Tag Archive for Settlers of Catan

Michael Salsbury | June 29, 2010
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Game News – 06/29/2010

Here’s the first sample of news for game-related accessories from my (in progress) updated database. I’m expecting each of the headings to be a single post in the future with a larger bulleted list of the news items for that topic area, to make it easier for you to filter out the items you don’t care about.

Gaming Accessories:

  • Black Cat Bases has extended its 20% off sale on all ranges until July 2, 2010.
  • Gale Force Nine (GF9) has announced that the initial run of their Dungeons and Dragons Dungeon Master’s Token Set has sold out. A second production has been created and is being packaged.

Board Games:

  • Fantasy Flight Games has published a preview of Into the Storm, the upcoming supplement for Rogue Trader.
  • Steve Jackson Games has started shipping Chez Geek: House Party Edition and posted a description of what’s changed relative to the original Chez Geek game on their site.
  • Z-Man Games is celebrating its tenth anniversary at Gen Con this year, and will be giving out t-shirts with every purchase at their booth, as well as a raffle to win every one of their in-stock games. Kings & Things will be demoed there (but not for sale) and there will be a live Pandemic event.

PC Strategy Games:

  • Longbow Games received a Silver Award from GamersHall, and received a review of 88% from the site. I saw them at Origins and picked up a copy of Hegemony while I was there. I’m looking forward to playing it (and hopefully reviewing it) soon.
  • Matrix Games, Slitherine Strategies, and Strategy 3 Tactics have announced that Close Combat – Last Stand Arnhem will be released in early July 2010. This is an enhanced relase of the Close Combat game, using the latest engine with many improvements. A trailer has been posted on YouTube.

Role-Playing Games:

  • 0One Games has released Heavenring Village: The Smith, a set of black and white plans in PDF format.
  • Hex Games has published an article entitled “Number Crunching” in which they discuss some of the mathematical issues inherent in the QAGS system. Their QAGS Cops & Robbers product was released this past Sunday.
  • Iron Crown Enterprises has released RMC’s Spell Law II, containing “the official rules for Arcane magic, as well as the Archmage, the only spell user who can learn Arcane spell lists as Base Lists. We have also included a Druid profession.”
  • Pinnacle Entertainment Group published their “Origins Wrap-Up and Retrospective” article.
  • Precis Intermedia Games has published a free full-size textured, color Conflict Action Map for use with Ancient Odysseys: Treasure Awaits.
  • RPGNow is listing some new products, including Hounds of G.O.D., Werewolf Sen So, No One Can Hear You Scream (an audio product), Primal State, Thousand Suns: Starships, and more.

Wargames:

  • Avalanche Press has a limited number of unboxed, dice-free copies of Bomb Alley for sale. They’ve also announced a planned price increase to Coral Sea and Pacific Crossroads.
  • Capitan Games announced the launching of a new blog, Ars Tactica, covering gaming, history, modelling, game systems, and more. (I’ve added it to the list of sites I monitor for news items here.)
  • Critical Hit appears to have reduced the price of ASLComp White Beach One from $59.95 to $39.95.
Category: Gaming Accessories | Tags: , , , ,
Michael Salsbury | June 29, 2010
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What’s happening at The Gamer Hotsheet? (6/29/2010)

I’m still collecting my thoughts and energy after Origins 2010. I had a good time, as always. I also learned a lot, both about the games I played there and about writing fiction. I had the privilege of learning from two New York Times Bestselling authors, Michael A. Stackpole and Aaron Allston. These two guys do a great job of communicating what it takes to turn decent fiction writing into really good fiction writing. I hadn’t heard from Aaron Allston before, but I’ll definitely attend his seminars in the future. Michael Stackpole’s seminars have always added to my writing toolkit, and I’m grateful for any chance to learn from him.

