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While "Spiel" means "game", the word also means "play" (the verb, not the noun). Spiel encompasses both meanings as the box includes rules for multiple games, while Wittig has encouraged players to create new ways to use the dice to create games of their own. This latest version of the game, previously published both by Abacusspiele and independently by Wittig's own Edition Perlhuhn, includes 121 dice (fewer than other versions) and a funky dice tray / game board combination that also serves as storage.
Also new for Spiel 2011 is the latest title in the Anno Domini series: Süden, with players being challenged to organize events related to "the south" (which is defined in various ways) chronologically.
Promotional items from Abacusspiele for Spiel 2011 include:
• The traditional new animal for Michael Schacht's Zooloretto. No word on what it might be, but I'm guessing wallaby because it's fun to say.
• An special board (#20) for Schacht's Valdora.
• Possibly a bonus item for Schacht's Gold!, which was released in early 2011.
• Details on a blocking variant for Alan R. Moon's Airlines Europe that, in the words of Abacusspiele's Matthias Wagner, "should make the board/routes slightly tighter".
Speaking of Airlines Europe, Wagner notes that a Polish edition of the game is now out from G3 Poland, while Hobby Japan will release a Japanese version once it receives copies already in transit and Filosofia will release a French-only version in September 2011 for France and Canada.
Wagner has also uploaded rules (PDF) on BGG for playing Airlines Europe with six players. Says Wagner, "We got a lot of feedback from gamers who already enjoyed Airlines Europe's predecessors: Airlines and Union Pacific. Some of them missed the option for a sixth player. As the game was designed for 2-5 players and we were afraid of balance/playtime/control/more rules by adding a sixth player, we skipped that option." After further playtesting with six players, however, Abacus realized that the game works fine (albeit differently) with six and requires only two changes. Here's the rule summary:
-----1. Place six share cards in the stock market instead of five.
-----2. Deal each player six cards at the start of the game instead of eight.
That's it!
Finally, Wagner mentioned that since Abacusspiele has no current distributor in the U.S. and not all of its releases have had a standalone English-language edition (and some that have are now out of print), the publisher has worked out a deal in which online retailer Funagain will carry the following titles: China, Valdora, Valdora Extra, Valdora Extra: Board #19, Zooloretto Mini, Hansa, and an unreleased small promotional item for Hansa.
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