If you missed Wolfie’s article on alternative ways to store your game bits, then read it now. I’m a sucker for Daiso Japan’s storage containers and, as he wrote, there are lots of affordable ways to keep your game neat, tidy, and ready for its next play.
Forged
Asmodee announced Dice Forge will be available during the second quarter of this year. The 2-4 player game “To claim victory in a game of Dice Forge, you will need more glory than any other player—which you can achieve by performing heroic feats among the celestial islands of the divine realm. Your dice are the key to obtaining gold, gathering shards, and achieving these legendary deeds, but their initial form won’t carry you to victory. You’ll need to reforge your dice and make your own luck over the course of the game.”
Source: http://drafts.asmodee.us/en/news/2017/1/26/dice-forge/
Sensei’s Path
From purplepawn.com comes news of an expansion for Onitama due out this May. In Onitama: Sensei’s Path, there will be “16 new move cards for use in Onitama. They can be used as their own set of move cards or shuffled in with the previous cards to create a ton of new card combinations.”
Source: http://www.purplepawn.com/2017/01/onitama-senseis-path-lands-in-may/
Potion Explosion App
Asmodee Digital released the Potion Explosion app for Android and iOS. The press release stated, “Developed by Studio Clangore and created by Horrible Games, Potion Explosion refreshes the traditional tile-matching game mechanic by adding unique strategic and inventory management elements in a whimsical atmosphere.”
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hmn2y7nKHH4
New Old Games
W. Eric Martin wrote about self-published games that Pegasus Spiele will be releasing in new versions, including Santo Domingo and 4 Seasons. “Large established publishers receive hundreds, if not thousands, of game pitches over the course of a year, but sometimes the farm league system — a.k.a. self-publication — is still the route by which games are discovered and (re)released by these publishers.”
Source: https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/61893/pegasus-spiele-makes-old-games-new-santo-domingo-4
Starfinder
Paizo has announced its first wave of releases of its sci-fi fantasy RPG, Starfinder. According to ICv2.com, “The game, set in a sci-fantasy future of Paizo’s Pathfinder game, mixes science and magic, includes classic races as well as new ones, corporations and gods interacting and more. Trade releases will happen after Gen Con in late August.”
Source: http://icv2.com/articles/news/view/36626/paizo-aims-stars-gen-con
First Journey to Europe
According to Dice Tower News, Days of Wonder will be releasing Ticket to Ride: First Journey with a new map. While the game retains the same name, this new version will contain a map of Europe. “Like the original it will feature a simplified board along with large landmarks to mark each of the cities, making destination finding easier. The train cards will feature all new whimsical illustrations as well as similar bonus point possibilities.”
Source: http://www.dicetowernews.com/ticket-to-ride-first-journey-is-going-to-europe/36184
Retail Space
Interesting piece about one brick-and-mortar owner and how he handles the plethora of good board games and his finite amount of shelf space. “All things being equal, games are bought on pedigree. A great board game from a top publisher not only gets picked over a great board game from a one off publisher, but it gets bought deeply.”
Source: http://blackdiamondgames.blogspot.com/2017/01/too-many-board-games-tradecraft.html
h/t http://www.dicetowernews.com/what-happens-when-there-are-too-many-games-for-a-store-to-carry/36201
Upcoming Board Game Conventions
February 2-5. Game-o-Rama. Atlanta, Georgia.
February 17-20. Orccon 2017. Los Angeles, California.
February 17-20. DunDraCon. San Ramon, California.
February 18. Day Con 2017. Fairborn, Ohio.
February 20-26. PrezCon 2017. Charlottesville, Virginia.
February 24-26. Fire & Ice Gaming Convention. Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
February 24-26. Gamicon Iron. Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
March 2-5. SaltCON. Layton, Utah.
March 3-5. GAD-Con. Aberdeen, Maryland.
March 17-19. MeepleCon. Las Vegas, Nevada.
April 7-9. Gaming Hoopla. Gurnee, Illinois.
April 22-23. QC Game Fest. Davenport, Iowa.
May 18-21. Geekway to the West. St. Charles, Missouri.
May 26-29. Gamex 2017. Los Angeles, California.
June 14-18. Origins Game Fair. Columbus, Ohio.
August 17-20. Gen Con 50. Indianapolis, Indiana.
September 1-4. Gateway 2017. Los Angeles, California.
November 17-19. PAX Unplugged. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Visit casualgamerevolution.com for more convention listings.
