Convention Preview: Spiel 2007 – Publishers N-Z
By W. Eric Martin
Translations by Patrick Korner and WEM
To give you an idea of the awesome breadth of the BGN Spiel 2008 preview, last year’s Spiel preview is posted here for all to see. Because of its immense size, the preview is split into two parts with this half including the publishers beginning with letters N-Z. (Publishers A-M are available elsewhere.) Due to the hundreds of hours needed to create this preview – which includes exclusive designer interviews and first impressions of games yet to be released – access to the Spiel 2008 preview is limited to BGN members only. Support Boardgame News and get an encyclopedic look at what your gaming future holds at the same time by becoming a BGN member. The cost is $25, and if this coverage saves you from buying just one stinker, you’ve made your money back. (More likely, of course, you’ll make a shopping list that will have you eating rice and beans for a month to afford all the cool titles coming out, but let’s not go there.)
In any case, make yourself a cup of coffee or tea, set aside a couple of hours, and have at it!
Last Update: November 20, 2007
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 | Battles of Napoleon: The Eagle and the Lion
Publisher: Nexus Editrice
Battles of Napoleon will be on display at the Nexus booth, but the game won’t be available until November. Here’s a description of the game from Nexus:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Battue: Storm of the Horse Lords
Publisher: Red Juggernaut
Nexus is the European distrbutor for Red Juggernaut’s titles and will be showing the games at Spiel. Here’s a description from the publisher:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link:
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| Garibaldi: La Trafila
Publisher: Nexus Editrice
On the 200th anniversary of his birth, Giuseppe Garibaldi—a military hero who help create a united Italy—is being honored with a boardgame reenacting his flight from Austrian, French and Spanish soldiers in 1849 after the fall of Rome. Garibaldi, whose wife Anita died during this trek, traveled to New York before returning to Italy in 1854 and returning to battle in 1859. Garibaldi: La Trafila is played in the style of Scotland Yard and Fury of Dracula, with one player (representing Garibaldi) against everyone else (representing Austrian troops). If Garibaldi makes it to safety, his controller wins; if he’s captured, the other players win.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Mansuba: Challenge of the Pharaohs
Publisher: Red Juggernaut
Nexus is the European distributor for Red Juggernaut and will be showing Mansuba at Spiel; the game won’t be available for purchase in Europe until November or December 2007. Here’s a description of the game from the publisher:
Link:
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| Micro Mutants Evolution
Publisher: Nexus Editrice
Micro Mutants Evolution, a new version of the X-Bugs series of games, will include four complete armies—Flyborgs, Chitiniani, Sovietopteri, and Usartropodi—a cloth-like play mat, dice, counter boards and rules (for basic, advanced and expert players). The Nexus description says: “New mechanics maintain the game simple and easy to learn but add new options like terrains, power ups and special game scenarios.”
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Rattle Jungle
Publisher: Nexus Editrice
Players compete to put all of their “snake eggs” on the table first, but these magnetized eggs are tricky to place—make a mistake, and you’ll be starting from a full basket once again.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Strongholds: Ancient Rivals
Publisher: Red Juggernaut
Nexus is the European distributor for Red Juggernaut and will be showing this game at Spiel; the game won’t be available for purchase in Europe until November or December 2007. Here’s a description from the publisher:
Link:
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| Strongholds: Axe & Shield
Publisher: Red Juggernaut
Nexus is the European distributor for Red Juggernaut and will be showing this game at Spiel; the game won’t be available for purchase in Europe until November or December 2007. Here’s a description from the publisher:
Link:
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 War of the Ring:
Collector’s Edition
Publisher: Nexus Editrice
War of the Ring: Collector’s Edition will be on display at Spiel, but won’t be available for sale until August 2008 at the earliest. This edition will contain an even larger gameboard than the original, painted miniatures, and special rules based on the players’ FAQ. The entire package will come in a wooden box with Elvish writing.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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 | Arger Dich Schwarz
Publisher: Nürnberger-Spielkarten-Verlag
Nothing but the facts, and the possibility of the game being ready on time for Spiel 07… | |||||||
| Mobbing
Publisher: Nürnberger-Spielkarten-Verlag
Nothing but the facts, and the possibility of the game being ready on time for Spiel 07… | ||||||||
| So ein Eiertanz
Publisher: Nürnberger-Spielkarten-Verlag
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| 1848 Australien
Publisher: Ohley
A railroad and share game that’s based on Francis Tresham’s 1829 and set in Australia. You want to connect to railway stations, and the more trips you make (and the larger the stations that you visit), the more money that will result for the company and its stockholders. To order a game for pick-up at Spiel, write to Helmut Ohley. Games must be picked up on Thursday, Oct. 18 between 11:00 and 14:00 in the booth for Vendetta Games.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | |||||||
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| Coco Colecto
Publisher: Opstelten Speelgoed
Here’s a description of the game that might have lost something in translation:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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 |  Äpfel zu Äpfeln Erweiterung 2 (Apples to Apples Expansion 2)
Publisher: Pegasus
A German edition of an Apples to Apples expansion no longer avilable in English since Out of the Box has decided to ship all apples in party crates from now on. Link: Publisher’s game page | |||||||
| Feenland
Publisher: Pegasus
A German edition of Nakamura’s Fairy Tale, previously published by Yuhodo and Z-Man Games. Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Handelsfürsten: Herren der Meere
Publisher: Pegasus
Here’s a brief description of Handelsfürsten (Merchants, in English) from the publisher: “The game is set in the 16th century when big merchants ships ruled the sea. Each player has at least two ships which he or she can load with 1 of 5 cargo cubes of his choice. If the right goods are traded, the player can score even when it is not his or her turn.”
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Igels 2: Waschtag
Publisher: Pegasus
A translation of the game description from Pegasus:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Illuminati: Bayrische Feuerlöschübung
Publisher: Pegasus
A German edition of Steve Jackson’s Illuminati: Bavarian Fire Drill, which is due out in September 2007 at last report.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Junta!
Publisher: Pegasus
A German edition of the “overlooked third edition from West End Games,” in the publisher’s words.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link:
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 Killer Karnickel und die Jagd nach der Magischen Karotte: Orange & Grüne
Publisher: Pegasus
A German edition of the green and orange expansions for Playroom Entertainment’s Killer Bunnies. Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
 Killer Karnickel und die Jagd nach der Magischen Karotte: Rote & Violette
Publisher: Pegasus
A German edition of the red and violet expansions for Playroom Entertainment’s Killer Bunnies. Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Kleine Helden: Das Kartenspiel
Publisher: Pegasus
The Kleine Helden (Small Heroes) online comic series has been transmogrified into a card game. Players enlist heroes into their group of adventurers, pick up weapons or magic items, and start swinging! The player with the final adventurer standing wins the game.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Krallen & Fallen (Claws & Traps)
Publisher: Pegasus
A translation of the game description from Pegasus:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
 Munchkin 5: Wirre Waldläufer
Publisher: Pegasus
Pegasus is releasing a German edition of Steve Jackson Games’ Munchkin 5: De-ranged. Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
 Munchkin Beißt!
Publisher: Pegasus
A German version of the Steve Jackson Games’ title Munchkin Bites! | ||||||||
 Munchkin Beißt! 2: Höllenhose
Publisher: Pegasus
A German version of the Steve Jackson Games’ title Munchkin Bites! 2: Pants Macabre | ||||||||
| Robotics
Publisher: Pegasus
A translation of the game description on the Pegasus website:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
 Super Munchkin 2: S-Cape
Publisher: Pegasus
A German version of the Steve Jackson title with a nearly identical name. Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
 Zombies!!! 4: Höllenhunde
Publisher: Pegasus
A German version of Twilight Creation’s Zombies!!! 4: The End.... Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
 Zombies!!! 5: Totencampus
Publisher: Pegasus
A German version of Twilight Creation’s Zombies!!! 5: School’s Out Forever. Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
 | Chicago Poker
Publisher: Phalanx Games
Here’s a description of the game from the Phalanx website:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Links: Bruno Faidutti’s Chicago Poker page on his website—lots of background info here / Publisher’s game page: English / German / Dutch
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| Lascaux
Publisher: Phalanx Games
In 1940, four adolescents in the southwest of France near Lascaux discovered a collection of caves. These caves are now famous for their paintings—images of animals that lived thousands of years before our era, possibly between 13,000 and 17,000 years ago. In Lascaux, the game, players place a number of cards in the center of the table to start each turn. Each card is identified by an animal and two colors. Each player secretly chooses a color and places stones in the center of the table. As the round progresses, players will drop out and someone will end up winning the animal cards to close the turn. At the end of the game, players score points for the animals of which they have a majority, and the player with the highest score wins.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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 | Midgard: das Brettspiel
Publisher: Phantastische-Spielewelten
Lutz Stepponat, designer of Return of the Heroes (Die Rückkehr der Helden), is going off on his own with his latest creation, a board game based on the world of Midgard. Phantastische-Spielewelten is, in fact, Stepponat’s own game company. “The box has the same size of the Midgard role-playing stuff, and the players shall see that this is Midgard the boardgame, not any role-playing add-on,” says Stepponat. Stepponat describes the game as follows: “It is an advanced RotH. You can play alone, you can play in groups, you can meet adventures, you can defeat shadows. You get gold, XPs, and prestige points. You develop a character, and, and, and… The rules have some pages, but it is an easy game to learn—it is more a problem to master it. Oh, I am talking, talking, talking.” You can preorder Midgard through the Phantastische-Spielewelten website. Thanks to Jonathan Franklin for getting the scoop from Lutz.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s website | |||||||
 | Der Boss
Publisher: Piatnik
A short description from the publisher: Bosses fight for dominance in business, trying to earn as much money as possible in a world that revolves around credit settlements, risks, and speculation. But the Mafia and international competition will make life tough. Which boss will earn the most money? | |||||||
| Kiddy Poker
Publisher: Piatnik
You read that title right. Here’s a game description from the publisher:
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| Level 8
Publisher: Piatnik
Sounds like Phase 10, but with only eight levels who don’t have the time to suffer through ten. | ||||||||
| Margaritchen
Publisher: Piatnik
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| Super Scrabble
Publisher: Piatnik
A German version of the Super Scrabble published by Winning Moves in the U.S. | ||||||||
| Tricky Double
Publisher: Piatnik
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 | Duel in the dark: Ju88 extension
Publisher: Pilot Games
Friedemann de Pedro says that he’ll have 200 copies of this extension on hand for Essen, but if you can’t wait, 100 copies are available for immediate ordering through the Duel in the Dark website. More copies will be available in December.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Duel in the Dark: Railroad Flak
Publisher: Pilot Games
At Spiel 07, designer Friedemann de Pedro will be giving away a Railroad Flak promotional tile for his Duel in the Dark. The Railroad Flak tile—which comes in both English and German packaging, and which the German player can place on the board by exchanging it with any ground object—will be given away only at the Pilot Games booth, according to de Pedro.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Duel in the Dark designer Friedemann de Pedro says that he’ll present a few other expansions at Spiel in addition to the ones listed above: the “Skilled Flak Crew,” the 3-5 player variant, and the “Walls Have Ears” expansion. Grab a seat early to test them all… | ||||||||
 | Glik
Publisher: Portal Publishing
Glik, an abstract strategy game, was previously released in Poland, but Portal is releasing a new edition with improved graphics and components at Spiel 07. The game can be likened to a multi-player Ricochet Robot, in which each player wants to maneuver his seven pieces from a starting point into contact with his destination field. On a turn, a player can place neutral blockers on the board, introduce a colored piece on his start space, or move one of his pieces already on the board. Pieces move until they hit a barrier, and your goal is to have all of your pieces touching the destination field or other pieces that have made it home.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Neuroshima HEX!
