The News Shed 3 : 02/03/2023

Welcome Back to the News shed, 

On this weeks episode, our News man Paul brings you all of this weeks juicy Table Top Gaming news & Crowdfunding campaigns we think you need to know about & of course the all important update on the BGG hotness so you are always in the loop of what is the hottest game on the market.

news stories include (but not limited too) 
Unmatched Adventures : Tales to Amaze
Dog Park : New Tricks
Ruthless
Akropolis
Nene Valley Railway
Catan Console edition 
plus much much more

Transcript

Hello Meeples, how the devil are we...?

We're great thanks for asking... Well I am, Brian's still sulking after getting his preverbial bottom handed to him in Mosaic last night...

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It was both our first goes so you can't blame it on that...

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It was close though, maybe next time...?

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I don't know why they call it Mosaic...? Was one of the tech cards called Mosaic...?

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I don't know... If you do listeners send the answers in, on a postcard to... Hang on I don't actually know where we are...

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I know we're in the Shed, but where is the shed...?

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Yes, Jason's back garden, but where's Jason's back garden...

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I know it's behind his house... Oh, I give up... Answers on a postcard to The Meeple Minded News Shed, Jasons Back Garden, Behind His House, On a Road, Somewhere in the UK... Never know it may get to us...?

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Right what are we doing... Ah, yes, our jobs, News, button, hit it...

NEWS HEADLINES

We've only mentioned the game the last 2 weeks, and here it is on the news again. Low and behold I get an email here in the shed from the peeps over at Restoration Games with some very interesting news but is was lacking in detail, well any detail really.

We are infact talking about Unmatched, the highly asymmetrical miniature fighting game for two or four players. 

Brief summary if you've not played Unmatched, each hero from various sets, is represented by a unique deck designed to evoke their style and legend. Take Alice in Wonderland vs Sherlock Holmes and Watson vs Jurassic Parks T-Rex vs Deadpool.

Tactical movement and no-luck combat resolution create a unique play experience that rewards expertise, but just when you've mastered one set, new heroes arrive to provide all new match-ups. 

Well over the weekend, Restoration Games, released a couple different teaser trailers for an upcoming Crowdfunding project.

The first video, we see an old-timey radio sat on a table, think 80's B Movie esque. 

The broadcaster describes a terrible creature looming over the city and describes feeling an impending doom. It fades to black with a view of a new Unmatched Adventures Logo and a March 23rd launch date.

The second  follows the same theme of a differently designed radio as the the broadcaster throws some light as to some of the creatures in town. He see's a giant ant, a frog-like man leaping, puddles of acid and webbing everywhere all while booming footsteps approach, before a giant spider leg drops down behind the window. Followed by the Logo and launch date again.

The latest releasing just in time for me to get it in the news continues the theme with the broadcaster slightly more upbeat as he sees 2 scientists, a famed hero from the far east and a 7ft tall woman. All, as he mentions, have thrown their past rivalries aside for the greater good.

What was different as it faded to black was a different logo. The familiar Unmatch logo was there but surrounding it was text saying that all Unmatched Sets are compatible with Unmatched: Adventures.

One glean from an image of the box, be it final design or not, and from an image Jason passed over looks to be the a white version of the black Unmatched box with the new Unmatched Adventures logo. Entitiled Unmatched Adventures: Tales to Amaze and some text saying A whole New Way to play the hit miniature game, cooperative, solo or competitive.

So you can head on over to the Restoration Games social media accounts and click through the links to be notified of the launch on the 23rd March, although more than likely we'll remind you once it launches and we have a little more information.

Who doesn't love dogs...? OK, some of you... Well Birdwood games released their game Dog Park last year through crowdfunding and together with a few expansions along the way bringing in more European and Famous Four Legged friends.

The game itself is a mid-weight competitive set collector with some degree of point to point movement, well they need walking don't they.

Well as excited as a dog can get when you say walkies the next expansion has just been announced. The expansion known as New Tricks introduces yet even more dogs to walk including multi breed dogs, more places to wonder off to and explore, and a trainer has been hired to improve your doggies by teaching them new tricks.

You are still trying to become the most accomplished walker by earning the most Reputation, but now you have more layers of strategy to explore and use to your advantage. The expansion also lets you add a fifth player, which can be played with or without New Tricks, increasing the tightness of the action selection in the park.

Early views of the New Tricks expansion, say there is more to love coming along. There are new abilities, and the very intriguing Super Locations that will change up the gameplay.

Dog Park: New Tricks is set to hit Kickstarter this Summer.

