Galaxy-Trucker
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Galaxy Trucker board game raises shields on iPad
Galaxy Trucker, the Czech Games Edition-published board game from designer Vlaada Chvatil, has made its way to the iPad. Like the board game it's based on, Galaxy Trucker on iPad lets you build space crafts from strange components, dodge dangers in space and fight off aggressors, all in "a quest to become the trucker with the most cosmic credits at the end of the game." The iOS game can be played via a turn-based pass and play mode on a single iPad, online against up to three other players or versus AI personalities of varying difficulty in either a real-time or turn-based mode. For the first two weeks of its availability, Galaxy Trucker will be available at a discount ($4.99 USD/€4.49 EUR). Galaxy Trucker began life as a 2-4 player board game published in 2007 by Czech Games Edition, and is currently distributed by Rio Grande Games. The game has been nominated for a number of awards, including numerous 2008 Golden Geek awards from BoardGameGeek. It was selected in 2008 as an official Spiel des Jahres (German Board Game of the Year) recommendation. [Image: Czech Games Edition]
Best of the Rest: Kevin's Picks of 2009
Halo Wars Yeah, that's right, Halo Wars. I've already caught enough flak for putting this on my best-of list for 2009 (it's hard to even remember that it came out way back in February), but it deserves to be recognized ... so pay attention once your laughter has died down. Ensemble Studios (RIP) proved that you could bring a real-time strategy game to a console, and still make it enjoyable. Sure, you'll never have 1:1 parity mapping everything a full-sized keyboard offers onto a controller, but this game came close. It's a pity Ensemble closed, since we'll never see any expansion packs or a sequel. The good news is that, since it wasn't received with blaring trumpets and the sounds of cash registers ringing, you can pick this up for under 20 bucks for some good fun.