Publisher: Portal Publishing
Neuroshima HEX—a strategy game in which 2-4 players each control an army of 34 tiles and try to annihilate the enemy’s base or stay alive the longest—is being published in a new edition with improved components for Spiel 07. For a more detailed look at the game play, read Frank Branham’s write-up of the game on BGN. Igancy Trzewiczek with Portal Publishing says that the extra hexes on the new gameboard will be used in special multiplayer scenarios and—in the future—with new terrain tiles that will modify line of sight on the board. As an additional incentive to buy the game at Spiel, Portal Publishing plans to release a limited edition, fifth army—the Doom’s Day Machine—for Neuroshima HEX! that will be available only during the convention. “It is a tricky, fun army with not many attack units, but with many modules which can redirect shoots, deflect shoots and few more,” says Portal’s Igancy Trzewiczek. “Playing this army you have only few shooters, but many possibilities to use them in different ways. Artwork for this limited army was prepared by Michal Oracz himself, author of Neuroshima HEX.” If you’re not attending spiel, you can still preorder the Neuroshima HEX Essen Pack with the bonus fifth army by sending an email to portal@wydawnictwoportal.pl. The deadline for preorders is October 10th.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Teaser movie preview on the Portal website
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 | Porcellini (Love Pigs)
Publisher: Post Scriptum
Italian publisher Post Scriptum is handling the production for Porcellini, but the box carries the APG logo as well. Here’s a description of the game from Porazzi:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Links:
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 | Age of Piracy
Publisher: Pro Ludo
Age of Piracy will be on display during Spiel—the board, the miniatures, the whole gamut—but it won’t be on sale until the end of 2007 or beginning of 2008. Here’s a brief description of the game:
Link: Designer’s game page
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 Dart Wars
Publisher: Pro Ludo
This is a German edition of the same game released by Squale Games in 2006. | ||||||||
 Dungeon Twister: 3/4 Erweiterung
Publisher: Pro Ludo
This is a German edition of the three- and four-player expansion for Dungeon Twister, previously released in French and English by Asmodée. | ||||||||
 El Capitán
Publisher: Pro Ludo
Pro Ludo is co-producing this title with Dutch publisher QWG; the cover will differ from QWG’s Master Print edition, but everything else will be the same. Details about the game can be found under QWG’s El Capitán entry. | ||||||||
| Flinke Feger
Publisher: Pro Ludo
This is a German edition of Wicked Witches Way/Du Balai!, which previously released in English/French by Asmodée. | ||||||||
| Inside
Publisher: Gigamic
Pro Ludo is distributing this abstract game in Germany. For details on how it plays, visit Gigamic’s Inside listing. | ||||||||
| Kalter Krieg
Publisher: Pro Ludo
This is a German edition of Cold War: CIA vs KGB, which Fantasy Flight Games is releasing in English and Ubik in French. | ||||||||
| Rise of Nations
Publisher: Pro Ludo
Pro Ludo has teamed up with Big Huge Games, which brought Catan to the Xbox Live Arcade, and the first result of this partnership will be a boardgame version of BHG’s Rise of Nations. Pro Ludo describes Rise of Nations as “an empire-building big box game in which players develop their nation from Ancient Age to Modern Age. War, economics, science and diplomacy are to be taken into consideration to successfully win this epic game.” The game will be on display at Spiel, if not actually for sale. At the end of August, Pat Braun at Pro Ludo said it’s going to be close…
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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 | Eketorp
Publisher: Queen Games
As it did in 2006 with Timbuktu, Queen Games is drawing on Dirk Henn’s archives once again, with a new version of Eketorp. The original version of Eketorp appeared in 2002 from Henn’s db-Spiele. | |||||||
| Giganten der Lüfte
Publisher: Queen Games
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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 |  Amyitis
Publisher: Ystari Games
QWG will publish and distribute a Dutch version of this Ystari title. For game details, see the Amyitis listing under Ystari Games.
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| Demetra (aka Key Harvest)
Publisher: QWG
Demetra, game #4 in the QWG Master Print series, is an artistic reworking of Key Harvest, which is being published simultaneously by R&D Games. The name “Demetra” refers to the Greek goddess of agriculture, and this version will include rules in Dutch and French. For details on how the game is played, head over to the Key Harvest entry under R&D. The retail price of each game in the Master Print Series is €36.95, but at Spiel they’ll be sold for €29. Buy all four titles—Leonardo da Vinci, Yspahan, El Capitan and Demetra—and the price drops to €100. To preorder, send your name, address, and other information to info@qwggames.nl.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| El Capitan
Publisher: QWG
El Capitan is a remake of Kramer and Rösner’s Tycoon (Jumbo, 1998) that is now set in the Mediterranean Sea during the 15th century when Spain, Portugal and Italy all competed for dominance. The game is playable with up to five players (instead of Tycoon’s limit of four), and it comes with a built-in expansion: three Portugese cities that can be added to the game singly or in groups, each of which has a special ability associated with it. El Capitan, #3 in QWG’s Master Print series, has many other small changes from Tycoon, such as a new payout table, different starting funds, new building limitations, and special rules for two and three players. The Pro Ludo, Ystari and Z-Man Games editions of El Capitan will be released at roughly the same time as the QWG version, although the cover of these editions will differ from QWG’s Master Print format. (The rest of the game will remain the same.) A second wave of the game is planned for 2008 with a Polish edition, a Czech/Slovak edition, an Italian edition, and the Scandinavian edition (in Swedish, Danish, Finnish, and Norweigian) that Lautapelit is doing.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Links:
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| Yspahan (Master Print)
Publisher: QWG
Ystari’s Yspahan is being released as game #2 in QWG’s Master Print series with a new cover by Mike Doyle.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
 |  Key Harvest
Publisher: R&D Games
For almost a decade, Richard Breese has been publishing new games every other year, but he’s breaking tradition in 2007 by bringing out a new title after releasing both a new game and an expansion for Reef Encounter in 2006. “Fowl Play was a smaller game of a different type to my other games, apart perhaps from Chamelequin, and did not take as long to develop,” says Breese. “I therefore tend to think of Fowl Play and RE2 as being the games that pushed my two year cycle of bigger games back a year!” Breese’s new title is named Key Harvest, and in another break with tradition he’s not releasing the game in a limited edition at Essen through his R&D Games, but jointly with other companies. “The game is being produced by R&D, with Rio Grande doing English language distribution, Abacus the German distribution, and QWG the Dutch and French distribution,” he says. “I will be selling the game from the R&D booth at Essen.” Why the change from his successful formula of years past? As Breese points out, the last two big box games from R&D—Keythedral and Reef Encounter—were re-issued by other companies within a year or two of their first appearance. “By linking up with other companies for the first edition, I can hopefully reduce the unit cost and increase the availability so that gamers not attending Essen can get the game quickly and at a reasonable price,” he says. “Something that can’t be achieved with a limited edition.” One element that hasn’t changed is the artwork, which once again is being handled by Juliet Breese. Richard is handling the graphics for the edition of Key Harvest appearing from R&D, Rio Grande, and Abacusspiele, but in yet another twist QWG will publish the game as part of its Master Print series, for which Mike Doyle handles the cover design and artwork and some interior design. Breese says that the QWG edition might be named “Demetra,” after the Greek goddess of agriculture, but the final name has yet to be determined. As for how Key Harvest is played, here’s Richard’s explanation of the game, with one interruption by yours truly:
I have to butt in to say that I love the sound of this scoring system. It calls to mind Tigris and Euphrates since players need to advance multiple groups equally, yet giving more points for the second-largest group puts even more pressure on players, both to build their own holdings and block opponents. Okay, back to the description—
Asked how this game fits into his Key series of games, Breese says, “All the Key games have similar characteristics and are of a similar level of complexity. That is I view them at the more challenging end of the family market. The scale is similar in that there are workers performing non-violent actions in a medieval environment. There is plenty of player interaction, scope for different strategies and tactics and a small amount of luck.” Key Harvest will be published in a box size similar to Reef Encounter and produced by Ludo Fact in Germany. You can preorder the game directly from the designer at the R&D booth by sending a request to Richard Breese. All preordered copies must be picked up by 1:00pm on Friday. Update Sept. 18: Richard will also be bringing along 20 copies of the R&D version of Reef Encounters of the Second Kind which were held back from the original run in 2006. These can be reserved by contacting Richard by email. The price at the show is €30.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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 | Monastery
Publisher: Ragnar Brothers
Gary Dicken has sent along a short description of the next release from the Ragnar Brothers: Monastery. “It’s a tile laying game with some interesting game mechanics and we think a strong theme, i.e. the building of the monastery,” he says. “It’s not a resource management game, but there are some crucial decisions to be taken quite regularly. It’s got good replay value and levels of strategy that become apparent the more you play. I think people will like the fact that you can play as a pair against a pair or ‘every monk for himself’—again giving quite different tactics depending on which option you play.”