We don't usually mention 'That Game' on here and when we say 'That Game' we mean 'That Game' that is bloody everywhere, re-skinned, re-themed, electric versions, card versions, travel versions, but be it different versions it is in essence the same bloody thing, it's Mon, Mono, Monop... Nope can't say it... Think I was a bit sick in my mouth then... Fill in, I need a drink... QQQ... You know what I mean... 

On February 20 the US TV station and non-profit coroporation PBS aired a documentary about the long-lived game titled "Ruthless: 'That Games'' Secret History". 

The film features author Mary Pilon, author of The Monopolists: Obsession, Fury, and the Scandal Behind the apparently World's Most Favourite Board Game, Ha Ha Ha... 

Brian...

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What rank is it on BGG...

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24,030, well that knackers that theory...

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Well I see your point but BGG is all that matters to proper gamers doesn't it...!

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I digress, the film also includes archived footage of Ralph Anspach, designer of Anti Anti version of 'That Game'; and Lizzie Magie, designer of The Landlord's Game, which was a much better name for the game that was transformed into That Game. 

If you've been gaming for some time, then this history might not be a secret to you, but this video nicely details Magie's original inspiration based on the economic principles of Henry George, who argued that land should be owned by all in society. 

Those wanting to watch the film may not be able to outside of the US although I'm sure it'll appear on the YouTubes at some point... 

Receiving rave reviews from attendees at Origins Game Fair and UK Games Expo ahead of its release late last year, and making it into both ours and Jason's collection was Akropolis, designed by Jules Messaud's and published by Gigamic. 

Akropolis, sees you becoming architects in ancient Greece building houses, temples, markets gardens and barracks to improve your city and triumph over your competitors. The open drafting and tile placing game sees you aiming to raise your prestige as you build and make full potential of your cities districts.

Last week saw France's Game of the Year Award being announced, also know in the industry as the As D'Or which saw Arkopolis take the high honours and beating out nominees District Noir from Spiral Editions, a 2 player bluffing and set collection game, and That's Not a Hat by publisher Ravensburger, a party bluffing memory game.

Other awards dished out were to Mathias Wigge's Ark Nova which beat out the game based on the life of Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, entitled Carnegie and sci-fi worker-placement game Federation for the award for best 'Expert' game.

The Advanced award went to the deckbuilding take on capture the flag Challengers! From Johannes Krenner and Markus Slawitscheck, with Spenser Starke’s text-message RPG Alice Is Missing and the code-cracking deduction game Turing Machine just missing out.

Finally the award for best children's game went to the point-and-click investigation game with cards, Flashback: Zombie Kidz from Baptiste Derrez and Marc-Antoine Doyon who won out over wizard-and-witch racing game Magic Mountain and loot balancing dexterity game Stomp the Plank.

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees! A fair few games we haven't got to yet so ones to add to the list.

Hands up who likes trains...?

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Well I know you do...

Who else...?

Yep... Think he'll like this one... 

Nene Valley Railway in partnership with the magazine Tabletop Gaming is set to host an evening of board games on one of their heritage steam trains.

So gamers and train enthusiasts are invited to come along for a two-hour trip on the rails, departing from Wansford station at 6.45pm on Saturday 20th May 2023

Christopher John Eggett, the outgoing editor of Tabletop gaming Magazine says “There’s a great history of board games about trains, and what better way to enjoy that, than on a historical train? For gamers, it’s a chance to play classics like Ticket To Ride on a train – possibly the greatest ambience for a game about classic rail travel. And for those looking for a family event that mixes their hobbies with a novel evening out – then it’s got wide appeal.” 

Tickets for the trip are selling fast, and there’s a number of seat options available. These range from private compartments that can seat six (£199), to pre-booking tables of four (£99, saving on individual tickets), right down to individual tickets (£35 for adults, £14.50 for children) – for those who want to ride the train and maybe make some new friends along the way. 

For those who would like to buy a copy of Ticket To Ride for the event, there’s an option to pre-order and receive the game on the day of the event.

While the evening is pitched as a ‘Play Ticket to Ride on a Train’ event, ticketholders are invited to bring any game they wish (that can reasonably fit on the table), so no Twilight Imperium or Mosaic: Deluxe Edition sneaking on. In the same vein guests are welcome to bring their own food and drink to the event.

Claire Ingram, publisher of Tabletop Gaming magazine mentions “With board games like Ticket to Ride rising in popularity with families everywhere and the inherent romance of steam trains, this event crosses the generational divide, and this is one of the reasons we’ve left the food and drink options open. Every group, whether that’s a family going for an evening out or just a few friends getting together for an amusing setting to play games, can make it their own.” 

