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The TGG Birthday Bash Contest!

Elliott and Jeff are celebrating the one year anniversary of The Gaming Gang this month and what better way to get into the festivities than gifts? But here’s the best part:

It’s our birthday, yet some lucky contestant will receive all the presents! That’s right! In conjunction with many of our friends in the industry, we’ve put together a bit of a scavenger hunt in which you’ll visit their websites to find the answer (or answers) to a particular question to include in our entry form. We’ll be very honest and tell you that you won’t find each answer right on the front page of these sites, but we also haven’t made it so difficult that it will take a whole lot of time to track all the answers down.

Just some quick notes before we get down to the goodies…

* All answers on the entry form must be correct; if you miss one – come on they aren’t THAT hard – you won’t win.

* Each of the games below has links associated with them. One of those links will lead you to your starting point to find the answer. As mentioned above, you won’t find the answer directly on the page you land but it won’t be an experiment in frustration going from there.

* Contestant name, email address, and IP address will be logged. We’re not going to use that information other than to make sure individuals don’t flood us with entries in an attempt to shift the odds into their favor. Detection of multiple entries will mean ALL of those entries in question will be disqualified. We honestly want everyone to have an equal chance at walking away with the gaming loot so each person gets one entry. And, in a word to the wise, we do run a website here so detecting cheating is a lot easier than you might think.

* Prizes will be shipped from the respective companies so don’t expect a huge box to arrive on the winner’s doorstep. Each company is responsible for the scavenger hunt winner receiving a copy of the title listed in the contest.

* It is possible that other companies, and prizes, may be added to the contest at a later date. If that is the case, don’t worry if you’ve already submitted an entry form. You DO NOT have to resubmit an entry because you played by the rules and provided the answers to the scavenger hunt that were in effect at the time of your entry.

* The contest is open to residents of the United States and Canada ages 13 and up.

* The contest runs until 11:59pm Mountain Standard Time September 30th, 2011. The winner will be announced on the October 3rd edition of The Gaming Gang podcast and posted on the website on October 5th, 2011.

So let’s get down to the swag! Each company is presented in alphabetical order:

Nightfall is the deck-building game of modern horror action from Alderac Entertainment Group.  Designed by David Gregg, Nightfall puts players in control of minions of the night, fighting one another for control of an Earth shrouded in eternal night. Werewolves, vampires, ghouls, and those who fight them see no need to hide from the public, waging their war in the streets.  Featuring direct head-to-head game play, card drafting, and the unique “chain” mechanic, Nightfall is unlike any other deck-building game on the market.

Martial Law introduces many new characters and actions, as well as all-new color combinations for creating chains and achieving kickers. Martial Law also introduces the new “Feed” mechanic which will allow players to get even more uses out of their orders. Finally Martial Law will also bring to the table a new Wound effect, sure to surprise your opponent.

AEG has kindly provided both Nightfall and Nightfall: Martial Law!

Question #1: What artist provided the imagery for the Marcus Toth Nightfall card?

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Small World Underground, from Days of Wonder, is a stand-alone game set beneath the surface of the same fun, light-hearted Small World universe of epic conquests and fallen empires.

Designed by original Small World author, Philippe Keyaerts, it features all new Races and Special Powers, and introduces Monster occupied regions that protect Relics and Places of great power!

Play Small World Underground on its own or combine it with other Small World game elements.

“This world’s not big enough for all of us, so it’s time you step aside to make room for me.”

Question Number #2 – What is the only similar race between Small World and Small World Underground?

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Gears of War: The Board Game, from Fantasy Flight Games and designed by Corey Konieczka, is based on the wildly popular third-person shooter by Epic Games. One to four players take on the roles of COG soldiers cooperating to destroy the Locust horde, and must work together to complete missions against an ingeniously challenging and varied game system. In Gears of War: The Board Game, you’ll relive classic moments from Gears of War and Gears of War 2. Roadie Run into cover, spray your enemy with blind fire, or rip him in half with your Lancer’s chainsaw!

As a fully cooperative experience, Gears of War: The Board Game pits you and up to three friends against a deviously clever game system (you can even face the action alone with solo rules). Choose one of seven randomly constructed missions, and support your fellow COGs as your team engages an unflinching enemy in furious, white-knuckle firefights! As the Locust horde pours from its subterranean lair, you’ll quickly find yourself surrounded by hostile forces and cut off from your objective. Only through teamwork and communication will you gain a tactical advantage, completing your mission and striking a blow for humanity.

Question #3: What is the first game listed in each of the six game categories Fantasy Flight Games produces? (The categories are: Board Games, LCG, Miniatures, Standalone Card Games, Family Games, and RPGs so there are six answers)

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No Retreat: The Russian Front from GMT, is a new deluxe edition of the two-player Victory Point Games 2008 CSR Award Nominee wargame that retells the story of the titanic struggle between the invading armies of Nazi Germany versus Communist Russia during WW2 at a player-friendly and manageable level of scope and difficulty. This edition combines both the original game and its two extensions (Na Berlin! and No Surrender!) using deluxe components of “Twilight Struggle Deluxe Edition” quality. With only 40 Army/Front sized counters for the Tournament game, and 70 for the whole campaign, and with very low stacking, it’s a quick-playing yet realistic affair that favors the strategic and offensive-minded player.