Monastery might appear in time for Spiel 2007, but the artist on the project has broken his hand, so Dicken might instead bring only copies of Canal Mania 2nd Edition to Essen. Time will tell…
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 | Master Labyrinth
Publisher: Ravensburger
A new edition of this classic game.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Mauseschlau & Bärenstark: Wissensroulette
Publisher: Ravensburger
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| Verflixxt hoch²!
Publisher: Ravensburger
Verflixxt hoch^2! is the second expansion for Verflixxt! and it can be mixed and matched with the base game and the first expansion (Verflixxt nachmal) in multiple ways. Here’s a translation of Wolfgang Kramer’s notes on the game, courtesy of Patrick Korner:
Jay Tummelson has said that the base Verflixxt! game has sold fewer than 3,000 copies in English, so it’s unlikely that this (or the first expansion) will appear in English.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link:
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| Wer war’s?
Publisher: Ravensburger
The king’s magic ring has been stolen, and with the help of various animals, the players need to find the thief. The game includes an electronic system for the voice of the animals which will make each game different.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
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| Spy
Publisher: The Realm of Fantasy
This small card game, which might have been released at Spiel 06, falls into the Werewolf genre as each player represents a particular planet, information which they keep secret from other players. You goal is to eliminate everyone from other planets so that only you and your comrades remain.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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 | Easy School
Publisher: Red Glove
While the list of potentially boring game themes is extensive—real speed sock-sorting, a race game about paint drying, anything involving hedge trimmers—few themes are the stuff of nightmares. Michele “Favar” Mura, however, has dared to go where other game designers have feared to tread. In Easy School, each player takes on the role of a college student who has to pass as many exams as possible. To succeed in this quest, players may ask for help from nerds, hack computers to change their marks, give gifts to teachers, and (to throw out an oddball suggestion) study. As those who recall their university days will recall, stress is always right around the corner, and stressed students can’t hope to succeed. Students can just try to avoid stress or they can look for relaxation by interrupting their opponents’ own attempts to study. At the end of the game—which comes when a player draws the second special card announcing the end of semester—players calculate their scores, and the player with the highest final score wins. “The design process of Ateneo, which was the initial name of the project, started more than one-and-a-half years ago,” says Mura. “It was a card game, but the mechanisms were too complex and despite all my efforts the game was really slow. I tested the first version of the game for a very long time—thanks to the patience of the playtesters—but I finally gave up its development for another game.” As Liga notes, Favar has great experience in the boardgame scene. “He is the man behind the Italian version of several famous boardgame rules, including the SdJ-winning Zooloretto,” says Liga. “I tested the old version of Ateneo, and I must admit that despite some good and fresh ideas, the game was not working very well!” So is Easy School just the boring Ateneo with a fresh coat of paint? Of course not, or else no publisher would have picked up the game. “Some months ago, after a night spent with my girlfriend Marina, I really got the point of the game and wrote in five minutes a new version of Ateneo,” says Mura. “Magically the game worked very well. I actually kept the same game concept, but the game now runs fast without any problems. The version of the game that will hit shelves contains only minor changes from what I wrote during that lucky night.” Oh, Mura, you devil… The decision to place the game play in college was made jointly between designer and publisher. Easy School will contain 110 cards, with a multi-language rulebook, as seems to be customary for Italian publishers. “I’m really satisfied of the final product because the action takes place fast, the rules are very simple and the whole artwork gives a very particular look and taste,” says Mura. “I hope that players will enjoy the game as much as I enjoyed creating it.”
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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 | Bonne Question
Publisher: Cocktail Games/Repos Production
Here’s a translated description of Bonne Question (Good Question)–the first co-production between Repos and Cocktail Games—from a preview on Tric Trac:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Ca$h’n Gun$ Live
Publisher: Repos Production
Ready for panic in the street and news stories about the crazy games that kids are playing these days? Good, then you’re ready for Ca$h’n Gun$ Live, a sequel to the original game that handles 8-20 players who play in teams. The game includes 110 cards—including six types of armament: Bang! Bang! Bang!, Double Guns, Shotgun, Grenade, Kevlar, and Backstab—rules, and a whistle so that the referee can easily signal when a round begins. Ca$h’n Gun$ Live also includes a 12th superpower for the basic Ca$h’n Gun$ game. The rules included are in French, but English rules can be downloaded from the Repos website. The text on the cards, however, is in English, as was done with Ca$h’n Gun$ itself.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Links:
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| Ca$h’n Gun$ Yakuzas
Publisher: Repos Production
The first large expansion for Ca$h’n Gun$ will focus on Yakuza, that is members of the Japanese mafia. The expansion includes bits for three additional players to join the game, and these three will play as a team against two competing teams of gangsters. The box includes three tantos (Japanese daggers) and three shuriken (throwing stars) for these players, as well as themed super powers: Geisha, Kamimaze, and Samurai. The expansion also includes a new set of Objects, such as a deringer or four-leaf clover, that give you special abilities, and these cards can be used with the basic or expanded game. Finally, the set includes a black foam shotgun for those who missed out on the gray one at Spiel 05. The first 500 people to write Repos and reserve a copy for pick-up at Spiel will receive a limited-edition gray foam UZI. Don’t hesitate because at least one of those reservations has already been claimed.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Overview of the Yakuzas expansion in French with additional pictures (from Les Jeux de Ludo) | ||||||||
| Mexican Hold’em Poker
Publisher: Repos Production
Mexican Hold’em Poker is a deck of 52 cards to change the rules of poker. Before each game, you reveal a card, which lays out the new rules. Alas, the cards are all in French, so if you don’t parlez Francais, you’re out of luck. Thomas Provoost at Repos says “there will be probably an English edition,” so poker junkies in North America might also get a chance to play…
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
 | Amyitis
Publisher: Ystari Games
Rio Grande Games will publish and distribute an English language version of this Ystari title. For game details, see the Amyitis listing under Ystari Games.
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| Bonnie & Clyde
Publisher: Rio Grande Games
Another entry in the Mystery Rummy series with players trying to nab Bonnie and Clyde while collecting sets of cards.
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| Burger Joint
Publisher: Rio Grande Games
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| Carcassonne: Abbey
& Mayor
Publisher: Rio Grande Games
Rio Grande Games will release an English version of Carcassonne: Abtei und Bürgermeister in the fall of 2007, but no word yet on what’s inside the box. When word does come, though, you’ll find it under the Hans im Glück listing of Carcassonne: Abtei und Bürgermeister.
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| Chateau Roquefort
Publisher: Zoch
An English version of Zoch’s Burg Appenzell.
Links:
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| “Civitas Hamburgum
Publisher: Rio Grande Games
Rio Grande will release an English-language version of this Eggertspiele title—the third rondel game from Gerdts—and the goal is to release it at Essen at the same time the German version hits. Jay Tummelson has said that the name will likely change, but he’s not sure what it will be. For a description of the game play, visit the Civitas Hamburgum listing under Eggertspiele. | ||||||||
| Cuba
Publisher: Rio Grande Games
As with the other Essen 2007 releases from Eggertspiele, Rio Grande is publishing an English language version of the game. For details on game play, visit the Cuba listing under Eggertspiele. | ||||||||
| Key Harvest
Publisher: R&D Games
Rio Grande Games will distribute this R&D Games title in the U.S. and other English-speaking countries. For game details, see the Key Harvest listing under R&D Games.
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| Lemons & Lemonade
Publisher: Rio Grande Games
Lemons & Lemonade—a trick-taking game that works best with five players, according to co-designer JonMichael Rasmus—gives players different goals each round. Players score points based on how well they meet the goals, with zero points being the best possible score for a round, and players with more points at the start of a round receive more goal options. The game ends when someone hits 31 points, and the player with the fewest points wins.