Right before Origins, I set out on a quest to increase the number of game sites I’m monitoring for the news items I provide here on the site. The quest was rather insanely effective. I started with around 400 sites I monitored regularly. The list is now well over 4,000. In fact, it’s so large that it’s choking the software I use to help me monitor the sites. I’m currently breaking the list down into smaller chunks based on subject matter (e.g., Miniatures makers, Wargame publishers, Board game publishers). Once I’ve managed that, I’ll start providing a lot more news than you’ve ever seen from me in the past. Until then, it may be a bit quiet. Sorting through 4,000 links is not a simple or quick task, especially when you load each one and try to assess both the site’s main focus and the best pages on it to monitor for newsworthy items.

In the meantime, the updates may be smaller and more sporadic. Bear with me, though, as I think the end result may surprise us both. I’ve got one MASSIVE database of game-related sites now. Once it’s properly organized, I’ll be able to turn it into news…

Category: Mike's Thoughts | Tags: , , , ,
Michael Salsbury | June 29, 2010
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Mayfair Games to Release “Catan Histories: Settlers of America”

The following was submitted recently, and I wanted to share it with you:

(Plant City, FL) – Fans of the award-winning, multi-million selling The Settlers of Catan™ will have new lands to settle soon. To celebrate the 234th anniversary of the United States and the 15th anniversary of The Settlers of Catan™, Mayfair Games is proud to announce that Catan Histories: Settlers of America, Trails to Rails™ is set to be released in the United States on Thursday, July 15 at hobby and game stores around the country. Designed by Klaus Teuber, this new Catan adventure uses a map of the United States, along with the familiar Catan hex-tile grid.

The game focuses on 19th Century Americans as they head west. Wagon trains are formed up and sent out to settle new lands and build new cities. The new cities need railroad lines to bring in necessary goods. Players link these cities with rails of steel and operate their railroads to supply the townsfolk with goods. To do the players will need to gather and trade their resources wisely.

Settlers of America, Trails to Rails™ debuted at the Origins Game Fair in Columbus, OH (June 24-27, 2010); it will be available for sale at hobby and game shops on July 15, 2010. For those who have played The Settlers of Catan™, this game is as accessible and fun as the original. There are trades to be made and cities to be built; are you ready to leave the island of Catan and head towards America?

Mayfair Games, founded in 1981, is an independent publisher of high quality games designed for gamers and family play.

Unfortunately, I have yet to play Settlers of Catan in spite of owning a copy. I also didn’t get the opportunity to try Settlers of America at Origins 2010, but I hear that a lot of people did and they enjoyed it. I’m sure Mayfair has another hit on their hands.

Category: Board Games | Tags: , , , ,
Michael Salsbury | January 27, 2009
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New Catan Games for 2009

According to the Mayfair Games web site, there will be new Catan board games released in 2009.  First up will be Catan Portable Edition, designed to make it easy to store and travel with The Settlers of Catan.  A new Catan Geographies line will be released, starting off with Catan Geographies: Germany.  Catan Geographies: Germany is a game about trade, building, and settlement.  For more details, see the Mayfair Games site.

Category: Board Games | Tags: , , ,
Michael Salsbury | December 5, 2008
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Settlers of Catan for PlayStation 3? Yes.

According to a news item on Boardgame News, The Settlers of Catan has already been made available for the XBox, and will soon be playable on the Sony PlayStation 3.  A press release has been quoted as saying:

As of December 18, 2008, Game Republic is pleased to announce its release of the board game Catan, the first in its Board Game Republic series of casual downloadable content. Catan will be distributed via the PLAYSTATION Network, and plans exist to add PlayStation Home interactivity in the future.

Catan is the first in the Board Game Republic series of light, casual downloadable games! So far, the game is slated to be launched in Japan this month, soon to be followed by releases in other regions, including the U.S.

Category: Board Games | Tags: ,
Michael Salsbury | October 26, 2008
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Catan 5-6 Player Expansion Coming Soon

From Mayfair Games comes this news:

The Catan: Traders & Barbarians 5- 6 Player Extension™ is comings
soon! With this extension you can play all five exciting Catan: Traders
& Barbarians™scenarios with up to six players. Now you’ll face even
more competition from your fellow settlers as you struggle to survive and
prosper on the island of Catan!

For more info about this new extension
please visit the product page at the link below:

MFG3068 Catan:
Traders & Barbarians 5 & 6 Player Extension $20.00

Category: Board Games | Tags: , , ,