Each turn is alight with intriguing on-board challenges plus the surprise of card hand Events as players vie to win in one of three different ways.

In a skillfully blended collation of classic hex-based wargaming and modern card-driven simulations, No Retreat: The Russian Front stays truly story-centric, providing the proper feel of sweeping maneuvers, exploitation and encirclements across the vast steppes and forests of Russia. With a simple-yet-innovative economic model, players will also feel the growing might and sophistication of the Russian’s Red Army, and the degradation of the once-invincible German Wehrmacht, over the epic four year sweep of time that this merciless campaign was fought.

Neither side can afford the disgrace of yielding an inch of ground to their hated foe, so your orders are: “No Retreat!”

Question #4: As of 8/24/2011, what are the four titles that were just added to the GMT P500 system?

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Crappy Birthday is the simplest of the party games designed by North Star Games. The goal was to create the perfect game to bring as a gift to a party. Crappy Birthday can be opened at a house full of non-gamers, and have people playing the game and laughing within a minute.

Crappy Birthday will get people talking and laughing quickly. Many of the gifts are designed to have polarizing reactions from different people, so don’t be surprised if one person at your table loves the gift, while another person thinks it’s a horrible gift. The conversation that follows will be lively and entertaining. Sometimes it is a funny picture that will get people talking. Either way, Crappy Birthday is designed to quickly liven up the party.

Question #5 (Answer to be found on the North Star Games Facebook page): What is the answer to the most recent “Question of the Week”?

*Note* As a special bonus, on Facebook, you can submit a “Question of the Week” for a chance to win a game from North Star Games in a completely unrelated contest!

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Word on the Street is a hilarious tug of words from Out of the Box! On each turn, one team flips over a category card. Team members frantically brainstorm words that fit the category while the opposition tries to sidetrack them. The team must agree on a word and pull each letter of that word one lane closer to their side of the street, all before the time runs out. Word on the Street will have you in the fast lane to fun!

Perfect for two competing groups of just about any number of players!

You can score Word on the Street, in a deluxe canvas carrying case with additional timer! Bring the fun of Word on the Street to your next party with the Word on the Street Party Case.

Question #6:  Which letters of the English alphabet are missing (i.e., do not have tiles) in Word on the Street?

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Square Shooters is the first game with a deck of cards… on dice! It’s a fast, fun family game designed to use these amazing dice! Easy to learn and fun to play, your luck can change with every roll! Flip a card and try to match the hand with 3 rolls or less. Watch for “Shootout” cards that can bring you more luck. Play the game then make up your own! The Deluxe Game Set includes 9 Square Shooters dice, 42 Shootout cards, 200 Score keeping chips, Dice cup, 1 Deck of playing cards and Instructions.

Question #7:  What is the name of the game that uses both the nine Square Shooters dice and a deck of standard playing cards?

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Easy to learn, simple to play, Telestrations from USAopoly, is the hilarious sketch and guess party game that offers up instant fun and laughter! It includes 2,400 entertaining words from “cheeseburger” to “love handles”.

DRAW what you see, then GUESS what you saw.

All players simultaneously sketch, pass & guess to reveal hilarious and unpredictable outcomes!

Easy to learn. Simple to play. Multi-generational & social. Even more fun if you can’t draw! The perfect ice breaker or game night warm up.

Question #8: In one of the examples of play, what did the words “hot pants” end up becoming?

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Dawn of the Zeds CoverFrom designer Hermann Luttmann (and lavishly illustrated by Heather Wagenbach) arises Dawn of the Zeds, a States of Siege solitaire game of horror and survival from Victory Point Games. The world has gone crazy – a deadly virus has turned ordinary people into vicious, zombie-like killers. The undead, nicknamed “Zeds,” are now converging on your corner of the world. You have been left to your own devices to stop them while the National Guard organizes a relief column and fights its way to you – but that could take days, or even weeks, before they arrive.

In a game that requires the utmost test of skill and nerve, will you survive long enough? Will you be able to fight hordes of Zeds while protecting the townspeople? Unearth Dawn of the Zeds, a game that will keep you on your toes!

Question #9: What was the “find” Alan Emrich made that provided the start up capital for Victory Point Games?

UPDATE 9/3!

We told you that we had more tricks up our sleeves… Our good friend Stephen Buonocore and Stronghold Games are joining in the scavenger hunt fun!

Core Worlds from Stronghold GamesStronghold introduces their first deck building game, Core Worlds, and it looks to be a doosy!

