There are a few pieces of news for me to share to you, so I figured another Newsapalooza was in order despite the fact that we had one 4 days ago as my last post. I'm going to get right into it, so here we go!
Mayfair Games will release Era of Darkness, a new expansion for the Rivals of Catan card game that was released last year, on November 17th. The Era of Darkness Expansion, which requires Rivals of Catan to play, takes two players 45-60 minutes and will retail for $12.00. The Expansion contains three 30-card expansions, Almanac, and rules book.
In addition, Mayfair Games has announced Jan 18, 2012 street dates for the second expansion to Age of Steam (California 2090) and Giza - the Great Pyramid. Stay tuned for more information on those when it becomes available.
Days of Wonder has announced Memoir '44 Campaign Book Volume 2 is now available featuring 46 new scenarios in 11 unique campaigns. Pretty sweet to see a book update to follow all the awesomeness that has been the free to play online title. Check out the book 2 product page.
Tasty Minstrel games is teaming up with Toys for Tots to make donations to help out less fortunate children have a merry Christmas/holiday this winter. All you have to do to help out is like their facebook page and the donation amount will depend upon the number of likes they have. So not only do you get to like a kick ass upcoming publisher, you get to assist in donating money to kids. Win/Win if you ask me.
Also, Eminent Domain, Belfort, Homesteaders 2nd Edition, and Martian Dice have begun to be shipped out for Kickstarter and pre-orders.
Victory Point Games has announced an expansion for their TC Tennis title. Dubbed World Class Women, the expansion will add 24 of the finest women tennis players in the world, including Billy Jean King and Martina Navratilova.
WizKids and Icarus Studio have announced an addition to HeroClix Online with the Marvel Infinity Challenge which introduces 30 new figures and a new map. Overall the Infinity Challenge will add over 50 unique figures and 178 total new figures over the course of their additions. Head to the website for more details - http://hco.heroclix.com/
Ares Games, who recently picked up the Wings of War distribution in North America after Fantasy Flight Games finished their license, has announced a new line of World War I planes. These are the first WWI planes to be released worldwide and include two extra-large models in the long range bombers Caproni CA.3 and Gotha G.V.
Couple of pieces of news out of Mayfair Games recently. They have opened a GmbH in Germany that will run distribution throughout Europe starting in November; great piece of news for the Euros. Also they have announced the release of Test of Fire Bull Run 1861.
From the official announcement -
Let Mayfair Games' new board game transport you back in time to July 21st, 1861 to take command as the raw, untried armies of the North and South as they clash in the first battle of the American Civil War!
Will you take the part of Confederate General Beauregard and defend Virginia or the part of Union General McDowell and reunite the nation? Simple game mechanics center on a system where command opportunities are determined by dice and action cards, eloquently portraying the frustrations of command. Suitable for ages 10+, this 2 player game can be completed in under an hour, allowing you to play- and replay the first battle of the American Civil War again and again.
WizKids has announced the November release of Rise of the Demons, an expansion for its innovative Quarriors! Dice-Building Game (see "WizKids Launches Dice Building Game"). Rise of the Demons features 20 new custom dice and 19 new cards. Designed by Mike Elliott and Eric Lang, this "corrupted" expansion for 2-4 players (ages 14 and up) combines innovative corruption mechanisms with the introduction of Demonic Overlords, Basic Corrupted Quiddity, and Corruption Spells.
Players can attempt to flood their opponents' bags with corrupted dice to slow their progress, or they can hoard their resources to purchase Demonic Overlords from the Wilds. Do you have what it takes to overcome corruption, or will you succumb to the demons? The choice in Rise of the Demons is yours.
Days of Wonder is now accepting pre-orders for the latest expansion to the Ticket to Ride series, which has been generally accepted to be one of the top board games ever produced. Ticket to Ride: Asia is going to be great for two reasons: first, it is a long awaited addition to the analog version of the series, although technically the Alvin & Dexter expansion came out this year. However if you only include true board based expansions, then the last official release would be the Nordic expansion in 2007. Since then Days of Wonder has been more focused on bringing the title into the digital space with Xbox LIVE Arcade version in 2008 and the iPad version released last May. Second, on the back side of the map will include a second map which will be a printing of François Valentyne's, one of the contest winners, submission called Legendary Asia. So not only is this a long awaited addition, you get double your money's worth. Priced at $30 USD, you can't ask for a better value.
