Well, the time has almost come to leave for Europe… In fact, as you read this, I’m probably in the air already headed off for a week of fun and adventure on the Continent. As usual, there is a flurry of last minute information on games that is causing last minute havoc on my carefully planned list of games to look at next week!
First, some sad news – a number of games have already been announced as “not being ready for SPIEL”
[To continue the Ignacy Trzewiczek day – as Liga has just published his interview with Ignacy earlier this morning – let me talk a bit about the new game, The New Era, which will debut at SPIEL 2011!]
My local game group was given the opportunity to play an advance copy of New Era, the standalone expansion to 51st State. I’ll be honest with you, when I first got the offer, I wasn’t sure what to think of it – I was honestly fairly neutral about 51st State. I loved the ideas / mechanics behind the original game, but it fell a little flat in my group as we felt it was mostly group solitaire. Other than two or three cards – which weren’t even guaranteed to come into play – there was no way to interact with the cards of the other players’ areas. Yes, there was some indirect interaction though the card drafting at the start of each round – but that was about it…
After discussing the game a bit via email with the designer, Ignacy Trzewiczek, I was assured that this new version would alleviate a lot of my concerns with the original design. The whole premise behind New Era was an increase in interaction between the players – and this interaction could be both cooperative as well as antagonistic. Seeing as I loved the idea and theme behind the original, I told Ignacy that I’d give the game a try, and having played it a few times now, I’m glad that I did!
Essen 2011 has come and gone, leaving over 700 new board games in its wake. To help you sort through the tidal wave of new releases, we bring you 28 previews leading up to the fair along with 20 convention reports, including many from our four intrepid reporters on the ground.
Check out the Opinionated Gamers Essen 2011 Coverage!
Here my new post for The Art of Design series. This time I’m gone to interview Ignacy Trzewiczek. He is not yet a long-time designer like others I have interviewed before but he is one of the rapresentative of the new schools are coming from east europe and also a designer with a strong personal style and some innovative ideas. “It takes few months of gathering pictures, ideas and emotions.” told me Ignacy talking about the design process and also “In a future, I’d love to be known as this guy who makes games so strong and deep connected with theme.” … great! Here the interview:
[Liga] Dear Ignacy, I’m really happy to have the possibility to interview you for Opinionated Gamers Web site. Assuming that designing games is a form of art, no more or less than writing books or casting movies, we will try to find out Ignacy Trzewiczek style, going through your production. Assuming what BGG display, you designed more than 10 games/expansions starting from 2002 but you got the international attention with Stronghold, in 2009 and, before that, publishing with Portal Neuroshima Hex back in 2006. A real great score for something less than 10 years of career. Last year release, 51st State, was really well accepted and also Pret-a-Porter, that this year will get and English edition. Many different games: is there in your production a game you are particularly proud of ?
[Ignacy] “Which of your kids you love most?” kind of question, isn’t it? Stronghold was my biggest success in terms of sells and awards received. 51. State introduced rule that in my opinion is fresh and interesting (every single Location card you can invade or cooperate with etc) and I am really proud of it. Witchcraft on the other hand is the only one of my designs that I am not sick of after all test games and I still have a great time playing it. Witchcraft is my only game I still play! Pret-a-Porter is my first economy startegy game and I am extremely proud that I managed to design such a complex game…
OK, let’s face it. I love them all. There is no other way. Continue reading
Last year, the number of games to grab my interest before Essen was unusually low. I don’t know, maybe I was having trouble adjusting to the sharp increase of new titles, along with the huge number of brand new designers and publishers. Whatever the reason, that thankfully hasn’t been repeated this year. There are over 40 games that have gotten my attention during the rollup to the big show. Of these, 20 are ones I have high interest in, to the point that I’m considering picking them up if other folks in my games group don’t do so first.
Here are my impressions of those games, listed in alphabetical order. Some of the descriptions are short, if I don’t have a lot to add to what is already known about the title. In other cases, I’ll explain what it is about the game that’s gotten me so enthusiastic. A few of these games are limited editions that may be hard for many, including me, to obtain. But at least I figured I’d bring them to people’s attention, in the likely chance that they pick up another publisher in the near future. Continue reading
