NST311009 - SPIEL'09, Designer Game Heaven!

THINK: Designer game heaven

2009/10/30

EDWIN WONG

Last week saw the 27th edition of SPIEL, the world’s largest and most popular designer games convention held in Essen, Germany. EDWIN WONG tells us more.

ONCE again, the latest edition succeeded in breaking records: 763 publishers presented their games at the show, 20 publishers on the waiting list could not get a stall, some 44 per cent of exhibitors were foreign publishers, over 600 new games were presented to visitors and more than 200,000 visited the convention over four days.

It’s all well and good if you have the spare cash to actually fly to Essen to try those games for yourself, but what about the rest of us poorer enthusiasts? Are we destined to only read about these games and how the rest of the world enjoys them? Well, fret not, for that’s what the recently launched Games Meetup is for! Playing every Sunday from 2-6pm at a Borders/Starbucks near you, it’s a great way to try the hottest games with your family and friends, and meet other enthusiasts.

FEATURED GAMES

Hurry Cup! (Hurrican)

 

Hurry Cup! is a popular leisure activity among those in high society, where the rich and famous hop into their beloved classic cars and race through the many picturesque towns in Europe. Speed, cunning and guile are needed to stay ahead of your fellow racers. Rapid decision-making, dexterity and risk-taking are also required.

Each round, a number of dices (equal to the number of players) is placed in a dice cup by one player, shaken and the cup placed upside down on the table. The cup is then removed, and every player grabs a pawn (located in the centre of the table) corresponding to the colour of the die he/she wants.

The number on the dice (which represents your fuel tank) has two effects. Firstly, it represents the maximum number of spaces your car can move. So the higher the number, the better (eg. “6”).

However, it also determines the speed (in km/h) at which your car is travelling, as players must multiply it with the roll of another die (which represents the accelerator). In this case, the lower the number, the better (eg. “1”).

Café International (Amigo Spiele)

 

In Café International, the 1989 Spiel des Jahres winner, you play the role of a waiter trying to earn tips by seating customers according to their likes and dislikes. The trouble is, most customers have more dislikes than likes! Such is the life of a waiter.



There are 48 customers to be seated (represented by tiles), two males and two females for each of 12 nations. In addition, there are two male and two female “jokers” (customers who don’t mind sitting with any nationality!).

Players start with five tiles faced-up so that others can see your customers. Seating your multi-national group of clients will always be a challenge given their dislikes and limited number of tables, not forgetting too that your other fellow waiters are also fighting to do the same.

In the end, the one who best satisfies his fussy customers will earn the most tips!

Baker’s Dozen (Playrooom)

 

Designed by Reiner Knizia, Baker’s Dozen is the kids’ cover version of Poison (sorry, no pun intended!).

I say “cover” because the game-play is still the same challenging strategy version as the original, and only the theme and graphics have been made over to appeal to kids and doughnut lovers (we’re all really still kids when it come to doughnuts).

If you can count until 13, you can play Baker’s Dozen! The game begins with each player given an equal share of cards that comes in three different “doughnut types” and are valued “1-7”. Beware for some may draw “bad” doughnuts (numbered “4”)! Each round, players choose one doughnut from their hand to bake in any of the three ovens (note that each oven bakes only one type of doughnut). “Bad” doughnuts can be tossed into any oven. Of course, the master doughnut maker is the one who is the sifu of one/more types of doughnuts and makes no “bad” ones — i.e. the player with the least penalties!

Wits & Wagers (Northstar Games)

 

The game that swept all the party game awards between 2007-2008 is now here!


Billed as the trivia game for people who don’t know much, Wits & Wagers is in essence a betting game disguised as a trivia game, since the questions are designed in a such a way that no one is really expected to know the answer, and all answers are in the form of a number.

So, what happens when the following question is read out, “In what year did the bikini swimsuit make its first appearance?” Well, first, everyone writes their guess on an erasable card. Then all the guesses are revealed and arranged from lowest to highest sequence on a betting mat.

Remember, the answer to every question is always a number.

