Last year was the first visit, just passing by, to take a look at the ambiance and a sneak peek at a few games, with no time to stay, no time to play.
A very different story, one year later on this voyage! Looking at games, naturally, both brand new and ageing ones, some completely unknown and others that have already hit the table, made it to the news or just have a familiar name.
But this was, increasingly and foremost, a time for close encounters. Some for the very first time; others feeling like reunions, with those usually sharing the same places; others still coming out from the virtual reality of networks, forums, blogs, channels, messages, into the material world. Time for chats and stories, about games, creations, dissemination, the industry. About the past, the present and the futures to come.
It was also the opportunity to conduct tests of a prototype, for Weird Giraffe Games, with different players and at different player counts, as well as to try out another prototype, Zookeepers, already in advanced development stages, by the hand of Pedro Gordalina, the second game of CardsLab, a Portuguese publisher.
This time around I also got the chance to play! First, Tiny Towns, a 2019 game, with four more players. Then, and with all the Wingspan birdies unavailable, and thanks to Vasco Chita’s efficient on the table tutorial, I gave a shot at one those that have been in my waiting list for a long time: Tzolk'in - the Mayan Calendar and its original interlocked gears.
Newton, a request from João Neves, was left to play because the room was crowded, with no spare tables whatsoever ... the result of a full house on a Saturday afternoon. As well as Porto, from Orlando Sá and MeboGames, one of the latest national productions.
Eleven hours at Invicta Con 2019, an organization of the Porto Boardgamers Group, in the Multiusos of Gondomar, near Porto, Portugal.
 |
| Play test of Gift of Tulips, by Sara Perry, to Weird Giraffe Games |
 |
| Zookeepers prototype, Pedro Gordalina, CardsLab |
 |
| Tiny Towns, Peter McPherson, Alderac Entertainment Group, 2019 |
 |
| Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar, Simone Luciani e Daniele Tascini, Czech Games Edition, 2012 |
Next on the Portuguese convention route is Augusta Con, Braga, from December 13 to 15.
No comments:
Post a Comment