New Boardgame, CCG, RPG, Card, Family and Abstract Games News for 2009

New Releases and Previews at Expo in 2009

UK Games Expo is will be the first chance to play these new games. Some are to be released at Expo and others demo versions will be available to try.

Use the quick links below to jump to games from:

Reiver Games	Surprised Stare Games	Warfrog/Treefrog	Warrior Elite	JKLM
Cubiko	Medusa Games	Monkey Dash	UDE	Fire Pants Games
Point Zero Games	Tied to a Kite	Terror Bull Games	Chaotic	Z-Man Games

Reiver Games

Sumeria by Dirk Liekens
Boost the power of the city-states of ancient Sumeria by moving your traders. Gain control of the ascendant states at the right moments to collect the influence you need to win.

Players try to bring the city-states of ancient Sumeria to the fore. Each turn, players boost the importance of one of the city-states by flooding it with their traders, boosting its power. Each time a city-state gains power one or more will lose power. The aim is to gain control of the pre-eminent city-states during the scoring rounds at the end of each dynasty. Players have to time their movements, as a city-state can quickly lose favour too.

Sumeria is an area control game for 2-4 players aged 10 and up. Games last 30-60 minutes.

Sumeria will be launched at the UK Games Expo in Birmingham in June 2009.

Treefrog / Warfrog

All game comentary from the Warfrog site.

board

Automobile

Automobile will be the first in the second cycle of Treefrog Line games. It will be released at the 2009 UK Expo, in Birmingham.

The game is for three to five players and should take around 90 to 120 minutes to complete.

The game covers the history of the US car industry during its birth and growth, from 1896 to 1929. The aim of the game is to make the most money, which means making and selling cars.

Waterloo

Released by March/April 2009 but will be on demo at Expo

The French player must capture Mont St Jean or eliminate a fixed number of enemy units to win. This has to be achieved within nine turns. The Allied player must hold on until the Prussians arrive to turn the tide in their favour.

Two player game covering the main battle between the French and the Allies. Use a number of, hopefully, innovative mechanics. When you are the active player you are never sure exactly how many actions you will get. This makes moving infantry dangerous, as mobile infantry are vulnerable to cavalry. Cavalry is crucial for counter-attacking and routing weakened infantry units. Artillery may be used to soften up the enemy before advancing into combat, if you are willing to spend precious time doing so.

The map is divided into irregular areas to recreate some of the effects of terrain on the battle, notably the way the main Allied strong points, La Haye Saint, Hougoumont, and Papelotte, channelled the French assaults.

God's Playground

Gods Playground is slated for an October release with a demo version expected at Expo.

God's Playground is the next of the three player only games. The game covers the period of Polish history from the 1400s to the mid 1700s, i.e. from the war against the Teutonic Knights to the period leading up to the first of the three partitions.

Each player takes on the role of one of the major noble families. The game is played over four turns and in each turn there will be a number of enemy powers to deal with. Players secretly decide how many minor nobles they wish to place in each of the five areas within Poland, plus how many will be used to influence the king. The number of nobles placed in each area will determine who is voted to the government, (the Sejm), from there. Nobles also allow a number of other actions to be carried out in that area, such as the claiming of land, building of armies, and launching of campaigns. There is also the possibility to arrange peace treaties, directly attack other players', (known as confederation), invoke the Liberum Veto, and build Jesuit Schools.

Poland's enemies wax and wane in strength as they did in history. In the first turn the major threats are presented by the Teutonic Knights and the Tatars. Later in the game Russia becomes more of a problem, while the Swedes replace the Teutonic Knights, and are in turn surplanted by the Prussians. The Ottoman Empire also has to be dealt with, and there is the possibility that Poland will have to ride to the rescue of Vienna.

Last Train to Wensleydale

This game is also slated for an October release with a demo version expected at Expo.

This will be the second railway game in the Treefrog Line. As some of you may have guessed from the title it's set in the Yorkshire Dales.

