Back from Spiel in Essen

Each year I go to Essen to meet the publishers. This year was particularly hectic as I had no time to look at other games which were presented. I've read that there were about 750 new games. This means that you must play each day 2 new games in order to know all the new games of the year!

So, let's limit my comments to my own games.
On the fair 2 new games were released and I was very proud with the presentation of it. Amigo Spiele (with the biggest booth on the fair) opened no less than 14 boxes to allow playing "Die Brücke am Rio d'Oro" simultaneously on their numerous playing tables. Above this, they reproduced the bridge to allow playing the game "live".

The bridge (before the fair opened)

The Amigo booth during the day

The other new game was "Ninja" which was presented on the AEG booth. On Saturday afternoon, when I left the fair, only one copy of the game remained. The rest was sold out. The game was already showed in the US on Gencon (in August- and there were a lot of positive comments to read on Board Game Geek. So, I suppose that the game was a little bit expected by the European players who rushed to buy their copy, as they have no patience to wait upon a European release in their own language.

The stock of games on the first day

Demo of Ninja on the booth

About my contacts with publishers, I can announce that there is now a Korean version of Saboteur. A Finnish version is in preparation. The extension will also become available for the German market.  Besides, I signed 2 new license agreements on the fair and I have a good hope that a few other agreements will be concluded after the fair.

So, was the fair succesful for me? Yes, it was very successful.

Dutch rules available

You can download the Dutch rules for "Die Brücke am Rio d'Oro" via this link .

Here you see the original prototype. Notice that the game has been rethemed from Chinese rice farmers to adventurers in South America.

New versions of Saboteur 2

Saboteur 2 is now available in 6 new countries. After France, the Netherlands and the US, you can find the extension of the game in Poland, Baltic Republics, Hungary, Japan, Spain and Belgium. Each of the 9 countries has his own version.

Upcoming release

Amigo Spiele, the German publisher of Saboteur, has announced the launch of: "Die Brücke am Rio d'oro". The purpose of this family game is to cross a dangerous bridge with gold stones. You try to move quickly over the rotten planks and to avoid falling into the water.
You can download the German rules via this link.

Ninja rules online

The publisher AEG has put the rules online on their website .

Besides, demos of the game will be given on Gen Con Indy 2011. Some samples will be available for sale.
European customers, who are not planning to go to Indianapolis, will have to wait for the Essen Fair...

Ninja announced for fall 2011

AEG, from Legend of the Five Rings, has announced the upcoming release of my next game. Once again a game with hidden movements, but in a different setting and with a new game experience.

More info on their website and on Board Game Geek.

Overview clans

Here you find a handy overview of all clans in the game.

As the colours of the clan Cards are less saturated than on the Member cards, this addition can be a great help. Copy the image to print it as a handy extra card.