"Why the hell am I designing games?"
Ewan Derrick asked me to give an anwer on this bold question and put it on his blog.
So, if you are curious to read some deep philosophical observations and silly anecdotes, follow this link.
22 Mar 2012
16 Mar 2012
Saboteur online
Board Game Arena is a multi-lingual platform for online gaming. Their newest addition is the game Saboteur (basic version), which they just finished programming.
Now, you can play the game online in real-time with opponents around the world. Besides, it's totally free.
What I like about it, is the chatting during the game. It makes all the fun and gives a similar experience as playing around the table.
If you like the website, you can give a donation and become a club member.
If you like the game, you get a link where to buy it (or you go to your local shop).
http://en.boardgamearena.com/#!welcome
Above, you see one of my last gameplays at the end of one round. Guess who was the saboteur this time...
Now, you can play the game online in real-time with opponents around the world. Besides, it's totally free.
What I like about it, is the chatting during the game. It makes all the fun and gives a similar experience as playing around the table.
If you like the website, you can give a donation and become a club member.
If you like the game, you get a link where to buy it (or you go to your local shop).
http://en.boardgamearena.com/#!welcome
Above, you see one of my last gameplays at the end of one round. Guess who was the saboteur this time...
13 Mar 2012
Whitewater on the market
The new game Whitewater has been launched in the US.
On the picture below, you see 4 rafts approaching the next river bend. Rocks announce that the passage will be anything but safe. Of course, you can paddle to the right and go along the rocks, but as it is a race, you are here to take a few risks.
The curved icons on the board indicate a whirlpool and a particular dangerous place. When you land upon it, you have to roll the corresponding die: blue being easy, red being moderate and black being very risky.
The dangers vary from pivoting your raft (mostly in the wrong direction), losing a paddle, losing a man overboard and capsizing.
There is a lot of pushing involved and people take pleasure in pushing their opponents into the most dangerous spots.
Important to notice is that you control 2 rafts. Each raft is shared with another (different) player. Before starting the race, you decide secretly which of your rafts you want to win the race. So, you have a certain interest in moving faster or slower one particular raft.
If you are looking for some adventure and if you are not afraid becoming wet, this game is for you.
On the picture below, you see 4 rafts approaching the next river bend. Rocks announce that the passage will be anything but safe. Of course, you can paddle to the right and go along the rocks, but as it is a race, you are here to take a few risks.
The curved icons on the board indicate a whirlpool and a particular dangerous place. When you land upon it, you have to roll the corresponding die: blue being easy, red being moderate and black being very risky.
The dangers vary from pivoting your raft (mostly in the wrong direction), losing a paddle, losing a man overboard and capsizing.
There is a lot of pushing involved and people take pleasure in pushing their opponents into the most dangerous spots.
Important to notice is that you control 2 rafts. Each raft is shared with another (different) player. Before starting the race, you decide secretly which of your rafts you want to win the race. So, you have a certain interest in moving faster or slower one particular raft.
If you are looking for some adventure and if you are not afraid becoming wet, this game is for you.
20 Jan 2012
New sales figs Saboteur
As I'm a fan of statistics, especially when the figures are good, here are the new sales results for the game Saboteur. About 130 000 copies of Saboteur were sold in 2011, which is twice as much as in 2010. The total sales have now reached 480 000 samples! The successful launch of Saboteur 2 is probably the simpliest explanation of this exceptional result.
Also interesting is to evaluate how the sales are distributed over the 8 years. France is leading with 24 %, followed by Germany 19%. The Benelux represents 14% of the worldwide sales, which is not bad for a population of 28 million people. After the USA, we have the Baltic States on the 5th position, which is in fact an extraordinary result because its population is only 6,6 million people.
Actually, there are 21 different language versions available.
Besides these official sales numbers there are also numerous pirate Chinese copies for sale, but as these generate no royalties, I can't include them in the graphs.
Thanks for your interest in the game.
28 Nov 2011
Whitewater for Spring 2012
Mayfair Games has announced the 3rd release of one of my games (after Bacchus' Banquet and Nuns on the Run):
Danger and excitement lurk around every bend of the river in White Water.
Race down a deadly river carefully navigate your rafts through the obstacles, trying to keep your paddles and your crew inside the raft.
In the game White Water each player directs the actions of four courageous rafters. Each raft in the race contains four crew, with two crew from you and two from another player. Players control the crew within a raft, but also may use Energy cards to additionally help one raft or the other.
Dice represent the effects of hazards you encounter, and even your best-laid plans can be spoiled by another raft pushing you a direction you don't want to go.
Danger and excitement lurk around every bend of the river in White Water.
Race down a deadly river carefully navigate your rafts through the obstacles, trying to keep your paddles and your crew inside the raft.
In the game White Water each player directs the actions of four courageous rafters. Each raft in the race contains four crew, with two crew from you and two from another player. Players control the crew within a raft, but also may use Energy cards to additionally help one raft or the other.
Dice represent the effects of hazards you encounter, and even your best-laid plans can be spoiled by another raft pushing you a direction you don't want to go.
22 Nov 2011
Pirate version of Saboteur
Someone has detected a pirate version of the game Saboteur.
Besides the logo of Z-man Games, you see Chinese characters on the box. This proves that the version is a pirate one.
Apparently, the rules contain a lot of translation and typing errors and the cards are cheap reproductions.
A friendly game designer has consolated me. Only very popular games are pirated. It's better to consider it as a free promotion than to be sad about it.
Let's hope that the more fortunate Chinese custumors will prefer the original game.
7 Nov 2011
Game aid for Ninja
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| The lantern (painted) |
A handy game aid is now available to download. It gives a summary of the game set-up and of the turn order. I hope that it will enlighten your mind (and memory).
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