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| Ming Dynasty
Publisher: Rio Grande Games
There’s no info available now other than a designer’s name and a title, but when a description is available, you’ll find it under the Ming Dynastie entry under Hans im Glück. | ||||||||
| Mykerinos Expansion
Publisher: Rio Grande Games
Rio Grande will distribute this expansion in the U.S. For details on what’s included, head to the Mykerinos Expansion listing under Ystari. | ||||||||
| Oregon
Publisher: Rio Grande Games
Rio Grande Games is releasing an English-language version of this title. For more on the game, visit the Hans im Glück Oregon listing. | ||||||||
| Power Grid Card
Deck Expansion
Publisher: Rio Grande Games
Rio Grande is distributing the English-language version of this game expansion. For game details, see the Power Grid Card Deck listing under 2F-Spiele.
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| Race for the Galaxy
Publisher: Rio Grande Games
Race for the Galaxy is a card game. Oh, do I need to say more? Okay, here goes: Race for the Galaxy has been eagerly awaited by devoted fans for years. That might sound like an odd statement to make about an unpublished game, but RftG has been in development for years, and during that time those who have played the game have adopted it with a passion. At heart, Race for the Galaxy has two primary source: an unpublished CCG called Duel for the Stars that Lehmann designed in the mid-1990s with help from Rob Watkinds and a Puerto Rico card game prototype, some ideas from which were merged into San Juan. RftG plays somewhat along the lines of a deeper San Juan, with each player choosing an action each turn—not from a common selection, however, but from a personal hand of seven action cards. This arrangement introduces a deduction element as all players can use an action that someone plays (with the action-chooser carrying out an improved version of the action), so you might not play an action on the assumption that someone else will. If no one plays a Develop action, however, that phase is skipped, which could put you in a pickle.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Downloadable rules (PDF, English) | ||||||||
| Saint Petersburg Expansion
Publisher: Rio Grande Games
The Saint Petersburg Expansion contains two separate expansions: The Banquet by Karl-Heinz Schmiel, which previously appeared in Spielbox magazine, and The New Society, an expansion by Tom Lehmann which adds in several pieces and 36 cards, including both new ones and a few replacements, allowing up to five players to play. BGN plans to publish a preview of The New Society before the game’s release.
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| The Great American Railroad Game
Publisher: Rio Grande Games
This title is a remake of Stephensons Rocket, the Knizia game first published by Pegasus Press in 1999, with the train action moved to the U.S. and a few changes to the rules.
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| Veritas
Publisher: Rio Grande Games
This title certainly puts a new spin on theme. The setting is France during the Dark Ages, and players represent some aspect of “truth” (which in Latin is “veritas") that’s trying to be preserved. Players want to be replicated by book-copying monks, which is represented in game terms by book tokens being spread throughout France. A monastery burns down each turn, wiping out any elements of truth contained within, but the cleared land allows for quicker movement, allowing the remaining truth to spread farther and faster. As scoring tokens are revealed, players score for the regions where their truth dominates, and the first player to reach 100 points wins.
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 | Tavern Battle
Publisher: Role et Strategie
Each player has a pair of adventurers who are trying to decide how to share the loot obtained on their recent outing, but inevitably someone feels shortchanged and the chairs start to fly…
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Tavern Heroes
Publisher: Role et Strategie
Christophe Finas from Role et Strategie notes that Tavern Heroes won the Crea Ludis creation contest in France. Other than that, your guess is as good as mine.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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 | Blitz!
Publisher: RomBol
Also called Flash! on the publisher’s website, the only description for this item is “Capture the flash.” I call Mirror Master!
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | |||||||
| Clicker
Publisher: RomBol
The publisher’s description: A fast-tiling puzzle with lots of tactics for two players.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Die Maulwurfshöhle
Publisher: RomBol
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| Druid
Publisher: RomBol
The publisher’s description: The players have to connect their sides by using their own pieces, but be careful! Overbuilding the opponent can cut off your own line…
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Four in the Box
Publisher: RomBol
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| Hauspuzzle
Publisher: RomBol
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| Hnefatafl
Publisher: RomBol
A version of the traditional Norweigan game.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Involute
Publisher: RomBol
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| Keyholes
Publisher: RomBol
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Mochalov Cube 14
Publisher: RomBol
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Red Cross
Publisher: RomBol
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| Sliding Hamburger
Publisher: RomBol
Yes, normally BGN sticks to items for more than one player, but who could resist the lure of the sliding hamburger? And no, this isn’t a White Castle special with extra grease so that the squarish burger-type thing slides down your esophagus more easily—rather, it’s a wood puzzle with parts that slide in and out as you disassemble and reassemble it. Yummy! | ||||||||
| Wirbel
Publisher: RomBol
Also called Swirl on the publisher’s website, in Wirbel the player who creates two swirls first wins. What is a swirl? Is it something like a purple nurple? The publisher’s description doesn’t make that clear, although it does mention that the board is beech and 280mm square.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Zwei Quadrate
Publisher: RomBol
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 | Auf Achse (revised)
Publisher: Schmidt Spiele
The year of Kramer continues with a revised version of Auf Achse from Schmidt Spiele. Players compete to build routes and undercut the competition in order to carry cargo on their trucks between Flensvurg and Verona, Triest and Rotterdam. Foresight and planning are rewarded, although new events occur constantly which can help or hinder you. The end goal: Complete your deliveries as efficiently as possible to make more moolah than anyone else.
As for changes from the original game, Wolfgang Kramer says that the new version:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Designer’s game page | |||||||
| Bibi Blocksberg Ligretto
Publisher: Schmidt Spiele
Another entry in the Ligretto family of fast reaction games in which you want to get rid of your cards faster than anyone else.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Ligretto Speed Machine
Publisher: Schmidt Spiele
More an accessory than a game, the Ligretto Speed Machine does contain 24 new action cards that come flying out of the machine to add that extra something that Ligretto has always lacked: potential eye injuries. Here’s a translated description from able card dodger Patrick Korner:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Mr. Kongo
Publisher: Schmidt Spiele
The first player to nab 25 bananas is the winner—but the only way to earn bananas is to predict in advance how many of the yellow fruits you’ll be able to get by the end of the round.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Panda, Gorilla & Co.: Das Spiel
Publisher: Schmidt Spiele
Here’s a translated description of the game from postcard writer Jeff Allers:
And another Allers-enabled translation that relates more to the gameplay:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| TKKG: Das Phantom der Nacht
Publisher: Schmidt Spiele
Here’s a translated description of the game from the publisher:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Vorsicht Lehrer
Publisher: Schmidt Spiele
Here’s a new edition of a title that Schmidt has released previously. (Gibson Games has also released a version of this Wolfgang Reidesser title under the title Silence in Class!) In the game, players take turns being students and the teacher, with the students trying not to get minus points from the teacher. Whoever has the fewest minus points wins the game.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Schmidt Spiele has also picked up the Adlung Spiele line of card games, so although these games are new, you can expect to see the full line of Adlung titles on display at the Schmidt booth. | ||||||||
 | Hystericoach Hockey
Publisher: Scribabs
Hystericoach Hockey will be shown at Spiel in prototype form only. The final edition is a co-production with Canadian publisher Kikigagne?—the question mark is part of the publisher’s name—and is due for a release in December 2007, mostly in Canada and the rest of North America.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Star System
Publisher: Scribabs
Designer Walter Obert has this to say about his game:
In terms of game play, a number of actor and actress cards are dealt to each player, with the remainder placed face-down on the table. Your goal is to determine who is starring in your opponent’s film—that is, which actor cards are in his hand. Each player can choose one of several actions each turn to uncover information, and the actions not chosen still take place, but in a way that helps both players. The images feature real actors and actresses from the “Quinta Tinta Teatro” company of Turin.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Scribabs will hold the second World Cup Tournament for HysteriCoach during Spiel 07. For details on participating in this year’s event, visit the Scribabs website.
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 | Fruittirelli
Publisher: Selecta Spielzeug
Here’s a brief description from the publisher:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Pino Sortino
Publisher: Selecta Spielzug
A fun game for kids about sorting knives in the utensil drawer. | ||||||||
 | Origins: How We Became Human
Publisher: Sierra Madre Games
Phil Eklund describes Origins as his first “German-style” game, and with Sphinx Spieleverlag on board as co-publisher, all elements within the game—cards, gameboards and rules—will be in both English and German. Origins is a game within the Civilization family with turns covering a period of a thousand years and hexes representing a thousand miles. Here’s a more detailed description from the designer:
While the game normally retails for $50, Sierra Madre will be selling it at Spiel for €32.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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 | Napoleon’s Triumph
Publisher: Simmons Games
Histogame is distributing Napoleon’s Triumph throughout Europe. For details on the game, head to Histogame’s Napoleon’s Triumph entry. | |||||||
 | TZAAR
Publisher: Smart
Kris Burm released PÜNCT at Spiel 05, apparently finishing Project GIPF, his series of six abstract games that rank head and shoulders over almost all others—but as it turns out, there’s been a change of plans. One game has been removed from the series, and a new game will appear in its place. And if you had to guess which game is out, then you’re probably not a dedicated fan of all things GIPFian. TAMSK, the second game in the series, includes sandtimers for pieces, and the real time aspect of the game—with pieces “dying” when they run out of sand—has always stood out from the other games in the series. This difference wasn’t so noticeable when TAMSK first appeared because there was only one other game to compare it to. In the context of the entire project, though, it’s a fast-melting ice cream sandwich in a pile of candy bars. So TAMSK is getting the boot and will reappear as a standalone game with a new look and new name sometime in 2008 from Belgian publisher Smart, which took over from Don & Co. for Project GIPF in 2006. In its place will come TZAAR. Here’s a description of the game from Kris Burm:
TZAAR will be released by Smart on a broad scale in 2008, but a special pre-release edition of the game—limited to 1,000 copies signed and numbered by designer Kris Burm—will be on sale at Spiel 07. As for the cover design, Burm says, “The box has a preliminary design, specially for the pre-release edition that we’ll show in Essen. Smart wants to restyle Project GIPF, but it takes time to come to final decisions about it. That is why we have planned a limited edition for Spiel ’07. It is a special treat for the gamers who go to Essen, and it also gives us more time to finish the new look for all six games together.”
