Matagot’s game about Easter Island’s giant carved heads, more properly referred to as Moaïs, is reaching U.S. retailers by way of publisher Asmodee Editions. Giants puts players in the position of clan leaders competing for prestige on the isolated island by carving, transporting, and installing the most imposing sculptures. In game terms, however, most imposing refers to the special pawns a couple of inches tall.

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Like any group of hobbyists, gamers have their share of strange traditions. Among them are such habits as always putting dice down on the table high number up, and clipping the corners off cardboard war game counters. In support of clipping, the claim is made that the counters will more easily fit in to hexagonal spaces, or that cutting the corners will improve the counters’ durability. On the downside, it can be difficult to make uniform cuts. To help with that, though, Dave King is now selling a lucite guide he calls the C4 Corner Cutter. It’s only $19.95 and is available with a felt or foam base in a variety of colors.

(hat tip)

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Bandai has announced that they’ll be bringing their Battle Spirits TCG to the US market this summer. The game features some novel mechanics that are designed to get players into combat quickly and has been a hit in the highly competitive Japanese TCG market – inspiring the mandatory anime and manga lines (which are thankfully not being brought to the US at this time). While the last thing the TCG industry needs is another TCG, this one has shot to the top of the market in Japan (behind the ever dominant Yu-Gi-Oh and Duel Masters games), so there’s always a chance, but given that its set for distribution solely in the hobby channel, I’m inclined to think this one can safely be ignored.  

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Mouse Guard is a series of graphic novels from David Petersen about mice struggling and prospering in dangerous Medieval times (sans humans). Think Redwall, I guess.

Rumors abound about a Mouse Guard board game include a supposed source (linked from David Petersen’s blog) of information returns an error, while an audio file follows a reading of the rules and session of the game.

In any case, you can definitely pick up the Mouse Guard Roleplaying Game. Players form their own Mouse Guard patrol and attempt to complete missions while the Game Master takes on the roles of the weather, animals and the wilderness all trying to thwart the fearless mice. (source)

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The Christian Science Monitor waxes over simple pleasures such as board games, including a quote from Scott Alden of BGG.

DNA India talks about board gaming popularity, including a mixture of international and Indian local games.

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The deadline for entering the US Monopoly Nationals is approaching. Get the details at Hasbro’s site.

Winners will get $20,580 (if you don’t know why this amount, don’t bother trying to get in) and a trip to the World Championships in Las Vegas in October.

(source)

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W Eric Martin, editor of BoardGameNews, took some time to teach the writers and editors of the NH Concord Monitor a few new games to while away the winter (and failed economy) doldrums.

They played(or learned about) For Sale, Bohnanza, Witch’s Brew, 10 Days in Asia, Cheeky Monkey, and Qwirkle. Aside from For Sale, the games seem to have gone over well.

(source)

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Be Someone is an organization by a former police officer, Orrin Hudson. After hearing one too many violent news reports, he decided to dedicate his life to teaching kids to make the right choices using the game of Chess as a metaphor.

“Heads up, pants up, grades up, don’t give up” is his motto, along with “Push pawns, not drugs”.

Orrin is on a 50 state tour in an effort to reach the lives of a million children. His YouTube video features anecdotes and clippings from news appearances, as well as Orrin rapping to kids to “keep their head in the game”.

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