We're suggesting no dexterity games too... Just saying.

This week sees the release of CATAN - Console Edition, giving fans of the hugely popular board game a means to play with friends online, or to gather them round the couch and in front of a board that truly comes to life!

The official console version, available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Series X/S consoles has been in development courtesy of Dovetail Games, with help from their friends over at Nomad Games.

In addition to the two multiplayer game modes, players can take to trading and building with dynamic AI in single player mode, using different tactics and strategies to face characters based on the wider CATAN lore.

For those that enjoy CATAN with friends and family, the ability to play Console Edition around the couch still enables those all-too-familiar discussions on tactics. “Who wants to trade some Sheep?” and “Where shall I place the Robber?” or the snigger worthy “I've got wood for Sheep?” 

Snigger...

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I told you...

All this amusement can still take place in front of an animated board teeming with life.

Resource cards remain secret however, with the inclusion of a Card Companion on smartphone that doesn’t require an App to be installed.

Online play gives those too far apart to play together in the living room to still enjoy CATAN with friends or strangers and with Cross-play an included feature, it doesn’t matter whether players are on Xbox or PlayStation.

There’s a host of challenges to complete in a game where no two boards are the same and players can customise their experience with Dice Skins and Hex Frames showcasing their skills to other players.

For those that follow the CATAN World Championship, they can also play on five game boards featured in last year’s World, European and American competitions by purchasing the Deluxe Edition of the game.

CATAN – Console Edition: Deluxe = £19.99/$24.99/€24.99

CATAN – Console Edition = £16.99*/$19.99/€19.99

*Xbox price. PlayStation version = £15.99

There have been a few editions of  Cartagena over the years and as we've mentioned on previous news stories what better way to reintroduce a game to a new audience than by throwing cute animals at it... Well anthropomorphic animal pirates in place of the previous historical styles...

It's been done with  Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest by Stonemaier Games alongside My Little Scythe: Pie in the Sky.

Well following what must be a profitable trend Cartagena: Escape Diaries by designer Leo Colovini and Published by Pretzel Games is an upcoming board game that takes the original 2000 release and revamps it for the modern era. Taking the original pirate jailbreak board game and adding entirely new artwork by Chris Quilliams and additional gameplay modes.

Inspired by the 1672 real-life jailbreak in which a gang of pirates broke out of the prison fortress of Cartagena, Escape Diaries sees two to five players attempting to find their way through a series of underground passages in the hopes of reaching the island port and escaping.

During the game, each player will be responsible for a group of six pirates, whom they must guide through the deep passages using various actions found on the cards they draw.

Another change featured in the new version of Cartagena is the addition of several new gameplay modes.

First Escape is the gameplay mode that most resembles the original version of the board game, with players moving pirates through the passages by leapfrogging them over each other using their cards.

In Second Escape, players will be able to alter the gameplay by placing a captain hat onto one of their pirates and using their respective powers, whilst Third Escape enables players to attempt a faster – yet more dangerous – escape aboard a leaky raft. 

The final available gameplay mode, Fourth Escape, combines both the elements from Follow the Captain and Risky Rafts into a single mode.

Cartagena: Escape Diaries is set to be released in Fall/Autumn 2023, with a retail price yet to be confirmed.

Just sneaking into the news just before I hit record is news from Awaken Realms on another of it's projects heading for Crowdfunding later on the year.

We know Awaken realms for bringing us rather epic creations with usually high price tags to go with them. Think Lords of Hellas, Lords of Ragnorok, Etherfields, ISS Vanguard and one of James's go to games, the one and only Aliens-esque Nemesis.

The third game in line of the Nemesis franchise has just been announced to follow Nemesis itself and indeed Nemesis: Lockdown.

Nemesis: Retaliation as it's title goes looks set to launch late this year, giving people plenty of time to save up...

The campaign text reads:-

Nemesis: Retaliation, the highly anticipated third installment of the critically acclaimed sci-fi horror board game series. Designed by Adam Kwapiński and published by Awaken Realms, Nemesis: Retaliation promises to bring something very different into the tested Nemesis engine.

This time, players will take on the roles of highly trained marines, entering the alien nest with strict orders and the most advanced tools available. But will they be well-prepared enough to face the unrelenting horde that awaits them? 

In Nemesis: Retaliation, the tension is higher than ever as players must survive against over- whelming odds and the possibility of betrayal at every step. 

As the third installment of the series, Nemesis: Retaliation builds upon the already successful Nemesis DNA and brings even more thrilling gameplay! With more aliens to fight and new tools to help you deal with them, this game promises to be a fresh experience for both fans of the series and new players alike. 