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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 | Dia de los Muertos
Publisher: Sphinx Spieleverlag
Here’s a translated description of the game from the publisher:
The preorder price for the game is €15, and you can preorder through the Sphinx Spieleverlag website.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Origins: Die Entstehung der Menschheit
Publisher: Sphinx Spieleverlag
Sphinx Spieleverlag is the co-publisher of Origins: How We Became Human with Sierra Madre Games. Head up to the Sierra Madre listing for details on the game.
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| Capt’n Sharky: Abenteuer auf der Schatzinsel
Publisher: Die Spiegelburg
Here’s a translated description of the game from the publisher:
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 | Zooloretto expansion
Publisher: Spielbox
Spielbox issue 5-07 will have a special expansion for the Spiel des Jahres-winning Zooloretto. Rio Grande Games has said that this expansion, along with many others released by Schacht before and after the SdJ win will be released as a boxed set sometime down the road. | |||||||
 | Die Siedler von Catan scenario pack
Publisher: Spielen in Österreich
The Österreichisches Spiele Museum (Austrian Game Museum) is releasing a pair of scenarios for The Settlers of Catan under the Spielen in Österreich label. Here’s a description of “The Building of Chaffenberch Castle,” which was designed by Heike Risthaus:
The scenario on the other side of the double-sided map is “Renaissance in Styria” by Stefan Risthaus:
Now about this pricetag, the scenarios aren’t entirely free, but they’re as close as you can get. According to Ferdinand de Cassan, “We plan to make it a free giveaway for all players in exchange for wearing a button that publicizes our game fair in Austria.”
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s home page | |||||||
 | Gondoliere
Publisher: Spielerei
Based on information on Michael Schacht’s website, Gondoliere is a new version of InterUrban, which Winsome Games published in 2003. The game play has been moved into the water, specifically canals. You can purchase Gondoliere on its own at Spiel for €3, but you’ll receive the game for free if you already subscribe to the magazine or sign up for a subscription by January 17, 2008. The game comes with German rules, and English rules will be available on the Spielerei.de website within four weeks of the end of Spiel 07.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s description of the subscription offer and free game
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 | Fackel+Keule
Publisher: Spiellabor
Here’s a brief description from Michael Benkendorf at Spiellabor:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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 | Doodle Dice
Publisher: Spielspass
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| Könige der Wellen: Das Spiel
Publisher: Spielspass
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| Verrückt
Publisher: Spielspass
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 | Alles Paletti?!
Publisher: Spieltrieb
A communication game of some sort. | |||||||
| DINGsdaBUMMsda
Publisher: Spieltrieb
A game about music. | ||||||||
| Eynsteyn
Publisher: Spieltrieb
Eynsteyn is a connection game in the style of Twixt in which each player wants to connect opposite sides of a playing board. The game pieces, which will be made from marble or sandstone, have straight lines, crossing lines, and dead ends on them, to give you different opportunities during play. As with most abstract games, the description isn’t enough to decide what’s new or special about the game. More info please… The prototype of this game will be on display at Spiel, and the publication date is January 2008, which is the 10th anniversary of Spieltrieb. Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Keep Cool
Publisher: Spieltrieb
In Keep Cool, you’re a global player, trying to work with the USA, its partners, or developing countries. Strong political groups as well as the oil industry and environmental associations will effect your odds of victory or defeat. During each game, you need to weigh the balance between collective climate protection and self-interest. The risk: Arid lands, floods, and illnesses. The possiblity: Prosperity and a stable world climate. The winner is the player who first reaches his goal, but if you advance too ruthlessly, then everyone loses.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
 | Key Largo
Publisher: Titanic Games
Titanic Games will be demoing its version of Key Largo, published in 2005 by Tilsit, at the Spielziet! booth in Essen. Here’s a brief description of the game from the publisher: “As the new century dawns, players ply the thriving trade of finding treasures in shipwrecks around the island. Before a hurricane hits, players need to search the many shipwrecks and sell the lost treasures to the island denizens for as much cash as possible.” Link: Publisher’s game page | |||||||
 The Red Dragon Inn
Publisher: SlugFest Games
The Red Dragon Inn will be shown at the Spielzeit! booth at Essen. Here’s a brief description of the game from the publisher:
For more on the game play and multiple images, visit the Red Dragon Inn preview on BGN. Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
 Stonehenge
Publisher: Spielziet!
This is a German edition of the Titantic Games’ anthology boardgame. | ||||||||
| Stonehenge: Bonusheft
Publisher: Spielziet!
A bonus book with rules for five additional games. | ||||||||
 Tiki Mountain
Publisher: SlugFest Games
Tiki Mountain will be shown at the Spielzeit! booth at Essen. Here’s a brief description of the game from the publisher:
For more details on the game play and a half-dozen images, head to the BGN preview of Tiki Mountain. Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
 | Baran
Publisher: Steffen-Spiele
Here’s a brief description from the publisher: The king plans a trip to a neighboring kingdom. His goal? The throne of his rival. This will be no easy venture as the destination is at the other end of the playing field and well-guarded. To reach it, he’ll need to use guards to clear the way to opposing rows. The kings are unbeatable, so they will slowly advance towards to the goal, but if you sacrifice too many guards, he’ll never reach his goal.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | |||||||
| Rhomba
Publisher: Steffen-Spiele
Fit the twelve pieces back in the rhombus-shaped puzzle box. The rules include different starting pieces to create multiple levels of difficulty.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Stix
Publisher: Steffen-Spiele
Stix includes three different sets of rules that let you transform the playing pieces into three different games.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
 | Spice Islands
Publisher: StrataMax Games
In the time of the Dutch East India Company, players buy stocks, pick up and deliver goods, and attend board meetings called by stockholders. No, really! Players can also take on the role of pirate captain, who nets a bunch of booty as long as he survives mutinies launched by other players and naval pursuit. StrataMax will bring only 40 titles of each 2007 release to Spiel, so if you’re interested in receiving a copy, you’re advised to write to Max Michael at StrataMax and put your name on the preorder list. Games are €25 each or €70 for all three. Reserved games must be picked up on Thursday, October 18th.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Tammany Hall
Publisher: StrataMax Games
Players run for Mayor in early 20th century New York City (in an election, mind you—the New York marathon is decades in the future). You need campaign workers in city wards to spur voters to action and to swing newly arrived immigrants to your point of view. After each election, players are assigned roles within city government that each have their own ability. The dog catcher’s specialty? Spreading slanderous rumors and ruining your chances in the next election! StrataMax is bringing only 40 copies of Tammany Hall to Spiel. See the Spice Islands listing above if you want to reserve a copy.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Wampanoag
Publisher: StrataMax Games
Players each lead a Wampanoag Native American Nation and try to survive the crush of Pilgrims on the East and their enemies in the West. Peace and war are both options in your efforts to maintain a strong position, but eventually the Pilgrims will overrun the land. StrataMax is bringing only 40 copies of Wampanog to Spiel. See the Spice Islands listing above if you want to reserve a copy.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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 | Kingsburg
Publisher: Stratelibri
Game designer Andrea Chiarvesio says that Kingsburg was inspired by a lament that will be familiar to most gamers: “I like playing Settlers of Catan, but I hate losing because of bad luck or because no one is willing to trade with me.” Chiarvesio’s goal was to create a resource allocation system that was still dice-based, but with much less luck and no trading between players. “I didn’t want players to compete for the best spaces on a board—as I don’t really like majority games—so giving each player his own board looked like a perfect solution,” he says. “Then I showed the prototype to my friend Luca [Iennaco], and he did an amazing job in fixing the maths and developing new ideas and strategies.” As a fan of classic fantasy settings, Chiarvesio tried to add in tributes to fantasy games and novels that he likes while developing an environment of his own. Here’s the final outcome:
Here’s how that setting plays out in game terms: Each player controls a province that displays a 4x5 table of buildings. During the five years of game time, players build up the provincial infrastructures or recruit soldiers to fight enemies. Each year is divided into eight phases. During three of these eight phases, players alternate beween getting an advisor’s help and raising buildings. Every advisor has a recruiting number ranging from 1 to 18. All players roll three dice and alternate in using one or more dice to get the advisor’ help: Each advisor can be recruited by only one player who needs to match exactly his recruiting number. Most of the advisors supply players with Gold, Stone or Wood. Then each player can build just one builiding. Four of the eight phases are special phases and the last one, the winter phase, deals with fighting enemy invasions. Some advisors and most of the buildings provide victory points. At the end of the fifth year, the player with most VPs wins. “This is my first ‘big box game,’ so I am of course very excited about it!” says Chiarvesio. “KDS and Stratelibri are developing an outstanding final product, with impressive artwork and materials, far beyond my wildest dreams!” “I can only say I am very pleased with the final result,” he continues. “It has colourful dice; dragons, zombies and goblins to fight; markets, wizard guilds and cathedrals to build; and agents of the King and a Council of advisors to help or hinder the players. It plays in 90 minutes, and most important of all, everyone seems to have fun with it.”
