The Spiel

A review of Junk Art written by Stephen Conway. Junk Art is a stacking game with fresh twist. It's really a dozen different games in one box. Your goal is to take random objects and build them into beautiful structures to meet different challenges.

A review of Anaxi written by Stephen Conway. Anaxi is a party game. Anaxi is a word game. In fact, it’s both. Anaxi celebrates the venerable Venn diagram by making the diagrams into engines for fun. Read on to find out why Anaxi is Major Fun!

A review of Animals on Board written by Stephen Conway. A big flood is coming and so, you have decided to build an ark. Only problem is some guy named Noah got started way before you and he is claiming pairs of animals to take with him.

Rollers is a press-your-luck dice game inspired by darts. If you've ever played the dart game, Cricket, you'll see how Rollers is a clever re-imagining of this pub classic, playable by people of all ages. Tune in to see why Rollers is Major Fun.

You are a clan chief, laying tiles to build your kingdom, trying to arrange features (including whiskey barrels) in order to score points. Tiles you place are determined by an auction in reverse. Build the best kingdom and you'll rule the Isle of Skye.

This panel explores the different ways people around the world start, run and organize game groups, events or conventions. The goal is provide people with incentive or knowledge to participate in or even start a game group event or convention themselves

Ignacy Trzewiczek, Ted Alspach and Joe Cochran explore the evolution of board games that embrace technology AND examine how the cardboard world influences the digital gaming world as well.

Martin Wallace, Phil Eklund, Vital Lacerda and Max Michael share a deep and abiding passion for history. From research methods to the balance between simulation and gameplay, the panel discusses how and why they incorporate history into their game designs

Matt Leacock (Pandemic, Forbidden Island/Desert) and Antoine Bauza (Ghost Stories, Hanabi, Samurai Spirit) discuss their passion for cooperative play and the challenges and differences in designing cooperative games.

Representatives from 3 of the largest manufacturers of board and card games, discuss the challenges they face when trying to make games for clients all over the world. Frank Jager (Ludo Fact) Shari Spiro (AdMagic) Michael Lee & Chris Matthew (Panda Mfg)

This panel explores the impact of the Spiel des Jahres awards - on the game industry, on the organization itself, on the designers and the publishers who win the awards. Tom Felber (SdJ Jury) Andreas Pelikan (designer/winner) Wittenstein (Eggertspiele)

A discussion exploring how publishers try to reach the world with their games. Nate Scheidler (Gigamic), Agnieszka Kopera (NSKN, Strawberry Studio), Konstantinos Kokkinis (Artipia Games), Nobuake Takerube (Japon Brand), Brandan Parsons (Brain Games)

Team Play is game that draws deep from the well of classic card games. With hints of Rummy, Pinochle and even a little Euchre, anyone familiar with these classics will feel like you already know how to play. Tune in to learn why Team Play is Major Fun!

A review of 3 Wishes written by Stephen Conway. 3 Wishes is a game of bluffing and deduction you can play in 5 minutes. Gain the genie's favor by collecting a wish for a superpower, a wish for world harmony and a wish for a gift to win the game.

In Among Nobles, you are the timeless overseer for an aristocratic European family. You guide them through marriages, warfare, commerce and influence across the continent. Most prestige wins the game. Tune in to see why it earns a Spiel of Approval Award!

A review of Mmm! written by Stephen Conway. Mmm! is a cooperative game where players work together to cover every food item displayed in the pantry with a mouse token before the mean black cat reaches the door.

Oh My Goods is a small game that packs a huge punch. Using 110 cards, you build factories to create production chains, turing basic resources into more valuable goods. Each round offers a press your luck decision that makes the game challenging and fun.

Chronicler is a small game with large aspirations. Tell the story of your civilization through the tools and structures you choose to build in 20 minutes or less. Tune in to learn what we love about Chronicler and why it deserves the Major Fun Award.

A review of Ice Cool written by Stephen Conway. Ice Cool is a dexterity game where players will take turns flicking their penguins through a 3 dimensional school trying to either catch fish or catch the students skipping class.

My Village is a game where players tell the story of an entire medieval community. Will your village focus on commerce, a magnificent church or a town council? Your decisions wind the clock forward; your decisions ultimately decide who lives and who dies.

We explore the importance of narrative in game design with a panel of some of the best storytellers in the world of gaming. Ignacy Trzewiczek (Portal), Richard Launius, Christopher Badell (Greater Than Games), Scott Hill (Flying Frog Productions).

There have been waves of consolidation within the board game industry over the past 3 yrs. Is this a sign of a healthy industry or the start of a cycle that leads to less competition? Eric Summerer (Dice Tower) Lance Myxter (Undead Viking) Doug Richardson

Matt Leacock, Rob Daviau, Bruno Faidutti and Bruno Cathala explore the process of co-designing games. Why work together? How do they divide up the work? How do they playtest? How do they deal with conflict? How do they know when the game is done?

From the artwork on and in the box to the components to the layout and logo, we examine the effort that goes into making a game visually engaging. Panelists include: Stephen Buonocore (Stronghold Games) Stephan Brissaud (Iello) Kevin Brusky (APE Games).

Our panel gives advice they wish they had received when first starting out. What pitfalls can new publishers avoid? Ted Alspach (Bezier Games), Paul Bender (Greater Than Games), Tim Fowers (Fowers Games), Travis Worthington (Indie Boards and Cards).