![Game Announcements from GAMA Expo 2020: Control a Cube, Rub Out a Robot, and Craft a Million Dollar Script](https://cf.geekdo-images.com/8heCSKcZa1au780IVLBRfQ__thumb/img/Hja1U2Vt9YOL_0lYGrmGGS_CVXs=/fit-in/200x150/filters:strip_icc()/pic5290703.png)
• We almost got a look at Julio E. Nazario's Ctrl from Pandasaurus Games at Spielwarenmesse 2020, but both our batteries and back-up batteries failed at that moment, and I had to rush to a department store so that we could record for the remaining three hours. Thankfully, we saw the game in Reno, and it's an intriguing 3D design with a high toy factor that will be ideal of today's Instagram market. Here's an overview of this 2-4 player design due out July 27, 2020:
In more detail, you start with a 3x3x3 cube that has one block of each player color stuck into one of the cube's holes. (In a two-player game, each player controls two colors, but at the start of play they secretly choose one of those colors to be their scoring color, with the other color serving only as a blocking mechanism.) Each player has a matching colored flag that sticks out of their block.
On a turn, a player removes their flag from its current location, adds one cube of their color to the side of any of their blocks (where such a move can be made), then they "grow" their color by adding two blocks in a straight line from the block they just added, crawling around corners and covering other players' blocks if needed. To end your turn, plant your flag in one of your final blocks, ideally blocking where someone else might like to play while also preserving future ground in which you can play.
Once all the blocks have been placed, you calculate your score by looking at the structure from all four surrounding sides, as well as from the top, and counting each unblocked square of your color that is visible. Thus, if you plant a block high up on the cube, you can possibly score 5 points for it since it would be seen from all sides and the top. Climb high, and block others from blocking you!
Turns out that Portal had still more to talk about, with GAMA Expo 2020 being the launching ground for word on Million Dollar Script, a game for 3-10 players from movie director Daniel Stamm on a topic that he knows firsthand:
Million Dollar Script takes place in a lavish Hollywood office. Through extensive market research, the studio has identified the perfect hero, as well as an equally perfect villain counterpart in order to make them millions. But beyond that, these bigwigs aren't taking any chances; they're going to be following that tried-and-true structure of nearly every record-breaking blockbuster of the past forty years. This film will be one of the greats like Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, The Avengers, and Titanic.
Two writing teams have been invited to pitch their finest most preeminent ideas to a studio executive, a.k.a. "the Exec". During the meeting, both teams are working on the same movie, pitching their ideas for each of the five traditional story events. Each round the Exec picks the pitch they prefer, which then becomes part of the shared storyline. The losing pitch gets discarded and treated as if it never existed, much like what should have happened to Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000.
Each team of screenwriters is trying to nudge its way into the good graces of the Exec by winning the majority of the five rounds and scoring points in order to secure the profitable writing deal for themselves.
Treasure Chest will debut at SPIEL '20.
• Speaking of Robinson Crusoe, Portal Games is inviting scenario submissions from users with a deadline submission of the end of May 2020. Details from the publisher:
Players can write their scenario in a simple text document or use one of the scenario templates available on Portal Games website (.zip file), and send it by e-mail to [email protected] by the end of May.
The winner will receive $250 to spend in Portal Games official store as well as recognition by including the scenario to the upcoming expansion Robinson Crusoe: The Book of Adventures coming to Kickstarter in [Q4] 2020.
Portal Game will not send this item into distribution, instead selling it solely through its online store, with the Storage Box due out in Q4 2020.