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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 | Confucius
Publisher: Surprised Stare Games
Confucius will be shown in prototype at Spiel, and you can playtest the game and offer suggestions. Here’s the current description of this “moderately complex board game” from the publisher:
As designer Alan Paull clarifies, players don’t turn their armies against each other—because they’re all in the service of the Emperor—but rather against the barbarians in foreign lands. “There is a time limit for Chinese armies to invade each foreign land,” he says, “and if insufficient armies go, then the invasion will fail.” If you want to playtest the preview version of Confucius, Surprised Stare is taking appointments for up to five players for a game at 11:00 each day of Spiel. To sign up, send an email to alan@surprisedstaregames.co.uk with the day you want to participate.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Scandaroon
Publisher: Surprised Stare Games
Surprised Stare’s Alan Paull has sent along this description of Scandaroon:
You can preorder the game at the Surprised Stare website for £12.50 plus shipping, or you can pick up a preordered copy at Essen for €20.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
 | Chang Cheng
Publisher: Tenkigames
Here’s a description of the game play from BGN’s Italian correspondent, Liga:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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 |  Quinamid
Publisher: Third Dynasty Games
You’ve undoubtedly encountered this winning condition before, so let’s get that out of the way first: The first player to create a line of five counters wins. Naturally there has to be a twist. The twist for Quinamid, says designer Antony Brown, “is that the counters are placed in a series of five boards of differing size that are formed to make a pyramid.” On a turn, a player must make one of three moves:
By moving one or more boards, the player hides the contents of various spaces, introducing a memory element to this game of perfect knowledge. One restriction on moves is that you can’t reverse the move of the preceding player. Players continue taking turns until one player achieves the magic five-in-a-row. Says Brown, “A game is often completed in two or three minutes, so it’s often better to play a best-of-five series and employ different strategies, which would take around 15 minutes.” The idea for Quinamid first came to Brown nearly two decades ago. “My memory on why I originally invented this game has become a bit hazy over such a long time, but I do remember I used it as a mental exercise in computer programming in artificial intelligence,” he says. Brown continues, “Like most people outside the board game world with a good game idea, I always believed you had to get a large publisher to produce the game due to the massive initial set-up costs.” His work as a consultant, with one new job after another, brought him into touch with many different people, including Mike Oakes, a contributor to Counter magazine. Oakes helped Brown remake his prototypes in addition to playtesting the game and reworking the rules. With prototype in hand, Brown searched the Internet for someone to make the game. “I was struck by the idea that I could get a chess manufacturer from India or China to do all of the manufacture, and I could just add the instructions and a cardboard box to finish,” he says. “As it turned out, I ended up getting a response from a wooden toy manufacturer from China who lent over backwards to deliver my wooden games almost based on a couple of photos of my game in cardboard and a couple of sketches.” Brown says the simplicity of the rules—which can be downloaded from the Quidamid website in six different languages—is one reason he really likes the game. “Kids can easily grasp the concept and start playing in a couple of minutes,” he says. “They can also play in such devious ways, which makes it very enjoyable and challenging for both of you. The game also has a very high I-could-do-better-next-time factor, even for the winner, which keeps you coming back for more time after time.” Future projects from Brown include a multi-player version of Quinamid and a game about property developers called Plum and Slum.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page
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 | Aliens
Publisher: Tilsit Editions
Here’s a translated description of this game from the publisher:
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| Holidays
Publisher: Tilsit Editions
Dal Negro released this card game in 2005, and Tilsit has released a new version with new artwork. Here’s a description of the game play, as translated from the publisher’s listing:
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 | “Barbie Shopping Game”
Publisher: Trefl
The authors belong to a group of designers that operate under the title of White Castle Games, and the White Castle website lists this title (which has only a working title) as an Essen 2007 release by Trefl. No other details are known, but you’re probably extremely excited anyway. It’s Barbie! | |||||||
 |  Dungeoneer Epic 3
Publisher: Truant Verlag
Here’s a short description of the game from Truant, as translated by Patrick Korner: “The dark God of magic and death has brought his faithful servant, the Witch Master, back to (undead) life. The heroes that survived the Witch Master’s catacombs will face new challenges.” This title is a German edition of Atlas Games’ Epic Dungeoneer: Call of the Lich Lord.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Es War Einmal
Co-publishers: Truant Verlag / Heidelberger
A new German edition of Once Upon a Time, a storytelling game previously released by Atlas Games and Amigo Spiele, among others. | ||||||||
| Gnade, Herr und Meister
Co-publishers: Truant Verlag / Heidelberger
An expansion for Ja, Herr und Meister, which is also known as Aye, Dark Overlord and Sì, Oscuro Signore. The sequel was released in Italian by Stratelibri in 2006. | ||||||||
| Höllenhaus
Publisher: Truant Verlag
Here’s a description of the game from Truant, as translated by Patrick Korner:
Now, some of you reading the description might be saying to yourself, “This sounds just like Chill: Black Morn Manor.” To which publisher Mario Truant replies, “It is the same game. We clarified the rules, and it has complete new artwork and a new layout. The changes are mostly graphics.” (Thanks to Andy Parsons for pointing out the similarities.)
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link:
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 Kingsburg
Publisher: Truant Verlag
Truant is distributing this Stratelibri title in Germany. For details on the game play, head to the Kingsburg entry under Stratelibri. | ||||||||
| Kragmortha
Publisher: Truant Verlag
This is a boardgame version of Ja, Herr und Meister!, which has also been released by Stratelibri in Italian and Mayfair Games in English.
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| Zombiaki
Publisher: Truant Verlag
Zombiaki was previously released in Poland, and Truant is bringing out a new edition of the game. In this two-player game, one player controls the zombies while the other controls the humans. If the humans survive until sunrise, they win the game; if not, the zombies feast on their brains and win.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link:
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 | Oil Field
Publisher: Tuonela Productions
Here’s an edited description of the game from the publisher:
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Link: Publisher’s game page
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 |  Conquest of Paradise
Publisher: GMT Games
UGG distributes GMT titles in Europe, so if Conquest of Paradise appears in early October, which is the expected release date, then UGG will have the game at its booth along with other recent releases. As for the game play, let’s start with a description from GMT:
Although Conquest of Paradise, with its emphasis on speedy rules comprehension and a compact playing time, fits the description of a modern Eurogame, the title itself is a throwback to an earlier historical era, a time when you’d be proud to crush paradise under your leather moccasin—and that impression is intentional. “Yes, that’s the gist of the title!” says McPartland. “I actually sat down with a group of colleagues at work (all of us architects) during lunch and brainstormed the ideas I had. I didn’t want to use the word ‘Conquest’ since it’s such an aggressively martial word—but one friend figured out that when it’s paired with ‘Paradise,’ it becomes a conundrum. It conveys the idea, not of conquering your opponent, but of subduing nature and making it support your plans for empire, just as the Polynesians actually did. I was surprised that the name had not been used as a title before!” If you like the title, look for the “special thanks” in the game’s credits and you’ll know who to thank. Conquest of Paradise sprang out of McPartland’s first published game, 1995’s Tahiti from 3W. “In that game, there is a unique endgame mechanic, where if you are losing, you can choose to leave the game, go on an ‘Expedition’ and hope to find something useful,” he says. “Somebody said that this should be my next game—and so it is!” McPartland has no special educational background in the history of the Pacific, but he first started learning about the Polynesians while researching material for Tahiti. “The more I learned about them, the more amazed I became,” he says. “I thought that somebody has got to tell this story because It’s amazing! So I told their story in the medium I enjoy most: Conquest of Paradise is the story of the Polynesian people, in a simulation game.” Much of the research material that McPartland absorbed and incorporated into Conquest of Paradise is included in a playbook that provides historic background (PDF) which is included with the game. One detail that caught my eye while reading the rules is that the player who chooses turn order not only decides who will start the round, but whether the order of play will go clockwise or counter-clockwise. “To be honest, this came from playing Puerto Rico,” says McPartland. “In that game, nobody wants to sit to the left of the best player! It turns into a comedy as folks jockey for position as they take their seats. This situation is easily fixed by allowing the game to go both ways—it adds an element of uncertainty, as well.” With Conquest of Paradise maxing out at four players, this tweak to the player order gives the turn order chooser—that is, the player in last place on the Victory Point chart—a lot of control over the flow of that current turn. As for how the number of players affects game play, McPartland says, “Two-player games are more confrontational since you’ve got only one opponent to focus on, and he’s right there! Combat is a constant threat in those games.” “Three- and four-player games tend to be more focused on diplomacy,” he continues. “But the game changes character with those who play it. My church games group could finish a complete game in 45 minutes—everyone was peacefully focused on quickly building their empire, and there would often be no combat at all in the game. Play the game at WBC with a bunch of war gamers, and the game takes three hours to finish. Everybody is too busy pounding on each other with every war canoe that they can build!”