Great news for Stratus Games as both Barnes and Noble Booksellers and Target have picked up distribution of a few of SGs titles. B&N; patrons can now purchase Launch Pad and purveyors of Target will be able to pick up a copy of Gold Mine. It's nice to see these games being available for the masses. Hopefully the will understand the value of the products, make their purchases (holiday or whatever reason) and help Stratus Games produce additional great products like their latest upcoming title Eruption, which just so happens to have a contest for right now! Check it out!
If you were a reader during the March timeline, you might have read a 4 part article about an fairly unknown title called Warparty that I had the pleasure to encounter during my trip to the 25th revision of the annual convention known as Total Con held in Mansfield, Massachusetts. For a recap or if you would like to check out the articles you can find them here:
As I go back and recount my descriptions of Warparty, I don't think I really explained the breadth of the game and more of recounted my experience with it. While the experience aspect is important, it is only a piece of the whole that the user needs to know in order to fully realize what is at stake with support for the title. That is where the Youtube demo video comes into play. Being able to understand the mechanics of the game will help you understand what the game is all about and the 4 part series will help you understand what it feels like to play it. I cannot stress how polished and balanced this game is and how passionate the creators are for the game. I urge you to go out and meet Larry at a convention, pick his brain, and try the game. Without you, the player, this title cannot fully come to realization as it should be. If you haven't pre-ordered it for a discount at Lock N' Load, go do so!
The Locusts, so named by human scientists for their immense numbers, are a race of humanoids from deep within the subterranean tunnels of Sera. These relentless killers seem bent on destruction, and all attempts at negotiation with them have ended in violence. As mankind approaches its final stand, what new horrors does their mysterious enemy hold in store?
An Emergence Hole has opened at your local game store, and you and your team are humanity's last hope of survival. Gears of War™: The Board Game is now on sale at your local retailer and on our webstore!
Gears of War: The Board Game, designed by Corey Konieczka, is based on the wildly popular third-person shooter by Epic Games. One to four players take on the roles of COG soldiers cooperating to destroy the Locust horde, and must work together to complete missions against an ingeniously challenging and varied game system. In Gears of War: The Board Game, you'll relive classic moments from Gears of War™ and Gears of War™ 2. Roadie Run into cover, spray your enemy with blind fire, or rip him in half with your Lancer's chainsaw!
Stand together or die alone
Teamwork is essential in Gears of War: The Board Game, as you and your fellow COGs will secure areas in an ever-expanding and randomized map, lay down suppressing fire to support each other's movements, and rush to the aid of fallen allies - all in an effort to complete your mission objective.
Also essential is the careful use of the tools at your disposal: a range of tactical options and devastating weapons. Your hand of Order cards represents your COG's spectacular battle prowess, and on each turn you'll discard one to either use its listed ability, move across the map, or attack.
You can even hold on to these versatile Orders, discarding them to dodge or guard against incoming attacks, or to follow closely behind a teammate. Communication is key, and the most successful COGs recognize that together, they form a deadly machine.
GSI announces the release of Death Ride - Hafid Ridge, a small, fast paced, short, tactical simulation of the Battle for Hafid Ride during Operation Battleaxe in June 1941 in North Africa. This game can be played within a few hours and should be perfect for your Friday night gaming events or weekend tournament. It will have you on pins and needles from the first turn to the last. Price is $39.00 plus applicable taxes, for Texans, and shipping.
And if that's not enough Death Ride - Halfaya Pass is scheduled for release at the beginning of October 2011. This is another small, fast paced, short, tactical simulation oriented on Operation Battleaxe. Price is approx $45.00 plus applicable taxes, for Texans, and shipping.
If you have been around for the last few months you will have noticed that we here at Critical Gamers enjoy seeing the little guy, the unexpected success, the underdog, rise up and conquer. I mean how else do we get to where we are today? Someone has an idea, devotes themselves to it, and gathers support from their peers to bring it to fruition. What makes Carnival from Dice Hate Me Games even more special is that this idea comes from a direct peer of ours here at Critical Gamers. Not only is this DHMG's first offering it is coming out of a fellow gaming blogger site Dice Hate Me. It is ideas and passion like theirs that continues to drive our industry forward with fresh and creative ideas that just overflows with love for what they do. Check out the video about the game, visit the Kickstarter page, and pledge today!
Newsapalooza - Critical Gamers 9.26.11
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