, will be finished.

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Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update

The 2008 Nuremberg convention preview has been updated as follows:

Bézier Games
Rapscallion - Added

Jenzowsky Spieleverlag
Demo - Added
Wüstenkönige - Added

Links to the complete Nuremberg preview: publishers A-M & publishers N-Z

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Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update

The 2008 Nuremberg convention preview has been updated as follows:

Ravensburger
Billy Biber - Added
Eine Party für Fridolin Frosch - Added
Make ‘n’ Break - Added
Memory Europa - Added
Phase 10 Master - Added
Sheepworld: Ohne Dich ist alles doof - Added

Schmidt
Big Points - Added
Burgen Land - Added
Code Omega - Added
Drachen Wurf - Added
Finito! - Added
Formissimo - Added
Hossa! - Added
Monstermaler - Added
Das verhexte Wolkenversteck - Added

Winning Moves Germany
Cartagena: Die Goldinsel - Added details

Links to the complete Nuremberg preview: publishers A-M & publishers N-Z

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Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update

The 2008 Nuremberg convention preview has been updated as follows:

JKLM Games
Athene - Added once again

Z-Man Games
Wasabi! - Added

Links to the complete Nuremberg preview: publishers A-M & publishers N-Z

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Die Reise zum Mittlepunkt der Erde - Coming from Kosmos

For the past few years, Kosmos has been releasing board game versions of novels both classic and modern, from Around the World in 80 Days and Dracula to The Pillars of the Earth and The Golden Compass. The pattern continues in 2008 with A Journey to the Center of the Earth from Rüdiger Dorn.

Die Reise zum Mittlepunkt der Erde is for 2-4 players, ages 10 and up, and players lead the main characters from the novel on a journey into one volcano, across an underground ocean, and up another volcano while trying to discover fossils and observe strange creatures. This game is due out in March, and there’s no word on an English edition yet.

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Convention Preview News: Nuremberg 2008 Update

The 2008 Nuremberg convention preview has been updated as follows:

Amigo Spiele
Added a few brief descriptions for various games

Kosmos
Die Reise zum Mittlepunkt der Erde - Added

Links to the complete Nuremberg preview: publishers A-M & publishers N-Z

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