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 | Container
Publisher: Valley Games
Here’s a looooong (and slightly edited) description of Container from the publisher:
Container is part of Valley Games’ 750 Special preorder program, but the game will be released at Essen whether or not the magic total of 750 preorders is reached. If you are one of those preorders, you’ll receive a 30% discount off the retail price as well as a special bonus of highly detailed plastic containers that match the plastic freighter ships included in the game. The containers shown in the images below are about the size of two standard wooden cubes placed side-by-side. More details about the preorder at the link below… Note that Thomas Ewert, co-designer of Container, will be at the Valley Games booth from 1-2pm each day autographing copies of the game. Ewert will also participate in a teaching game of Container from 2-4pm daily, and with only four available slots each day, you’re advised to sign up early if you want to face off against someone who really knows the game. On the other hand, you might want to wait around until 4-5pm when Miss Canada International 2008, Alesia Fieldberg, will be holding an autograph session. What’s more, Fieldberg will participate in a game of Container each day from 5-7pm. As with the games against Ewert, you should sign up early if you want to put the beatdown on a beauty queen. How did Valley Games swing this special event? Apparently Rik Falch, co-owner of Valley Games, knew Fielding before she even won the title of Miss Calgary. “After she won Miss Calgary, we agreed to sponsor her trip to Toronto to compete for Miss Canada International,” says Kevin Nesbitt. “At that time, we asked her to travel to Essen with us, and she agreed. You can imagine our joy when she won Miss Canada International!” Adds Nesbitt, “Hopefully her new title will help to bring more people into boardgaming, and give Valley Games an added boost in publicity. She’s an avid volunteer, so I’m sure there are many ways she can introduce people to boardgames.” Now that’s a charity you don’t hear too many beauty pageant contestants talk about!
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | |||||||
| Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage
Publisher: Valley Games
Here’s a description of the game from the publisher:
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| Municipium
Publisher: Valley Games
The prototype for Municipium should be available for play at Spiel if you ask nicely or request it beforehand. When the game will be published is an open question. Valley Games has Municipium listed in its 750 Special pre-order program at a 30% discount and a preorder bonus of pewter tokens; once 750 preorders have been taken, Valley Games will begin production of the title. Here’s a description of the game for the curious:
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| Steam over Holland
Publisher: Vendetta Games
In 2006, van Dijk showed off an 18xx game called 18IR that was set in the Netherlands. Now van Dijk is releasing a self-published version of the game titled Steam over Holland. Here’s a brief description of the game:
Van Dijk includes this description of the game on his website: “The gameplay uses the same basic mechanics as other 18xx games. However the focus of the game is more on the operation of the companies, than on the stockmarket. My goal in the development of this game was to create a short 18xx game wich is also suited for players who are new to the 18xx system. For this reason I kept the game reasonably straight forward and there are no extras, like mergers, loans etc.” The game will be released in a numbered edition of 1,000 copies. You can preorder Steam over Holland for pick-up at Spiel or mail delivery.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page, which includes rules in English, French, German, and Dutch | |||||||
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| PatimPatamPatum
Publisher: Vexillum
PatimPatamPatum is the first title from Vexillum, which is owned by co-designers Marià and Marc. “The game will be available a week or two after Essen, although during the fair LudoFact (the company printing the game) will give us the first units,” says Marc. “We don’t have a booth this year, but we’ll meet some reviewers to play the game. Anyone interested in having a look at the game or playing it can contact us by email.” As for the game play, PatimPatamPatum is a majority game set during the “La Patum” festival that takes place in the Catalan city of Berga. Says Marc, “The festival was recently declared ‘Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.” The gameboard depicts the old quarter of Berga, and each player represents a group of people participating in the festival. Your goal is to lead your patumaires (as these people are known) through the streets to reach the spots whereh the festival is being held. Naturally these spots are too small to hold everyone, so you have to use tricks to hold a place for yourself while ejecting others.
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 | Bingorello
Publisher: VIA-Spiele
An extremely simple card game that plays as follows, with translation courtesy of Patrick Korner:
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Link: Publisher’s game page | |||||||
 | Brass
Publisher: Warfrog Games
The title of the game comes from a Yorkshire saying, “wher thez muk therz brass,” but as Martin says, “Funnily enough, the game is set in Lancashire at the start of the Industrial Revolution.” Here’s the description from the Warfrog Games website:
Describing the game in a bit more detail, Wallace says that your goal in Brass is to build cotton mills, mines, canals, railways, and other businesses and end up with the most money. Unlike recent Warfrog titles, combat isn’t part of the game. Brass uses no dice, but the game does have a luck factor through the drawing of cards. As an special incentive—in case one is actually needed—Warfrog is giving away 300 Warfrog logo figurines cast in resin, one with each copy of Brass purchased at Essen from the Warfrog booth. “As this excludes those people in North America who are not going to Essen, I have also reserved 300 more figurines to be given away free with each copy of Brass ordered via Valley Games,” says Wallace. “Valley have not set up their website for this yet, so [buyers] need to be patient.” Adds Wallace, “I’m also planning on doing another 50 copies for those people in the UK and Europe who cannot make Essen.” If you live in Europe and want a limited edition frog, details for ordering are on the special offer page on the Warfrog website.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Mordred
(new edition)
Publisher: Warfrog Games
Martin Wallace is releasing a new version of Mordred, originally published in 1999 with incredibly plain graphics. “This new version will look much better! There are a few rules changes but essentially it remains a light, family game with lots of luck involved,” says Wallace. The new limited edition—which is full-color with wood pieces—will be 1,000 copies, and all profits from the sale of the game will help pay for the UK team to attend the World Transplant Games, which will be held in Thailand from August 25-September 2, 2007. Wallace showed off the prototype of the new design at the UK Games Expo in early June.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Mordred listing on the Valley Games website, which has the game for sale now for shipping in August | ||||||||
 | Nomads of Arabia
Publisher: Wattsalpoag Games
In addition to its debut game Claim It!, Wattsalpoag Games will be showing Nomads of Arabia, in which players try to capture and sell animals in order to have the most money when players reach Mecca. Whoever can offer the most money wins. The gameboard consists of five long strips of terrain, and the board shifts throughout the game to represent travel and the passing of time—all of which is a threat to travellers who can get lost in the shifting sands. For more on the game and details of how you play, head to my review of Nomads of Arabia here on BGN. | |||||||
 | Ghost for Sale
Publisher: What’s Your Game?
In Ghost for Sale, you’re trying to become a real estate baron in Scotland by buying up castles that will draw in tourists with the promise of ghosts and other spooks. Ghostless castles are unlikely to draw any of this specialized tourists trade, but castles with too many ghosts will be equally bad because they’ll scare tourists too much. During the game, you get to examine castles to see whether they feature ghosts or merely portraits of the elderly—near ghosts, as it were—then you decide whether to lie or tell the truth to the other players about what you’ve seen. Players acquire castles through a series of auctions, and the player who best guesses where the ghosts are located will do the best business. The game includes eight special cards which are used with advanced playing rules to create special types of auctions. Here are designer notes from Acchittocca about the game:
You can preorder Ghost for Sale on the What’s Your Game? website for €16.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Reef Encounters of the Second Kind
Publisher: What’s Your Game?
This will appear at the end of 2007 or beginning of 2008 and not in time for Essen. Sorry, shrimp fans! | ||||||||
 | 3..2..1..meins!
Publisher: Winning Moves
The designers of Nacht der Magier have a new family game on the market called “3..2..1..mine!” and subtitled “Larry Levy, stay far away from me.” The game includes a set of 90 goods cards that are divided into three categories, each of which has three subtypes: color (yellow/green/red), condition (new/used/antique), and function or use (everyday/luxury/collector). Players start with €352 in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Players place blind bids for the goods cards; the high bidder wins the good and places it before himself, while all of the low bidders lose the singlemost valuable piece of currency in their bid. The game ends when someone has won three cards that share a common feature.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Blokus Giant
Publisher: Winning Moves
An enormous version of the regular Blokus game. Educational Insights has talked about releasing this item in the U.S. in 2008, and while it’s intended more as a promotional item for gamestores that want to demo the game, it will also be available for purchase by those who want more oomph in their Blokus.
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| Monopoly: Die MEGA Edition
Publisher: Winning Moves
A 50% larger version of the long-lived business game, about which the Winning Moves press release says: “...die MEGA Edition ist MEGA GROSS...” | ||||||||
| Plus 4
Publisher: Winning Moves
A small abstract game originally published in France.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Wind & Wetter
(Wind & Weather)
Publisher: Winning Moves
Here’s a translated description from the publisher:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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 | Age of Steam: Pittsburgh
Publisher: Winsome Games
Here’s a description of this expansion from the publisher: “The Age of Steam: Pittsburgh expansion map addresses the difficulties of building industrial railroads in the Allegheny Mountains. It is not an easy job as the only straight track are expensive tunnels & bridges.” All four Winsome titles are sold as a numbered set for €75, and there are only 80 sets total. The set must be picked up at the Winsome booth on Thursday, Oct. 18, between 10am and noon. As of early September 2007, all of these sets have been reserved. | |||||||
| Age of Steam: Southern US
Publisher: Winsome Games
Here’s a description of this expansion from the publisher: “The Age of Steam: Southern US expansion map ranges from New Orleans to Raleigh and from Memphis to Jacksonville. 14 special Cotton goods cubes are included in this expansion focusing on the Old South.”
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| TrainSport
Publisher: Winsome Games
Here’s a description from the publisher: “Thomas Hüttner & Franky Bayer’s TrainSport is a completely upgraded version of our oldest in-print game. Wood cubes, flat package, and better artwork are features of this special Essen 2007 version.”
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| Wabash Cannonball
Publisher: Winsome Games
Here’s a description from the publisher: “Harry Wu’s Wabash Cannonball Is an innovative new boardgame with no luck factor. The B&O, C&O, Pennsylvania and New York Central railroads drive from the East Coast across the growing eastern US to Chicago. Smaller, more aggressive railroads like the Wabash spring up to further expand America’s extensive railroads. The sharpest railroad executives vie for the maximum return on their investment in this business game lasting about one hour. This game can be played by 2-6 players, but it is best with 3 or 4 players.”
