The Village Square: January 14, 2016

After all of the Star Wars hoopla to end 2015, wasn’t it nice to start the year off Star-Wars-free? Yeah, right. As soon as that first The Force Awakens showing was finished, fans were counting down the days to the first Star Wars Anthology film, Rogue One. Thankfully, we’ll have plenty of Star Wars board gaming to keep us sane over the next 11 months. Whether it’s Imperial Assault, Armada, the upcoming Rebellion, or any of the other classic games, the Force will continue to be strong in 2016 and beyond.

Quadropolis
Days of Wonder is releasing Quadropolis this spring. The winner of the International Game Designers Contest of Boulogne Billancourt, Quadropolis is a game where players enact the role of the Mayor of a modern city.

Toy Previews
W. Eric Martin previews the upcoming Nurnberg/New York 2016 Toy Conventions.

Problematic Pleasures
I’m enjoying the articles at Analog Game Studies, especially this one which looks at the problems of glossing over history in certain games.

The Game of the Path
One of my favorite filler games, Tsuro, will be available digitally soon. Thunderbox Entertainment is publishing the iOS version (Android to follow), which promises to be in full 3D, with pass-and-play and cross-platform, turn-based online play.

Really Old School
A collector and historian donated nearly 1,500 board games, dated from the years 1800 to 2000, to Oxford’s Bodleian Libraries. A selection of them is now on display.

Ghana Gaming
Cool little video clip on traditional board games like Oware (similar to Mancala) and Ludo (similar to Pachisi) being played by fishermen in Ghana.

Android Board Games
The deckbuilding game Siberian Dawn and the solitaire dice game Land 6 are now available for Android devices.

Back in Print
According to their recent Facebook post, the folks at Pearl Games are bringing Troyes back to print. If all goes well, then they’ll be publishing the expansion Ladies of Troyes.

Tiny Epic Western
The Tiny Epic Western Kickstarter was funded in less than a day and hit most of its stretch goals as well. I love the custom bullet dice and the cowboy meeples.

Fly Casually
Check out this terrific journal from a new X-Wing Miniatures fan entering his first tournament.

Upcoming Board Game Conventions
January 15-17. SnowCon. Bangor, Maine.
January 15-18. Brycecon 2016. Bryce Canyon City, Utah.
January 16. ChequameCON! The Northland Gaming Convention. Ashland, Wisconsin.
January 22-24. EsCon 2016. San Marcos, California.
January 29-31. Eugene Games Gala. Springfield, Oregon.
January 29-31. PAX South. San Antonio, Texas.
January 30. LA Board Game Jam. Pasadena, California.
January 30-31. GCOM’s Winter Game Fest. Rockville, Maryland.
February 12-15. Orccon 2016. Los Angeles, California.
February 19-21. OwlCon. Houston, Texas.
February 22-28. PrezCon 2016. Charlottesville, Virginia.
March 4-6. Tennessee Game Days. Franklin, Tennessee.
March 4-6. FallsCon 2016. Witchita Falls, Texas.
March 18-20. Meeplecon. Las Vegas, Nevada.
March 18-20. MidSouthCon 34. Memphis, Tennessee.
April 1-3. Gaming Hoopla. Gurnee, Illinois.
April 9-10. Unpub Games Festival. Baltimore, Maryland.
April 22-24. Rocket City Gamefest. Huntsville, Alabama.
April 22-24. LexiCon Tabletop Gaming. Lexington, Kentucky.
May 19-22. Geekway to the West. St. Louis, Missouri.
May 27-30. Gamex 2016. Los Angeles, California.
June 3-5. 2D Con. Bloomington, Minnesota.
June 15-19. Origins Game Fair. Columbus, Ohio.
June 17-19. PolyCon 34. San Luis Obispo, California.
June 23-26. Texicon. Hurst, Texas.
July 6-10. Dice Tower Gaming Con V. Orlando, Florida.
September 2-5. Gateway 2016. Los Angeles, California.