The Opinionated Gamers

Here we are! Essen Messe day 1. Thousands gamers gathering in the north of Germany, despite the bad weather and the terrible food. Thousands of gamers crushing their pigs full of money to buy almost everything publishers and designers are promoting in stand every year more appealing. Does the nice looking girls and the expert gamers, with long beards, demonstrators succeed in getting a sold out before Saturday of a small print-run game no one will remember in two years from now ? Who will be the stars of the 2015 edition ? Will be BGG Buzz or Fairplay a good thermometer of what’s going on ? The man selling the spiral potatos will be able to survive the horde of hungry people at his small barrack ? We will be able to resist to the compulsive desire to buy everything is looking more than average in the fear of not getting home the hottest games ? (Probably no!)

Keep reading Father in the Messe report if you want to know something more but remember, the only real answer is always 42!

Everything started in the press office where me and Caterina were suggesting to the girl working there a nice Italian restaurant with very good “gnocchi al tartufo” sadly discovering, later in the evening, it doesn’t exist anymore …

It was 9:45 when we met Dale in the hall 3. It was a very nice beginning. I’m always surprised how it is possible to meet each other ever year without any appointment.

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Essen Day One: Thoughts from a First Time Attendee

Note: This is my first time attending Essen, so in my entries this week I’m discussing the convention from the perspective of a first time attendee.  I’m also providing snap reviews of games: below I talk about Ticket to Ride United Kingdom and Skyliners.  These are just first impressions: I’m sure the OG will follow-up with full reviews in the coming weeks.  

If I had to pick one word to describe the first day of Essen, I would go with “overwhelming.”  The halls have hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of games for sale.  Every kind of game is available, often in several different languages, with options spanning three or four decades.  At least 800 new titles were released leading up to today and today.  Tens of thousands of gaming enthusiasts flooded into the building at 10:00am this morning, and by noon, one of the biggest buildings I’ve ever been in was packed and teeming with excitement for board games. Continue reading →

Posted too soon.  Forgot to take a pics of the games.

Sorry for the flash flare. In a hurry because it’s time to run back to the show. 

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