Two things before we dive into this Memorial Day edition of the Village Square: first, a heartfelt thank-you to those who’ve paid the ultimate price while serving our country. You are not forgotten. Second, a quick shout-out to my buddies Meeple Lady and Doscar for the fun game of Sagrada. I enjoyed a short-but-sweet visit to Gamex thanks to them and a whole lot of other non-Twitter friends.
Crystal Clans
From Plaid Hat Games comes Crystal Clans, a two-player battle card game, according to ICv2.com. The game, which will be out this fall, is about “warring clans struggling to take control of mystical crystals that grant enormous magical powers. The game includes six different clans, such as the Flower Clan and the Skull Clan, each with their own unique powers and abilities.”
Source: https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/37612/crystal-clans-march-battle
Raiders to English
Renegade Game Studios will be releasing Raiders of the North Sea and its expansions in English this summer. The Kennerspiel nominee is a worker placement game and players will “assemble a crew, collect provisions and journey north to plunder gold, iron, and livestock.”
Source: http://www.renegadegamestudios.com/news/2017/5/24/renegade-to-publish-kennerspiel-nominee-raiders-of-the-north-sea-in-english
Cutthroat Kingdoms
AEG announced a new game, Cutthroat Kingdoms, out this August, with a preview at Gen Con. Dice Tower News reports, “Utilizing political intrigue, powerful armies, and strategic alliances, Cutthroat Kingdoms is a competitive game of negotiation and dealmaking with a medieval fantasy theme.”
Source: http://www.dicetowernews.com/cutthroat-kingdoms-coming-from-aeg/45006
More Guardians
USAopoly will be publishing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: Gear Up and Rock Out! card game. According to tabletopgamingnews.com, the card game “offers all-new game play with your favorite ragtag team from the hit movie franchise.”
Source: http://www.tabletopgamingnews.com/usaopoly-announces-guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-2-gear-up-and-rock-out-card-game/
Digital App News
According to the Asmodee Digital website, both Jaipur and the new Glyphs expansion for Onirim are now available for iOS and Android.
Source: http://www.asmodee-digital.com/onirim/ and http://www.asmodee-digital.com/jaipur/
Rory’s to Asmodee
The popular Rory’s Story Cubes has been sold to Asmodee. The folks at purplepawn.com report that “company co-founder Rory O’Connor expressed confidence in Asmodee’s commitment to the product as both a game and a resource for promoting creativity. Asmodee, he said, will better be able to expand the reach of Rory’s Story Cubes to a wider audience and additional global markets. Don’t expect any sudden changes to the product line, though, or a major expansion in licensed versions of Story Cubes.”
Source: http://www.purplepawn.com/2017/05/rorys-story-cubes-sold-to-asmodee/
Board Game History
Here’s an interview with Tristan Donovan, author of “It’s All a Game: The History of Board Games from Monopoly to Settlers of Catan.”
Source: https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2017/05/26/how-milton-bradley-morality-play-shaped-modern-board-game/zaSGpwaQN0MZKCmWzr3cuL/story.html
Upcoming Board Game Conventions
May 25-29. Game Fest 29. Atlanta, Georgia.
May 26-29. Gamex 2017. Los Angeles, California.
May 26-29. KublaCon. San Francisco, California.
June 9-11. DieCon. Collinsville, Illinois.
June 14-18. Origins Game Fair. Columbus, Ohio.
June 23-35. Polycon. San Luis Obispo, California.
July 5-9. Dice Tower Con. Orlando, Florida.
July 15-17. Protospiel. Manchester, Michigan.
July 22-30. World Boardgaming Championship. Champion, Pennsylvania.
July 28-30. NovaComic-Con. Tyson’s Corner, Virginia.
August 17-20. Gen Con 50. Indianapolis, Indiana.
August 25-27. Coulee Con. La Crosse, Wisconsin.
August 25-27. Congress of Gamers. Falls Church, Virginia.
September 1-4. Gateway 2017. Los Angeles, California.
September 1-4. Pacificon Game Expo. Santa Clara, California.
September 9-10. WashingCon. Washington, D.C.
September 15-17. GrandCon. Grand Rapids, MI.
September 15-17. Protospiel. Chicago, Illinois.
October 6-8. TsunamiCon. Wichita, Kansas.
October 6-8. CinCityCon. Cincinnati, Ohio.
October 7-8. Congress of Gamers. Rockville, Maryland.
October 13-15. XPO 2017. Tulsa, Oklahoma.
October 13-15. ConnCon/FallCon. Stamford, Connecticut.
November 17-19. PAX Unplugged. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Visit casualgamerevolution.com for more convention listings.
