Wednesday 17 October 2007

Official F:AT Essen Coverage (for Mike Chapel)

Here that lonesome, pensive gorilla-like bitching? That's F:AT regular MIKE CHAPEL complaining about the lack of Essen '07 coverage here. Now, of course, we do have EXCLUSIVE Essen coverage if you pay me a nonrefundal $25 paypal "membership fee". That's where you get EXCLUSIVE coverage on all the exciting games being released there, like HAMBURGEN, KINGSBURG, and so on. Bur for our freeloading members, I did a Google image search to round up some material for our very own Essen slideshow. Here's just a little taste of what those crazy "Spielfrieks" from all over the world are experiencing right now- even as we speak!


















27 comments:

Ken B. said...

What? No photos of that German-designed "Pokemans" game that's making the rounds? Elegant and fun for the whole family!


"Pikachu, I choose you! ...by bidding three."

Anonymous said...

I predict that the last game pictured, Rio Grande's "HOLY SHIT, MEAT!" will be the hit of the show.

Ken B. said...

Do NOT turn this into another sausage-fest. Essen is too sacred of a pilgrimage for such juvenile shenanigans.

Juniper said...

Actually, Banana Pitch is a good little game for families. Does anyone have paste-ups for the German-language combat resolution cards (i.e. the banane-karten)?

MWChapel said...

Whoo Hoo! Bunnies! Now that is more like it...Sweet ESSEN to kill the pain...

Anonymous said...

Mmmm...Essen. ("to eat" in German, as in "Ich esse den Hamburgum.")

Anonymous said...

Actually there is some good news from Essen:

A: I should be getting a copy of Galaxy Trucker being sent back to me. It looks unique, and random, and wacky.

B: FFG MAY be providing a first look at The Road to Legend expansion for Descent.

C: There is a game called Agricola. It likely doesn't have a lot of interaction, and it is peaceful (as best as I can tell, it is a medieval farming sim). But it is by Lookout Games (that nifty Triumvirate game) and it does have 400 cards, with zillions of events.

Also unrelated to Essen: Sierra Madre is releasing a new game this month. It does have wooden pieces, but it is Civ Light as done by Phil Eklund. That's gotta be good.

Anonymous said...

How can you forget ticket to ride: nordic countries? It's sheer originality should make sure it comes in the BGG top 50...

Seriously how many ticket to crap expansions can you make?

Michael Barnes said...

Lilred- the chief difference between all those editions of Monopoly and all those T2R expansions is...uh...well...heh heh...

Anonymous said...

Let me guess...Reiner Knizia will introduce another game at Essen.

THIS YEAR, his mechanic will be.....

Cards with Numbers on them!!!!

Darilian

Michael Barnes said...

That's right Dar...and this one is reputed to be his most heavily themed game yet. The cards have pictures on them.

Anonymous said...

I heard he was actually including a word of text this time.

Unknown said...

Because the truth is even more amusing than the shit we make up.

http://www.internationalespieltage.de/jpgs/p070_0016.jpg
http://www.internationalespieltage.de/jpgs/p070_0030.jpg
http://www.internationalespieltage.de/jpgs/p070_0022.jpg
http://www.internationalespieltage.de/jpgs/p070_0033.jpg

Anonymous said...

Ah, Germany. Home of Hasenpfeffer. Now THAT would make a good game: each player is a cook who needs to make the best Hasenpfeffer to impress the customers at a gasthaus. The more the customers like it, the more money (or VPs) they give you. However, to make the Hasenpfeffer, you have to catch a rabbit.

Okay, who am I kidding. Fluffy, cuddly bunnies as meat? No Euro maker would go for that; it'd be like a game about Orcas catching penguins for food.

--Mike L.

hacksword said...

Fourth photo
It's Kasper, the Friendly Klansman! Bringing toys, games, and racial intolerance to children everywhere.

Anonymous said...

I'm really really hoping they simply don't have the image of a white-robed klansman in Germany.

Michael Barnes said...

Hack, that for me is _the_ Essen photo...I bust out laughing every time I see that...

I think that picture of "Hannah Banana" from the Essen 07 Opening Ceremonies really captures the spirit of excitement of the event. Has anybody heard what the results of the Banana Pitch were?

I'm really excited about that photo of the new Kris Brum GIPF game, GHJTYRKLSJKSSJSK. And who could resist that loveable mascot from Rio Grande Games' new family favorite FLIPPIN' FURRIES? Kinda weird to see RGG hornin' in on Steve Jackson territory, but hey. And man, that image of the new Alea title DUKES OF ST. FLOWCHARTBURGIA looks amazing!

Liumas said...

The buzz at Essen this year is all about

MILK AND PICKLE (German: MILCH UND GERKEN). Wooden Pickles! With Cute Hats!

Early reviews call the game "tasteful".

Liumas said...

Yeah, I thought that Milk Und Pickle stuff sucked, myself.

Jur said...

Just got back after 3 days of Essen and playing games (13 of which 10 different).

It was good to see that the Polish guys that make Neuroshima Hex (which indeed rocks) had Michael Barnes´ praise posted large on the wall.

The fact that they also quoted Greg Schloesser and Bruno Faidutti may diminish the achievement a bit for some, but it just goes to show that, deserved or not, he is somehow the Voice of Ameritrash.

Anonymous said...

Ahaha Barnes with G Schloesser.
Deserved. Black void card and all!

Ken B. said...

It took a lot of deliberation, but I've decided the picture with the random German businessman is my favorite, just beating out "flamboyant yellow pants" lady.

Michael Barnes said...

German businessman? How do you know he's German? He could very well be Austrian. Or Bavarian.

Michael Barnes said...

Oh waitaminute...I see it now too, the unmistakable glint of WWII guilt in his eyes...

Anonymous said...

about the pictures:
1) I saw many of those heavily armored "people" on Saturday. This picture explains why there were none on Sunday: They hurt themselves in the parking lot.
2) This is not just a random business man having fun with playing with Asians (usually they use a plane to bring them to their "board of management" parties), but Germany's finance minister Peer Steinbruck.
3) I apparently missed this game where you can manipulate Gollum's "precious".
4) Yes, the guy standing on the "right" side of this picture is actually disguised as a ghost. A very popular costume (it's cheap) during pogro... err carnival in Germany.

Unknown said...

Simon, thank you for the information about the photos.

4rx said...

I really like the food pictures. Specially when it is about some dishes like that. but I would like to know what it is and where to get it.