Next, players have one minute (using a sand timer) to place their bets. Players may bet as little or as many chips as they have, but can never bet on more than two different guesses at any one time. Finally, the correct answer is revealed. The winning guess is the one where the number is equal or closest to, but not exceeding, the correct answer. Winnings are then paid out. As a bonus, the player(s) whose wrote the winning guess earns three chips.

The entire game lasts seven rounds, but trust me, everyone will find it too short!

NST031009 - Time to Meetup!

THINK: Time to meet up

2009/10/02

EDWIN WONG

A Game Meetup, where people gather over designer games, snacks and drinks, is the most happening form of social meet-up since high-tea and Facebook. EDWIN WONG writes.

In this high-tech age where people are becoming increasingly dependent on the Internet and mobile technology to stay connected, a new wave of good old-fashioned social gathering is sweeping through the world, bringing people together again, face to face, with those who mean most to them.

Starting in Germany in the ’70s as part of the post-war reconstruction (where emphasis was given to activities that allowed families to spend quality time together), it then quickly spread to all the German-speaking countries in Europe, establishing itself as a dominant family activity in the ’80s.

By the ’90s, it had evolved into a social activity not just among family members, but also among friends and colleagues. More importantly, it was discovered by the English-speaking world.

Today, almost a decade later, it has become the most happening form of social meet-up since the high-tea, jug of beer and movies.

What are we talking about?  A Designer Game Meetup.

Families play them to spend quality time together. Friends play them as a form of social gathering. Senior citizens play them to keep their imaginations alive and minds active. Schools use them to develop students’ critical thinking and other skills. Corporations use them as training tools.

But most importantly, Designer Game Meetups bring people together. A throwback to the great social gatherings that are in grave danger of being extinct in today’s world of Facebook and online chats.

So what exactly is a Game Meetup? 

Well, in simple terms, it is just a gathering of people over a few designer games, snacks and drinks. While the primary purpose of a Meetup is to enjoy playing designer games for a few hours, the real purpose is to catch up with family, friends or colleagues.

It’s a social gathering that has proven around the world, and in different cultures, to be more rewarding than meeting over high-tea, a couple of beers or even a movie.

Is it because everyone is involved and participating? Perhaps it’s because there is an element of competition? Or perhaps it’s simply because Meetups deliver good, old fashioned fun? Whatever the reason, Meetups have become the latest “cool” thing to do. You can either organise your own Meetup, or join one in town.

Organizing a Meetup is simple 
Just fix a day and time (like Friday night, 7pm), and invite a few people over to play designer games. If you don’t have the space, you can meet at community halls, cafes, etc. 

Remember that most games play four to six players since you don’t want anyone to be left out.

Entry-level games usually take less than an hour to play, while more advanced games take between one and two hours, so on a Friday night, you can easily get in three to four games before midnight. 

This allows for variety (of themes) and depth (of challenge), virtually guaranteeing that everyone will enjoy the Meetup.

Where it all started
If you don’t have anyone to invite, but you wish to meet new friends, the next best thing is to join a Meetup.

Public Meetups first started in Singapore five years ago, when a German engineer (who would have guessed?) by the name of Andreas took it upon himself to introduce designer games in a social setting where people could spend a wonderful evening with their family, catch up with friends and colleagues, or meet new friends.

The setting was always casual and relaxed, and there was always someone around (hosts) to set you up with others and teach you how to play. There was never any sense of elitism or exclusion, making it very welcoming for first-timers.

Today, there are more than half a dozen public Meetups every month in Singapore. They have Meetups just for people who are new to designer games, Meetups for those with very specific interest (war games, train games,), and even Meetups for those who love the thrill of competitive play.

All take place at either resident community halls or cafes, with some Meetups charging a token S$5 (RM12) but offer snacks and drinks.

Meetups in Malaysia - Something for everyone 

The time has now come for Game Meetups to announce its arrival in Malaysia.

Recognizing the role that designer games can play in bringing people together, Borders Bookstore and Starbucks Coffee have graciously offered to host this new wave of social gathering.

