Thanks to a bad knee, I skipped Comic Con and laid in bed all weekend. Arrgh! I would’ve been more depressed about missing a chance to go to my first Con in almost a decade if not for my wife taking care of me. She made sure I was well-fed and hydrated, medicated, and got my fix of board games. She even let me win.
Asmodee Acquiring F2Z Entertainment
Asmodee announced it was in the process of acquiring F2Z Entertainment, which includes the studios Z-Man Games, Plaid Hat Games, and Filosofia. According to ICv2.com, “F2Z was the largest North American publisher of hobby board games not already owned by Asmodee.”
Source: http://icv2.com/articles/news/view/35046/asmodee-acquiring-f2z-entertainment
Codenames: Pictures
After Codenames was given the Spiel des Jahres, ACD Distribution announced a release date for its sequel, Codenames: Pictures. This game is played with “[w]himsical, mind-twisting illustrations” and can be played with the original Codenames. The rules of the game are the same and it will hit the shelves on September 30th.
Source: http://acddistribution.blogspot.com/2016/07/coming-in-september-from-czech-games.html
Star Trek Adventures
Set to be previewed at Gen Con, Modiphius Entertainment’s role-playing game Star Trek Adventures will be released in the summer of 2017. According to inverse.com, “Modiphius’s Star Trek Adventures will draw its material exclusively from the prime universe, and not the rebooted J.J. Abrams continuity.”
Source: https://www.inverse.com/article/18620-star-trek-tabletop-rpg-roleplaying-board-game-kirk-spock-mccoy
Attack on Deck-Building
More news from ACD Distribution: Cryptozoic Games’ Attack on Titan Deck-Building Game will be available in September. “Play as Eren, Mikasa, Armin and many others as you struggle to keep the Titans at bay. New to this Cerberus Engine game is movement. The location of your Hero in the game area matters. Protect the walls or watch them crumble.”
Source: http://acddistribution.blogspot.com/2016/07/coming-september-from-cryptozoic-attack.html
Updated Crusoe
A new edition of Portal Games’ Robinson Crusoe is due this September. GTS Distribution states that this edition will contain “custom wooden pieced for all resources, thick cardboard player boards for each character, additional 7th scenario,” and a completely rewritten rulebook.
Source: http://www.gtsdistribution.com/pc_product_detail.asp?key=BAAF6051A0F3426BAC69998D982D71F3
Digital Maquis
A first-look video at the digital implementation of the worker-placement game Maquis, courtesy of boardgamegeektv.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXFTSgSvyjs
Business of Board Games
From howlifeunfolds.com comes an interview with Alex Yeager, Vice-President of Product Acquisition and Development for Mayfair Games. In talking about why board games continue to thrive in a digital age he says, “There is simplicity to playing a paper-based board or card game, and allowing the static information presented by them to stimulate the creative elements of your brain. In a board game, you’re not just accepting information – you’re offered the opportunity to imagine and process information at your own pace.”
Source: http://www.howlifeunfolds.com/stronger-connections/business-board-games
Lessons From Brazil
Mayday Games’ founder Seth Hiatt discusses the troubles he had trying to open the company’s licensing and distribution in Brazil. After getting his luggage seized and running around and filling out the appropriate paperwork he received his “bags late on the 2nd day of this frustrating process. I can’t imagine tackling this without speaking Portuguese and I don’t recommend you try it. Now I know what to do and have some contacts to help me do it, so next time it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Source: http://www.blog.maydaygames.com/mayday-games-cautionary-tale-not-open-market-brazil/
Digging Up a Designer Diary
Over at analoggames.com, Phil Walker-Harding talks about designing his game Archaeology. “I think this first experience taught me how important it is as a designer to just get your games out there. Especially when you start out, releasing something even on a small scale can be so valuable for getting feedback and improving your skills.”
Source: http://www.analoggames.com/story/archaeology-a-ten-year-expedition/
Unexploded Cow
NPR briefly chats with James Ernest and how his odd ideas for games like Unexploded Cow become reality.
Source: http://www.npr.org/2016/07/24/484356521/amid-board-game-boom-designers-roll-the-dice-on-odd-ideas-even-exploding-cows
Upcoming Board Game Conventions
July 30. VladdaCon. Holliston, Massachusetts.
August 4-7. Gen Con 2016. Indianapolis, Indiana.
August 19-21. Dragonflight XXXVII. Bellevue, Washington.
August 26-28. Coulee Con 2016. La Crosse, Wisconsin.
September 1-4. Tacticon 2016. Colorado Springs, Colorado.
September 2-5. Gateway 2016. Los Angeles, California.
September 10-11. WashingCon. Washington, D.C.
September 24-25. Congress of Gamers. Rockville, Maryland.
October 15-16. RetroWorld Expo 2016. Wallingford, Connecticut.
Visit casualgamerevolution.com for more convention listings.