The aim of the game is to move stone, cheese, and various passengers, from the hills of the Dales to the major trunk routes run by the North Eastern Railway and the Midland Steam. Valleys play a large part in dictating where you can build track. Once you have built a line you must acquire second hand engines and rolling stock to move the goods and passengers that you connect to. Such a line quickly becomes unprofitable and it pays to have one of the two major companies take it over from you.

Building track can also be made more difficult by local residents who object to railways being built on their land. To overcome such opposition you require influence in government to arrange the necessary compulsory purchase orders.

The game is for three to four players and plays in 60 to 90 minutes. The level of complexity is similar to Tinners' Trail.

Surprised Stare Games

Fzzzt!

Available from Surprised Stare Games - Summer 2009 – see www.surprisedstaregames.co.uk

JKLM Games

JKLM plan to release Tulipmania at or shortly after Expo.

Demos should be available of their other games shown below:

Tulipmania 1637

Designer:Scott Nicholson
Artist: Charlie Paull

The tulip, a flower native to east Africa, created quite a ruckus upon reaching the shores of Europe in the mid-1500s. When a virus attacks a tulip, the resulting colour patterns can be stunning, but the same virus weakens the tulip and makes reproduction a challenge. These rare tulips have always been quite expensive, even to this day. Many associate Tulipmania with these rare, high-priced tulips, but scholars report that this first bubble market, where buyers pay far more than something is physically worth because of the resale value, actually stemmed from the common tulip market over December 1636 and January 1637.

The Dutch, well-known for their trading prowess, were the centre of the tulip trade. During this time, the bubonic plague was killing off 1 out of every 7 people per year, so the common man saw little reason not to invest foolishly with a good chance of making a substantial profit. These conditions created a situation where the prices of tulips skyrocketed by the day, until the prices hit a point that could not be sustained. The wily investors knew when to sell off, so those that profited most are those who sold just as the market started to turn sour.

You are playing one of those wily investors. You have a network of buyers and colleagues, all of whom are also trying to become wealthy. Your goal is to make smart investments, artificially raise prices, fleece your network at the best time, and then make your escape from Tulipmania with the most money.

Medusa Games

Great Fire

Cubiko

Designer:Gavin Birnbaum
Cubiko is due to be released at UK Expo gaming convention in Birmingham. It is a family game. More news soon.

Monkey Dash

Designer:Rob Fisher
Monkey Dash is due to be released at UK Expo gaming convention in Birmingham. It is a abstract strategy game. More news soon.

he rules of 'The Bendy Banana Company' clearly state: "Absolutely NO monkeys are allowed in the Warehouse", but as co-supervisor you were sure that the rules didn't apply to you. Now The Boss is coming for an impromptu inspection, so you must race against your opponent to be the first to retrieve your Monkey and return it to your Loading Bay, before The Boss arrives!

Monkey Dash is a two player strategy game, in which players spend action points to move their Supervisor and Monkey, and to manipulate the Banana Crates to build a pathway accross the board.

The game requires you to employ a wide range of tactics, constantly modify your plans to balance offensive and defensive play, based upon the actions of your opponent.

Two variants ship with the game: Pure Skill, removes all luck from the game, and Advanced, introduces a new banana skin playing piece, adding a new twist to the game.

Monkey Dash is set to launch at the UK Games Expo 2009.

Fire Pants Games

New games company who are looking to release two games at UK games Expo: Liar Liar and Eurobabble.

Liar Liar is a trivia game with a difference. You have to lie to win the game. There are three types of cards: A normal question card, where you don't have to answer, you can simply claim to know it. However if challenged and you don't know it, you go back to the start of the level you are on (there are 5 levels). If you do know it, the challenger goes back. The second type is a Truth or Lie card. There are two statements on it, one is read out and the player has to decide whether it is true or false. The last is a Multiple Choice card, where the questioner gives the correct answer, a wrong answer and a third answer that they have to make up hoping the player choses their lie. You cannot win the game without winning a lie card by successfully telling a lie.