Beginning this month, each Borders Bookstore and Starbucks Coffee (in Borders) store will take turns to host a Games Meetup as follows:

• Every first Sunday, 2-6pm Borders Bookstore and Starbucks Coffee, Borders Store, The Curve.
• Every second Sunday, 2-6pm Borders Bookstore and Starbucks Coffee Store, Tropicana City Mall.
• Every third Sunday, 2-6pm Borders Bookstore and Starbucks Coffee Borders Store, The Gardens.
• Every fourth Sunday, 2-6pm Borders Bookstore and Starbucks Coffee Borders Store, Berjaya Times Square.
• Every fourth Sunday, 2-6pm Borders Bookstore and Starbucks Coffee Borders Store, Queensbay Mall, Penang.

Every month, Imagine Games, Squark Games and Toybox will introduce the latest releases, classic games, party games, games for kids (which adults will also enjoy) and miniature games covering a variety of themes, at both “family strategy” and “advanced strategy” levels — an unbeatable combination that will ensure that you will definitely find something you will like!

Best of all, you can join for free! All you have to do is register online (gamesmeetup.blogspot.com), via email (imagine.games@mac.com), at Borders Bookstore information counter, or at the registration desk during the Meetup. 

Monthly prizes also await new and “frequent playing” members.




FEATURED GAMES

This week, we look at one game from each category. EDWIN WONG lists down the games featured in this week’s Game Meetup.

Zooloretto (Amigo Spiele)


2007 Spiel des Jahres winner (Family strategy game of the year) where you try to bring in the right combination and number of exotic animals to attract visitors to your zoo. Bring in too many and you will be penalised for not having proper enclosures to keep them safely. Bring in too few and visitors won’t find your zoo interesting. Of course, you can always expand your zoo and add some vending stalls to attract visitors.

Killer Bunnies & the Quest for the Magic Carrot (Playroom)


In this funny and satirical card game, you try to collect as many “carrots” as possible, hoping that one of them is the randomly pre-determined “Magic Carrot”!  In doing so, you must keep your bunnies alive for as long as possible, while eliminating all the other players’ bunnies, since you need to have a living bunny to win. This is easier said than done since your opponents will be armed with outrageous weapons such as “Kitchen Whisks” to “Nuclear Warheads”. Of course, you will have equally outrageous defences such as “Magic Spatulas”, or make your opponents “Feed the Bunny” forcing them to buy cabbage and water! Ninety minutes of plain fun as everyone does everything to stop their opponents from winning!

GiftTRAP (GiftTRAP)


If you are coming to the Meetup to meet new friends, then this is the game you must play! Apart from being a great ice-breaker, GiftTRAP is a game of social intelligence where you learn more about total strangers as the game progresses. Players are given a set of gifts (which can be anything from the predictable to the outrageous!) and each round, someone is chosen as the receiver. Every player then selects a gift (from among those given earlier) and gives it to the receiver. The receiver then chooses the gift he/she likes best, earning points for the giver. Through observation, you will gradually learn more about what others like and appreciate!

Sherlock Deluxe (Playroom)


The card game where memory and deduction are “elementary”, my dear Watson! As Sherlock moves around and searches for clues, players try to remember each of the eight objects hidden in a facedown circle of cards. Sherlock travels from one card to another and each time he stops at a facedown card, the player has to remember which object is on that card. Sherlock continues to move so long as the player guesses correctly. When Sherlock lands on a face-up card, the player gets to keep that card. The first player to collect six cards wins. Fifteen minutes of pure detective fun that kids and their parents will be playing over and over again!

Monsterpocalypse (Privateer Press)


MonPoc brings the kaiju genre (giant monster in Japanese) — a pop culture favourite — to the tabletop in the form of a fast paced, action pack, monster showdown! With giant monsters, tall buildings and smaller support units, MonPoc excites by recreating the Ultraman vs Godzilla showdowns many of us grew up with on television! Experience the action as giant monsters trample on tall buildings, destroy tiny support units and try to outwit each other in a tactical skirmish where the town is only big enough for one big fella! In the end, careful planning will be rewarded!