The reason why it wasn't mentioned before is probably that it isn't listed on the preprinted list of games on the page you get when voting at Fairplay. I guess when they created the list, it wasn't yet announced or some other communication problem.

So to appear in the ranking this game had to be added manually to the list by the voter and then take a certain threshold to be visible (15 votes on Friday, 30 on Saturday).

So number one is even more surprising as this means that more than 30 peolple thought it was worth mentioning enough to bother searching the whole list for it and then writing it below.

And while there are still other games I liked even more this one certainly is worthy being on the top spot.

This was a very nice game. One of the few that really seemed fully developed. I bought it.

I think the minimun to qualify must be higher than 35. With only 34 votes is not representative.

The minimum for qualifying is 30 votes. The list published is already cleared of the "non-classified" games.

Looks awesome!

I wrote a very rough overview in my Geeklist. Sorry for linking it, but I've to go to bed now. If you remind me by commenting there or geekmailing me I can also try to give a more detailed description (though probably not before Monday).

Really intresting majority game. Didn´t get to play it, but the rules intrigued me enough to buy one.

A very interesting surprise to me. The rules talking about a very elegant game, with mecanics like differents powers, hidden missions, mayority.

I don´t get how the new Feld/Alea can slip under the radar. One of the best games of the fair for sure.

It seems people were (and still are) too buisy hyping average games like Dungeon Lords or Carson City. This years fair once again shows how important a good publisher/developer is.

Well, as the original posting said: It's only available in German with a lot of card texts. If you're unable to understand it it's hard to rate it...

Btw: While I guess you might be right about Carson City I'd disagree according Dungeon Lords which I still like a lot after my first game.

The fact that this wasn't picked up for English release before the fair shocks me. I'm not sure if that's an Alea thing or not, but you would think such a "high profile" game would be first on the list for simultaneous print runs.

Or maybe this designer isn't consistently "great". Can you say Rum and Pirates?

Or perhaps Alea is not consistently "great" these days.

It was picked up prior to Essen, though it may not have been ready for play there. Rio Grande is doing this in English.

Didn´t live up too the hype at all. Too chaotic, and felt like Galaxy Trucker which I don´t like. Bujt I guess alot of people will like it around here because it´s "fresh and different" which nowadays seems to be more important than properly playtested and developed.

If Fidel didn't like it, then that must be true indeed.

I don't see any similarities with Galaxy Trucker! It's a "worker placement" game for the dungeon building phase and a "strategic" game for the combat phase. There are a lot of choice to do, but none of them is "chaotic" (like obviously Galaxy trucker is...)!
It's not an easy game, and you should play this at least 2 or 3 times to have a full grasp of it.
Obviously, you may not like it, everyone taste is different , but "complex" for me is a more appropriate definition than "chaotic"!

I really like it, and feel it has been very well playtested. A bit of chaos is part of the game, that doesn't mean it isn't playtested.

All I heard was, "I didn't like this game so I'm going to take a jab at it by suggesting it was underdeveloped even though that statement holds no veracity whatsoever."

More of the same. No interest at all.

I disagree. It is as different from the previous two in the Harvest Trilogy, as Le Havre is from Agricola. They all have their unique gameplay, albeit with a similar "theme".

It's by Team Acchitocha - who gave us Leonardo da Vinci and Communi. I know Communi was also a Fairplay hit last year, but the enthusiasm didn't follow through afterwards.

I played it 3 times and couldn't grok Comuni's "fun factor". The game had interesting mechanics, but seemed a chore to play.

I loved Da Vinci, so maybe they'll win me over again.

Was a positive surprise for me. Might stay in the top 10.

Really solid. Not the most innovative concept for sure, but another game that shows the people at HIG can turn "shit" into gold.

I enjoy Comuni each time I play it. But, it comes out so seldom we keep having to relearn the convoluted rules again.

It really feels like Power Grid - only completely different. Recommended.

