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A Report From the Heart of the Board Games Industry

Ward Batty, writing for Gamasutra, attended the recent Essen International Game Days event in Germany. The beating heart of German board games culture, it's equivalent to Origins or Gen Con here in the US. Batty got to see firsthand what the future will bring for tabletop gaming - and how that might impact the videogames of tomorrow. He also offers up a few words looking back at the history of boardgames in the EU: "What distinguishes a Eurogame from a typical American board game? Unlike many American games which are net sum (you gain by taking directly from other players) in Eurogames players are generally competing against the game itself. They may compete for limited resources or the best action, but rarely do the spoils come directly from an opponent, but instead from the game itself -- usually in the form of victory points. German games are generally shorter to play, ranging from 20-90 minutes. There is usually a good social aspect to the game as well. Players are almost never eliminated from the game, for example."

5 of 81 comments (clear)

  1. Go Go Gadget Capitalism by kornkid606 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Unlike many American games which are net sum (you gain by taking directly from other players)...


    Is there anything better than taking from the your fellow man?

    I submit that there is not.
    --
    Future indie game developer of America (and possibly Canada)
    1. Re:Go Go Gadget Capitalism by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Why, of course! Taking things from the environment is better because it won't get mad at you and refuse to play again.

    2. Re:Go Go Gadget Capitalism by ObsessiveMathsFreak · · Score: 4, Funny

      Is there anything better than taking from the your fellow man?
      To hear the lamentations of their women?
      --
      May the Maths Be with you!
    3. Re:Go Go Gadget Capitalism by inviolet · · Score: 1, Funny

      Is there anything better than taking from the your fellow man?
      To hear the lamentations of their women?

      Funny... when *I* ravish the women of my foes, I don't ever hear lamentations. You must be doing it wrong.

      --
      FATMOUSE + YOU = FATMOUSE
  2. Freudian slip? by tepples · · Score: 2, Funny

    but Settlers of Satan is good, too. Freudian slip anyone? Or did someone make an expansion or parody of Settlers of Catan set in hell?