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 | Amyitis
Publisher: Ystari Games
For its sixth original release, Amyitis, Ystari invites players to recreate one of the seven wonders of the ancient world: the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The game is named after the daughter (or granddaughter) of the king of the Medes, who married King Nebuchadnezzar II, ruler of Babylon, sometime in the 6th century BCE. “In distant Babylon, Queen Amyitis fell homesick, missing the green mountains of her native country,” says designer Cyril Demaegd. “The king was deeply in love, so he decided to build a mountain filled with trees for her, despite the tough climate.” Players are Babylonian nobles seeking prestige, so they will spend their money and resources to assist the king with his difficult task. “Amyitis is a gamer’s game, but it’s a bit lighter than Caylus,” says Demaegd. “The game is divided into two boards: Babylon (an area with fields, temples, and the gardens), and Mesopotamia (all the cities around Babylon).” Players have to manage three types of currencies: money, resources, and camels.
At heart Amyitis is a “recruiting game,” in Cyril’s terms, and players will spend their money in order to recruit people to help them. Assistance comes from:
Instead of recruiting, says Demaegd, players can spend camels to move the Caravan, which moves clockwise going from one city to another. In the cities, players can buy:
When the gardens are finished—or at least nearly finished—the game ends and the player with the most prestige wins. As Demaegd notes, “Of course there are many paths to victory...” The graphics are a work in progress for now, so the final game might not look like the images included below. You can download the rules—in French, English or German—from Ystari’s Amyitis webpage.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Caylus Premium Limited Edition
Publisher: Ystari Games
The Caylus Premium Limited Edition, only 1,500 copies of which will be produced, will be sold at the Ystari booth during Spiel 2007 and will not be reprinted in the same form, if at all. At least 500 copies will be available for sale through the Ystari website in September. The gameboard, tiles and box have been redesigned by Mike Doyle, and the game will include special components such as real metal deniers. Anyone who preorders a copy will receive a special figure of King Phillip the Fair, which Ystari publisher Cyril Demaegd describes as “awesome.” Roughly a thousand copies of the Phillip figure were produced, and the 5cm figure comes unpainted.
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 El Capitán
Publisher: Ystari Games
Ystari Games is co-producing this title with Dutch publisher QWG; the cover will differ from QWG’s Master Print edition, but everything else will be the same. Details about the game can be found under QWG’s El Capitán entry. | ||||||||
| Mykerinos Expansion
Publisher: Ystari Games
Ystari’s Cyril Demaegd has passed on the following details about the Mykerinos expansion:
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 Race for the Galaxy
Publisher: Ystari Games
For more details on Race for the Galaxy, head to the Rio Grande listing of the game—or just download the French rules using the link below.
Link:
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 | 1960: The Making of the President
Publisher: Z-Man Games
Z-Man Games will have only 50 copies of 1960 at Spiel, so if you want a copy, you need to send $50 via PayPal to sales AT zmangames DOT com or email your credit card information to the same address. You might want to write to Z-Man first to make sure copies are still available. Here’s a description of the game from the publisher:
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 Chang Cheng
Publisher: Z-Man Games
Z-Man Games is co-producing this title with Italian publisher Tenkigames, and details of game play are located at Tenkigames’ Chang Cheng listing. Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
 El Capitan
Publisher: Z-Man Games
Z-Man Games is co-producing this title with Dutch publisher QWG and will be selling the English version at Essen; the cover will differ from QWG’s Master Print edition, but everything else will be the same. Details about the game can be found under QWG’s El Capitán entry.
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| Gumball Rally
Publisher: Z-Man Games
Here’s a brief description from the publisher:
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| Pandemic
Publisher: Z-Man Games
Update Sept. 30: Z-Man Games won’t have Pandemic for sale at Spiel, but the prototype might be available. “The object of Pandemic is to save humanity by discovering cures to four deadly diseases before they spread out of control,” says designer Matt Leacock. To do this, players each take on a different role in a disease control team—scientist, medic, researcher, dispatcher, and operations expert—then traverse the globe, treating infected population centers in order to buy the time needed to develop four cures. “If the players are able to keep things under control long enough to find the four cures, they all win the game,” says Leacock. “If the diseases break out unchecked before then, the world erupts in chaos and the game is lost by everyone.” The surface description of Pandemic might sound similar to Bruno Faidutti’s Terra, a semi-cooperative trick-taking game, but while card play drives the action in Pandemic, Leacock says that Pandemic is fundamentally a strategy board game. In Pandemic, a gameboard represents the Earth and its major population centers. Players have four actions each turn to move around the board, treat diseases, hand cards to each other, build research stations, and discover cures. At the end of each turn, players collect cards representing the resources available to them; they can then use these cards as plane tickets or collect them in an effort to discover a cure. Players must also turn over Infection cards at the end of each turn to show where new disease turns up. Every so often, when a player replenishes his hand, he’ll draw an Epidemic card. “When this happens, the Infection cards that were previously drawn are shuffled together and placed *on top* of the Infection deck,” says Leacock. “This means that when players now draw Infection cards, the same cities are hit again, eventually becoming so saturated that they ‘break out,’ infecting all of their neighboring cities and sometimes causing deadly chain reactions.” Says Leacock, “Players must make difficult trade-offs as the situation on the board becomes more dire: Is it better to save up for the cure, or travel to a remote hotspot that’s ready to explode?” One neat element of the game design is that not all of the roles are in play—since there are five roles and at most four players—which means that the strategies needed to win will shift game by game depending on who’s playing which roles.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page | ||||||||
| Pick & Pack
Publisher: Z-Man Games
Despite the name, there’s a dearth of picking and an inordinate amount of packing in Pick & Pack. In this two-player game, players work in an apple-packing factory and race to pack their apple crates and get them ready for shipping. “The catch is,” says designer Simon Hunt, “they are both using the same tray-grabbing machinery to load their crates with trays.” With both players having a hand on the controls, one player is limited to vertical moves in the columns of the gameboard while the other player can make only horizontal moves in the rows. During set-up, 36 tiles representing apple trays—containing 1-6 apples each—are placed at random on a 6x6 grid. A pawn representing the tray-grabber is placed on the only tile to contain six apples. Each player has four empty crates awaiting apples and 12 actions tiles that are placed around the four sides of the grid. On a player’s turn, he moves the grabber from its current position to another square in the grid (with his movement limited to his specific direction), says Hunt. The tray in that position is placed into one of his packing crates. “If he moves the grabber to an empty square, he may activate one of his action tiles in the corresponding row; actions include stealing trays in the opponent’s crates and marking your own crates as premium apples, thus making them more valuable.” The game ends when a player can’t make a move or one player’s four crates bear a special scoring action tile, and the player with the highest score wins. Z-Man Games will have 96 copies of Pick & Pack at Spiel. That’s less than one copy for every 1,500 attendees…
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
Link: Publisher’s game page
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| Prophecy
Publisher: Z-Man Games
Here’s a game description from the publisher:
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| The Art of War
Publisher: Zilch Games
An abstract strategy game played on a wooden board with a funky look caused by the burnt spots to represent black hexes. In general, each player has a monarch piece, civilian pieces, and military pieces (or units). Civilians provide production points which allow you to bring new pieces onto the board, while military units take pieces off the board once again. The circle of life… If you capture another player’s monarch, that player is out of the game and you gain control over his remaining pieces. You goal is to control all the pieces on the board. Different sized gameboards are available, which give players different set-up possibilities.
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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 | Alles Tomate!
Publisher: Zoch
Here’s a translation of the game description from Patrick Korner:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Altamira
Publisher: Zoch
Here’s a translated game description from Patrick Korner:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Bausack
Publisher: Zoch
Here’s a translated description of this rerelease from the publisher:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
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| Didi Dotter
Publisher: Zoch
A translated description of the game from the publisher:
Pictures: (Click on the picture to see a larger version)
|
Sources:
Primary Sources
Spielbox—Knut-Michael Wolf
Bordspel—Erwin Broens
Game News Websites
Tric Trac
Game Information Websites
GoodGameGuide.de
Game Companies
GMT Games
Heidelberger
Spieleverlag
Pegasus Spiele
Phantastische-Spielewelten
Pilot Games
Portal Publishing
Post Scriptum
Pro Ludo
Quined Games
Ragnar Brothers
Red Glove
Repos Production
Rio Grande Games
Schmidt Spiele
Scribabs
Sierra Madre Games
Sphinx Spieleverlag
Spiellabor
Stratamax Games
Stratelibri
Surprised Stare
Games
Tenkigames
Third Dynasty Games
Valley Games
Warfrog Games
What’s Your Game?
White
Castle Games
White Goblin Games
Winning Moves
Ystari Games
Z-Man Games
Zilch Games
Zoch GmbH
Game Websites
Les Jeux de Ludo
Mike Doyle’s Art Play
Game Designers
Jeff Allers
William Attia
Richard Breese
Antony Brown
Andrea Chiarvesio
Friedemann de Pedro
Cyril Demaegd
Gary Dicken
Joe Huber
Simon Hunt
Tom Lehmann
Kevin McPartland
Max Michael
Alan Paull
Henning Poehl
Angelo Porazzi
JonMichael Rasmus
Lutz Stepponat
Martin Wallace
Sean Weitner
Gamers at Large
Jonathan Franklin
Felix Schellenberg
Posted by W. Eric Martin on Jul 1, 2008 at 12:30 AM in Special Features, Convention Previews / 10687
Comments:
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