That's a great network building game with loads of alternative strategies to pursue toward victory. This one comes highly recommended - loved both games I played, and bought it.

I´d much rather play Caylus instead.

Is this game that much like Caylus?

I think our Fidel is a bit of a sourpuss, who veils emotional biases towards certain games with illogical statements.

Just based on a reading of the rules, this is nothing like Caylus. It is about creating buildings in a network.

The main mechanism is placing your building in the right place and build in "smart" spot using also house built by other player. This mechanism is strictly interconnect with a worker placement: you place worker both for build your network, to protect it or to attack others.
Last, but not least, a role selection for each turn that gives advantages in something but gives you a money-cap for the next turn.

There was a German edition announced for the fair. In the end it was delayed but it was already on the list so the ones who already bought the English version rated it...

I think this should not be here...
In the whole Essen fair, at least from Friday to Sunday (when I was there ), there was no copy of this game available, in any language..

I agree, there is no real reason that Automobile should be here or on the BGG list either.

It is difficult to stop people voting though but for a game that it was impossible to buy I am amazed about how well it did in the votes.

This is a new version by Heidelberger, I believe. From the pictures I've seen, it looks like it's very similar to the original. This is basically a take-that dexterity game with a lot of luck. You shake these dispensers and try to get the right pieces to come out.

There have benn some improvements in this edition, including a new meal: the crepes suzette you have to flip in your cooking pan. The game includes quite a high amount of luck, but you know what: It is lots of fun!

I'm still amazed that this game was re-issued. It was pretty much a forgotten oddity until this year and now it receives a snazzy new edition.

This is a pure filler type game, and could even be played as a party sort of game with the right people. Not a lot of control, but pretty amusing and a fantastic overall concept...pretty standard for Schmiel in that regard.

My question now is...will this make it to the US? From what I'm reading...it doesn't seem like it. It looks and sounds interesting enough that I'd be willing to give it a shot, but I have the feeling this is one of those games that a very small amount will see unless imported.

Shame, because it sounds like it would be a lot of fun.

Now if it IS coming to the US. Someone mind pointing me in the right direction?

A la carte is a very good family game, which mixes dexterity game, a bit of tactic and some luck. In my opinion it is a game which does this very good and it does it in a way adults can play with children on the same level and the same fun. I think there will be foreign editions of this one, but where and when is not shure yet.

Yay another set of 50000 cards for a mediocre game

Yay another troll post without punctuation

Got a better filler that scales well between 2-4 people?

WORM UP.

You can't top competitive worm racing

Race for the Galaxy? (Not that I mind Dominion).

Good games or not... PotE and WWE are beautiful looking games. Give that artist an award already.

Agreed, I was amazed at the level of detail in the artwork. I find I enjoy playing attractive games more than ugly ones. Say Caylus v. Mike Doyle's Caylus.

Hmm, third time editing this message: I mean to say I prefer Mike Doyle's version!

Then you'd want to have "like" things take the same position in the comparison.

"I find I enjoy playing attractive games more than ugly ones. Say Mike Doyle's Caylus vs. the original Caylus."

Beautiful artwok... but a game not for me. It's quite a simpler version of Pillars of the earth.

Maybe Priests of Ra?

Or maybe RA: the dice game

Neither this nor the one mentioned above. It is in fact a new edition with minor changes of the components (only in size and optic). Rules are the same.

Actually if you look at other lists and reports folks don´t like it too much, and rightfully so.

They disliked it so much that its in their top 20 games

Very nice components, some good idea (the mechanism of reducing possible spot to look at through clues), about 1 hour game lenght: a very nice family game, a little too random for "gamers".

How is it random? That element wasn't apparent while reading the rules, and might be a deal breaker. It seemed you would have a fair amount of control over timing & board location, especially with proper amulet use.

Dull and boring. They should have put the presentation money (opera singers etc.) into more playtesting and developing.

No game is good enough for our beloved dictator. It must be hard hating everything.