Drop Site Updates

I am facing some decisions about Drop Site.

Studio Giochi, the game's agent, is looking for distributors in Europe who would like to buy the game, and there may be several who are interested.

That means, I wouldn't get to have all of the 1,000 copies, but I would still make a profit on the games that are distributed.

I'd like to have all 1,000, but I might choose to leave 500 over seas to tap a market I will not otherwise be able easily access.

An alternative would be to print additional copies for $$$. The printer has given me an estimate on 500 and 1,000 additional copies, but there is no guarantee that these games would be purchased by a distributor and I can guarantee you that the price to print these extra games is not cheap!

So what is the best choice?

Of course, if Studio Giochi can't find an interested distributor for the free 1,000 copies then it makes no sense to print any additional copies or leave any copies in Europe. If distributors are interested, however...well, stop back by the blog later for that decision.

Ticket to Ride Design Contest

Interested in Ticket to Ride?

Want to try your hand at map design?

Check out this contest from the Days of Wonder team. Winner gets their map published and $10,000 in money.

This contest should be very competitive. Make sure your prototype is good!

Workers, Select Your Meeting Agenda

Its better than sliced bread, its...being able to design your own meeting agendas. 

Just one of the perks of working for Residence Life at a major University.

I love making my own agendas,simply because there are so many different ways you can make them fun. Take for example the agenda I made this week for a committee I head (see top picture).

Instead of using an arbitrary order, I let the committee members decide.

Everyone received an agenda, and I put one in the middle of the table. I also gave everyone a meeple, with which to select the next agenda topic. 

On the "board" (the agenda in the middle) were shaded boxes that represented a possible selection. We went around the table and each member chose what topic to discuss by placing their meeple on the board.

The response was fantastic!

Not only did everyone enjoy having a voice in the topic selection, they also got a kick out of using the game pieces! 

I highly recommend using this "game" at your next meeting. You might just find that your "workers" select a better agenda priority than you!

Viva La...Board Game Add Ons

Board games are incomplete.

Sure they have all the pieces you need to play the game, but sometimes you need a little something more to complete the experience...a dish, a plastic tub, special print-outs, ect...

Last night we played Philip DuBerry's home-engineered-hit Revolution! published by Steve Jackson Games (2009), my favorite game for "Add-Ons."

First (and most important for me) is what I call "the DISH." It comes out every time we play Revolution!...EVERY TIME. In fact we use it more for playing Revolution! than we do for eating food.

If you aren't familiar with the game (check it out, its viva la fun) there are three types of payment, blackmail, gold and force, which are used for bidding. Its important to keep the stockpile separate from your personal bidding stash, so to avoid confusion, the DISH is an essential element. I even tried to pack it away in the box...an exercise in frustration.

The other Add Ons are called LAS BANDERAS (Flags), which are actually just clothes pins. We have one for each color used in the game (yellow, blue, green and red). When we have finished placing our bids behind our player screens, we place the "flag" on top of the screen to signal to the others that we are ready to show their bids, an event I affectionately call, THE GREAT REVEAL.

Ok...So maybe these add-ons aren't exactly essential, but I like to claim that they are, and they can enhance the game experience.

What types of ADD-ONS do you use for your favorite games?

My wife has told me that buying player-colored bandannas to wear around our heads as we play might be taking it a bit too far...

Drop Site (So Close)

$978

The cost of shipping 1000 decks of the award winning Drop Site to the US from Italy. According to my brother-in-law, 1000 decks of cards would be 207 lbs.

A Hefty 207 lbs.

I'll admit that weighs more than me, and I suppose that could cost $978 to ship from Europe.

With hope and prayer, I'll be able to fund this last great obstacle to getting my first shipment of stock.

Check back frequently. YOU can purchase Drop Site as soon as it arrives!