BGG TOP 5 HOTNESS

Before we hit crowdfunding this week, and as we have some time we thought it would be great to bring you a little top 5 from the Board Game Geek Hotness list once a week. 

So these games on the list may be already out, due to come out, or crowdfunding at the moment, it tends to be a list based on what people are searching for on Board Game Geek right now.

We know it can be a little turbulent so the list is accurate at the time of recording. Here we go

In 5.

Maintaining its frozen grip on the top 5 is Celophairs Games Frosthaven.

In 4.

Reiner Knizia's latest reimplementation of the classic Yellow and Yangtze breaks cover in 'Huang' to be published by Phalanx

In 3.

Brass Birmingham by Roxley shows how much fun transporting goods around the Midlands can be as it maintains a top 5 spot.

In 2.

New to the top 5 hotness is a new game 'Archeos Society' seeing you sending out explorers on expeditions, designed by Paolo Mori of Libertalia fame and in some respects a reimplementation of another of his games Ethnos and being published by Space Cowboys.

In. 1

Inside Up Games title Earth makes the step up to take top spot this week as the open world engine builder as it finished it's Kickstarter campaign, although late pledges are available if you wanted to jump on board.


CROWDFUNDING

And talking of crowdfunding we're taking an unlikely step over to another crowdfunding source this week as we head on over to Backerkit as they've just launched there own crowdfunding platform 

Publisher, ThunderGryph Games has a history of organizing and promoting its titles in game lines, such as the "Matchbox Collection" of tiny games released in 2020, the "Made in Wonderland" line that uses an "Alice in Wonderland" setting and art by Paolo Voto, and a "30 Journeys" line for games that provide long, immersive adventures.

Its newest line is dubbed "Soda Pop" because the games come packaged in containers that resemble soda cans. Yeah you heard me right, soda cans, or fizzy drinks cans if your this side of the atlantic. Some gamers may hate the gimmicky packaging but from the looks of the it on the campaign page, together with the casual and playful vibe that we think ThunderGryph is trying to convey through said packaging, it certainly has grabbed my attention. 

Despite the packaging, they are infact games, a collection of 4 games to be precise, and they are 2 player abstract strategy games, with short playing times and going by the collective title the "Soda Pop" collection and each games plays in around 15mins.

The first game is Cat-a-comb designed by Pierpaolo Paoletti's

A group of mischievous cats is trying to play tricks on each other. These sneaky cats will either group together into troublesome crews or assert ownership over every surface of the place. 

Your goal is to add and move stacks of cats in this game of mancala madness in order to get your cats own cats all stacked in all the right places. 

Game 2 comes from designer Enrico Gandolfo and leans heavily into the whole soda theme by using bottlecaps as it's game pieces, in Top Cap.

As freezing winter winds blow outside, you relax in a cozy chair at your favorite local pub along with your friends. A game idea has come to you where the goal is simple, the player who moves their cap onto their opponent’s bottle will win. However, getting there can be tricky because each cap affects how the other caps move. 

The path to victory is an elusive puzzle, can you out-wit your opponent and become the Top Cap? 

In Forgenesis by Ignazio Panades, you want to land on the opponent's base or make them unable to play.

After the rigorous and sweltering work of hammering and polishing is completed, you breathe life into the figurines and use them in a game of wits to determine who is the most capable forger of all! Summon, move, and use the unique abilities of your creatures as you attempt to reach your opponent's corner. 

Finally Light Seeker from Daniel and Julian Danzer uses a familiar element from other abstract strategy games: a blocker that keeps the opponent from doing exactly what they want to do while protecting a future action you might want to take.  


A curse has cast a shadow over the valley, causing the inhabitants to run from the villages and the animals to flee their nests. A mysterious creature named Buh will use its magic to seek out and restore the light. You must slide or tilt cubes to increase the light in the valley as you try to accumulate 7 or more connected points of light in order to win the game.

The games in question are 15 Euros each which is around £13.50 or $16.00 whatever your currency. With any freebies/stretch goals that may occur for your selected game from the crowdfunding project included in that.

Alternatively grab all 4 games in  a very nice box reassembling a big American Fridge together with all unlocked freebies/stretch goals including the Fridge Bundle Backer freebies/stretch goals.

The page over on backerkit has info on shipping costs based on your postal zones which I'll let you discover...


OUTRO

Right say goodbye to everyone and you can go and get the game set up...

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and it's a goodbye from me, keep safe Meeples, keep those dice rolling, the cards shuffling and we'll be right here for you next week...