Eurobabble is a team party game based on how little we know of other European languages (and also how silly some of them are). There are four types of card and a spinner is used to select the card. Card one is an ACTION card and the player has to act out the action on the card in the style of one of the nationalities selected on the card by the spinner. Eg 'Walking barefoot on sand that is too hot'...as a Frenchman. Your team mates have one guess to win the country flag. Card Two is an ACCENT card. There is a statement on it, which must be read in the accent selected by the spinner. Eg 'Can you tell me how I can reserve a deck chair?' in a German accent. Card three is a QUESTION in a foreign language, which simply has to be answered correctly eg ¿Qué tipo de fruta se usa para hacer vino? Answer - Grapes. And the last card is a WORD card. A word is said in English and the team mates are given three possibilities eg English word 'Bald', Dutch options are 'kaal', 'slaaphoofd' and 'koepel'. The correct answer is 'kaal'. The six languages are, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish. The aim is for the team to get all six flags.

Tied To A Kite

Numerix is an abstract strategy game for 2 or more players.

Terror Bull Games

Crunch

The CRUNCH is upon us. Financial foundations are crumbling. Cherished traditions of greed, profit and exploitation are threatened. As the CEO of a global bank, it's your personal responsibility to do whatever it takes to ensure a comfortable retirement as Capitalism comes crashing down around You.

A card game for 2 to 4 high-powered players, Crunch puts you at the head of the boardroom table. It's unfair, nasty, completely devoid of any moral or ethical code and selfish greed drives every decision you make.

Z-Man Games

Ideology

The conflict of political ideas spawned the conflicts of the 20th Century. More than any other era in human history, nations defined themselves not merely by their military or economic might, but by the ideals that inspired their ambitious achievements.

Ideology: The War of Ideas is an exciting new strategy game by Z-Man Games. During the game, each player symbolizes one of the 20th Century's most powerful Ideologies: Capitalism, Communism, Fascism, Imperialism, and Islamic Fundamentalism.

Beginning with one global region completely under its sway, each Ideology attempts to influence and control the independent regions of the earth. The Ideology that acquires the highest level of global influence will dominate the world for generations to come!

This second edition includes enhanced graphics, variant rules, and variant abilities to 4 of the 5 Ideologies in the game. Also, we added more Influence cards.

No. of players: 2-5
Ages: 12+
Playing time: 90 minutes

Point Zero Games

A mythical band of warriors takes its powers from the legendary creatures that their world has lost. Heroes, friends and kin are cursed to face each other in battle, again and again. Eighty-four characters hold between them a secret. Army Of Zero is a card and dice game in which you and your opponent pit your warriors against each other. Choose the right character to use at the right time, and second-guess your opponent to decide when to attack and when to defend.

Warrior Elite

War for Edadh is a game of battle. Cards represent the troops, leaders, standards, terrain and all aspects of the battle - but this isn't a CCG. Cards are also used in the core mechanic of the game which is a unique, tactical system. This mechanic, Conflict Resolution, places the outcome of each fight and battle in your hands - your decisions and choices alone will determine your success or failure.

Conflict Resolution simulates a fight. In a fight you pit your skill and experience against your opponent. You read his moves, try to outsmart him and make a winning attack. With Conflict Resolution you do the same. Mastering Conflict Resolution is key to winning War for Edadh.

War for Edadh isn't like anything you've played before. It's the alternative tactical game of battle and can be played in a variety of ways from a simple & quick game to a more in-

Upper Deck International

Fancy walking a way with a Nintendo Wii or an Ipod and other prizes. Get yourself to the UDE stand Saturday morning 6th June at UK Games Expo and register for the Huntik Championship to be held that same day.

UDE return as one of our Major Co-Sponsors and will be showcasing the new Huntik TCG. For more details and news on that exciting tournament read more......

Chaotic CCG

The UK National Launch Tournament for this new CCG will be held at UK Games Expo in June. More details here.

Portal Games

Confirmed as sponsors of our Children's tournament as well as running demos of Football Resurrection.