I’m still fighting off jet lag after a trip overseas, so if you have any advice that can help me get back on track, tweet me. Please.
Spiel des Jahres Nominations Announced
Boardgamegeek.com’s W. Eric Martin wrote about this year’s Spiel des Jahres nominations, including the three games being considered for the top prize: Azul, Luxor, and The Mind.
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/76967/spiel-des-jahres-nominations-2018-azul-luxor-mind
Commentary on Spiel des Jahres
Jury Chair Tom Felber talked about this year’s games and the judging process: “We have never had to rule out so many in and of themselves very good games as this year, simply because their rulebooks did not meet the quality we expect. We jury members no longer wish to see ourselves in the role of beta-testers for rulebooks, which are only made adequate on the second printing run.”
Source: http://spieldesjahres.com/en/commentary-of-the-jury-chair-tom-felber-on-the-games-of-2018
Ticket to Ride: New York
Days of Wonder has announced Ticket to Ride: New York, a quicker and more portable version of its classic train game. “[P]layers race around 1960s New York City, this time in taxis, to visit landmarks and complete destination tickets. … [It’s a] stand-alone game designed for 2 to 4 players and plays in 10 to 15 minutes.” It hits North American and European retail shelves in July, and exclusively at Target for U.S. gamers.
Source: http://blog.daysofwonder.com/2018/05/15/ticket-to-ride-new-york-a-new-quicker-and-smaller-version-of-ticket-to-ride-board-game/
Star Wars: Legion Boba Fett Expansion
The Boba Fett Operative Expansion for Star Wars: Legion can now be ordered via the Fantasy Flight Games website. “A single unpainted, easily-assembled miniature depicts Boba Fett taking flight in search of his next quarry. Meanwhile, three command cards let you tap into the many dirty tricks that Fett has hidden in his Mandalorian armor, and three upgrade cards give you even more tools to equip Boba Fett or another unit for battle.”
Source: https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2018/5/11/rogue-operative/
Warsaw: City of Ruins
According to Gameosity, Warsaw: City of Ruins will be available this August. “The game, which was originally published as Capital by Granna, is a 2-4 player tile placement game where everyone is trying to rebuild Warsaw from the 16th century through modern times.”
Source: https://gameosity.com/2018/05/18/north-star-games-to-launch-warsaw-city-of-ruins-this-summer/
Betrayal Upgrade Kit
Betrayal at House on the Hill fans can finally get ride of those terrible character cards, thanks to WizKids’ new Betrayal at House on the Hill Upgrade Kits. According to GTS Distribution, kits feature new character art, sturdier construction, and will be available this September and “includes six pre-assembled and double-sided character cards with dials sandwiched between the two sides to accurately track your characters Speed, Might, Sanity, and Knowledge with ease.” Eight premium dice will also be included in the upgrade.
Source: https://www.gtsdistribution.com/pc_product_detail.asp?key=DED1826643F340338B2CE5ADAE0F9F3B
Narcos: The Board Game
Based on the Netflix show, Narcos: The Board Game will be published by CMON and Gaumont, according to Dice Tower News. “One person acts as El Patrón, managing a growing narcotics empire while trying to keep their location on the board a secret. The remaining players lead the hunter factions such as the D.E.A., Policía Nacional de Colombia, Cali Cartel, and the guerrilla extremist group. The separate factions work together to find El Patrón and win if they find him. El Patrón wins if he is able to evade the hunters and fulfill his secret objectives.”
Source: http://www.dicetowernews.com/cmon-announces-narcos-the-board-game-based-on-netflix-original-series/51793
Fungeon Party
Boardgame Babylon reports that WizKids is releasing Fungeon Party next month. It’s a real-time dungeon-crawl, dexterity game, which includes quests such as “Stack dice on your forehead, bounce dice into the box, knock down a meeple surrounded by dice, [or]balance a meeple on a stick.”
Source: http://boardgamebabylon.com/2018/05/15/press-release-wizkids-release-fungeon-party/
Lost Cities: Rivals
A new game based on the classic Reiner Knizia title Lost Cities is scheduled to be released later this year. According to W. Eric Martin’s BGG blog, in Lost Cities: Rivals “the basic card play remains the same as in other LC games, [but]what’s new in this title is that you must win auctions in order to place cards in your expeditions.”
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/77153/more-lost-cities-discover-rivals
Monster Lands
Second Gate Games is publishing Monster Lands this October, according to ICv2.com. “Combining dice with resource management and worker placement mechanics, Monster Lands transforms players into the leaders of warrior clans from the Lands of the Discord, each seeking to capture the crown.”
Source: https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/40437/second-gate-games-heads-monster-lands
Return of Spellslingers
Back by popular demand is Spellslingers, the Geek & Sundry web series focusing on Magic: The Gathering. The show will “demonstrate the game mechanics of the intricate Magic: The Gathering card game with fun insights, commentary, and celebrity guests.”
Source: https://geekandsundry.com/spellslingers-is-returning-to-geek-sundry-on-may-30th/
Upcoming Board Game Conventions
May 25-28. KublaCon. Burlingame, California.
May 25-28. Gamex. Los Angeles, California.
June 1-3. NashCon. Nashville, Tennessee.
June 13-17. Origins. Columbus, Ohio.
June 24-30. Rocky Mountain Gaming Vacation. Park City, Utah.
July 4-8. Dice Tower Con. Orlando, Florida.
July 12-15. HistoriCon. Fredericksburg, Virginia.
July 13-15. KantCan. Overland Park, Kansas.
July 21-29. WBC. Champion, Pennsylvania
August 2-5. GenCon. Indianapolis, Indiana.
August 24-26. MegaMooseCon. Richburg, South Carolina.
August 24-28. Coulee Con. La Crosse, Wisconsin.
August 31-September 3. Gateway 2018. Los Angeles, California.
September 8-9. WashingCon. Washington, D.C.
September 13-16. Buckeye Game Fest. Columbus, Ohio.
September 14-16. GrandCon. Grand Rapids, Michigan.
September 21-23. Protospiel Chicago. Chicago, Illinois.
September 27-30. Hurricon. Kissimmee, Florida.
October 5-7. Council of Five Nations. Schenectady, New York.
October 5-7. Great Falls Gaming Rendezvous. Great Falls, Montana.
Visit casualgamerevolution.com for more convention listings.