The ancient Galactic Realm, ruled from the Core Worlds of the galaxy, is waning. Now, the barbaric kingdoms that lie beyond the galactic frontier are amassing their strength, choosing this pivotal moment to strike at the heart of the fading republic, establishing new empires built upon the ashes of decaying civilizations. But these outer systems are not yet strong enough to engage the forces of the Core Worlds directly. The young kingdoms must first gnaw at the edges of the crumbling frontier, developing new types of units and shrewder tactics. They must build up their energy resources to launch magnificent fleets and overwhelming ground forces. Then, when the time is right, they must strike at the galactic core itself, claiming the most exalted planets for themselves. The barbarian kingdom that achieves these goals will carve out the greatest empire in the galaxy… and rule the Core Worlds!

Each player controls a barbarian Star Empire represented by many cards. Throughout the game, players will invade Worlds and draft new Units and Tactics into their Empires. Each card lists its Empire Points in the upper right corner. The player whose Empire contains the most Empire Points at the end of the game is the winner!

Question #10: There is a secret code within the information for one of the titles from Stronghold Games. It will be really obvious because it says “secret code”. What is that secret code?

* NOTE: This game will be available later in the year, November/December, but the winner will have Core Worlds in their hands long before any of their friends will!

Update 9/7!

Just in time for Halloween our contest winner will get to sink their teeth into Bloodsuckers from Fireside Games!

Bloodsuckers is a highly thematic strategy card game for 2 to 4 players ages 13 and up.

Play as either vampires or vampire hunters fighting to control the most locations within Blackwood. Unleash powerful card combos to attack your opponent but beware as your strength rises and falls with the time of day. Battle alone or alongside a teammate to recruit the innocent bystanders at the church, graveyard, nightclub, police station, and hospital.

Win the battles and claim the most locations to declare victory in the fight between the living and the undead!

Question #11: Name one of the many ways a vampire player may gain a Blood Token?

Of course the link to the entry form was included at the top of the post but we’ll include it once again for those who don’t want to scroll all the way back to the top. We recommend clicking the link to open the form in a new window or tab so make completing the scavenger hunt easier. The questions are also repeated once you click into the answer fields but the company links are not.

Update 9/17!

Our friends at Asmodee Editions are adding to the pot with Identik!

The goal in Identik, as in many other games, is to score the most points. Each round, one player will draw a card. The lower part of the card is hidden, leaving only the picture at the top. That player will have until the hourglass runs out to describe the picture as well as he can. The other players will draw what they hear. When time runs out, everyone puts aside their pencils and the bottom of the card is revealed. Ten details are listed there, and players will score one point for each detail that appears in their drawings, as will the reader who described the picture.

Identik is a game of listening and communicating, so no drawing skills are needed. You will need to listen very carefully to draw your sketches, and the player describing the picture must be as clear as possible, because only when communication is at its highest will you be able to score points.

Question #12: What Asmodee title won Game of the Year in 2010?

 

Update 9/21!

Our pals at Crafty Games wants someone to get their hands on what will be one of the hottest RPG releases this winter… Mistborn!

Based on the best-selling novels by Brandon Sanderson and powered by an all new story-driven rules system, the Mistborn Adventure Game lets you explore, command, or liberate the oppressed world of Scadrial, battle the Lord Ruler’s Inquisitors, and master the primal forces of Allomancy, Feruchemy, and Hemalurgy. It features new official fiction from Mr. Sanderson himself and loads of never-before-seen material, making it the ultimate resource for fans of the novels and those who want to experience the Final Empire firsthand.

Keep in mind the release is not until November, but the winner will be walking around with their copy long before their friends can score their own!

Question #13: Who’s the cover and interior artist for Crafty Games’ forthcoming Mistborn Adventure Game?

Thanks to everyone for making the first year of The Gaming Gang an unmitigated success and lots of luck in the contest!

Jeff McAleer

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9 Comments

  1. Kelly K Lewis says:

    What an awesome contest! Thanks for putting this together and I really hope I win! If, not someone is going to get a big pile of excellent games

  2. TimT says:

    Happy birthday gents and here’s to another year of the Gaming Gang!

  3. Kevin Bailey says:

    I found your website and show a couple months back and I can say TGG has become one of my game sites on the web. Keep up the great work!

  4. this sounds pretty awesome.

  5. Scott Craig says:

    Curses, I had just filled in all of the 12 questions after 45 minutes searching for them, hit the button to submit them, and was informed a new 13th question was unanswered. Dumps me back, all of my fields are empty. Blargh!

  6. Cliff Churgin says:

    I submitted my entry a couple weeks ago but don’t remember getting notification that it had been received. I know double entries are banned so is there a way to check if my entry had been received?

  7. Jeff McAleer says:

    Cliff, we’ve got nearly a thousand entries for the contest so there’s really no way to sift through them all to see if yours was submitted. But… If you had an answer in each of the fields and submitted the form, we’ve got it. We don’t spam our visitors so we didn’t set up any sort of email confirmation.

    • Cliff Churgin says:

      Ahh, that clears is it up. I read on one forum that people entering the contest receive a confirmation email and that confused me. Thanks!

  8. Jeff McAleer says:

    Someone has it wrong on a forum then, as you receive a pop up message when you submit the form but no emails.

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