The Haunted Game Cafe

Speak With Monsters

Speak With Monsters is a web comic from the monster’s point of view.

Thanks to The Art of Darkness for the link.

Magic Pre-Release Core 2011

On Saturday, July 10th, the Haunted Game Cafe will be doing a pre-release event for the new Magic the Gathering Core 2011 set.

This will take the place of our regular Saturday event. It will be a sealed tournament of six booster packs using only the new Magic 2011. The cost of this event will be $25.55 (including tax). The prize pool consists of two packs of boosters for each entrant, so eight players would be 16 packs to be given to the top finishers.

The event will begin at 1PM on Saturday, July 10th.

Settlers of Catan on Microsoft Surface

Vectorform Game Studio was showing off their version of The Settlers of Catan on Microsoft Surface. Surface, is a computer table that allows users to move actual objects on the table as well as being a huge touch screen.

From the developer’s web site:

Now Vectorform Game Studio brings you The Settlers of Catan as presented by Mayfair for the Microsoft Surface. This multi-touch, multi-player experience captures the authentic experience provided by the popular board game. Featuring 3 or 4 player modes, a beautifully animated and interactive board, and a free-form interface which keeps play flowing as smoothly as possible, this experience is sure to be a defining element in the legacy of Catan.

Features:
• Full multi-touch from the Microsoft Surface allows all players to interact with their elements of the board at once.
• A digital playing surface breathes new life into the Catan experience through graphics and animations.
• “State-free-trade” allow players to swap cards without entering modes or pressing buttons, keeping the experience as pure as possible.
• Customized art unifies the multi-touch interface with Mayfair’s 4th Edition release of The Settlers of Catan to create a seamless play experience.
• Integration with real-world objects to maintain the original Catan board game feel.

Thanks to Boardgame News for the link.

Closed for 4th of July

The store will be closed for the 4th of July. Have a great, safe holiday.

Update to Extended Format in MtG

There has been a pronouncement from the all-powerful ones at Wizards of the Coast:

Magic: The Gathering Tournament Rules Change: Extended
On July 1, 2010, the following sets will leave the Extended format: Ninth Edition, Mirrodin, Darksteel, Fifth Dawn, Champions of Kamigawa, Betrayers of Kamigawa, Saviors of Kamigawa, Ravnica: City of Guilds, Guildpact, Dissension, and Coldsnap. From that point forward, the Extended format will include approximately four years of Magic sets instead of seven.

At that time, the following sets will be legal in the Extended format: Time Spiral, Planar Chaos, Future Sight, Tenth Edition, Lorwyn, Morningtide, Shadowmoor, Eventide, Shards of Alara, Conflux, Alara Reborn, Zendikar, Worldwake, Rise of the Eldrazi, and Magic 2010.

With the upcoming release of Scars of Mirrodin, the following sets will leave the Extended format: Tenth Edition, Time Spiral, Planar Chaos, and Future Sight. One year’s worth of releases will leave Extended with the release of every subsequent fall Magic set.