Novelties from Zoch

Noblemen and thieves on northern Italian trade routes in the 16th century, spice merchants in India and little witches on their flight to Blocksberg – The German games publisher Zoch presents its fall novelties at the large games fair ”Spiel 10“ in Essen from October 21 to 24, 2010. These include action-crammed games for players ten and up, a detective game, reaction and card games for players eight and up and children’s games for players three and six and up:

Safranito by Marco Teubner – an action game with a great atmosphere. Clever detective work is called for in Mord im Arosa by Alessandro Zucchini. From Reiner Knizia comes the card game Fifty Fifty. Jacques Zeimet has been an author with Zoch for many years: Geistes-blitz is a reaction game for up to 8 players. In Mille Grazie by Dirk Hille-brecht traveling noblemen and thieving rabble get a chance. For kids there’s the card game Pig 10 by Ayelet Pnueli. And last but not least Zoch has now published Husch Husch kleine Hexe by Heinz Meister – a classic memory game for the youngest age group 3 and up. More info: www.zoch-verlag.com.

 “Safranito“ – Bargaining at the Indian spice stand
A family game with a great atmosphere

Saffron, curry and cardamom – bargain for precious spices at the Indian bazaar. ”Safranito“ is the name of a sophisticated game by Zoch for two to four players ten and up. This family game with a great atmosphere combines tactics and skill in an unusual way, spiced with a pinch of action. It is reminiscent of Carrome, popular in India and Sri Lanka, but offers far more tactical and playful elements.
The players try to get the correct spices for their dishes together as quickly as possible to serve the Maharajah. To do this they purchase cardamom, curry, cinnamon or curcuma at the spice stand. They covertly throw coins of different values into the bowls, they bluff and crowd out. Whoever is able to combine spices skillfully in the bowls may sell these at a profit and buy others at a favorable price. The aim is to assemble the right ingredients by dicing skillfully. The winner is the first to prepare three dishes with suitable spices.
”Safranito“ by Marco Teubner is a quick to play beautiful family game which transports us to a bazaar in India. The large game board has a frame so that chips can really “fly“. Info: Tel.: + 49 89 5205 740, www.zoch-verlag.com.

Safranito
Author: Marco Teubner
For 2 to 4 players 10 and up
Illustrator: Michael Menzel
Duration: about 30 to 45 minutes
Price: EUR 29.90

”Mord im Arosa“ – a three-dimensional thriller
Calls for a detective’s flair

 ”Mord im Arosa“ by Alessandro Zucchini is a three-dimensional detective game für ambitious investigators. A new game concept brings a crackling atmosphere and high tension to the gaming tables in the search for the perpetrators of the two crimes. Two crimes have taken place one after the other in the eight floors of the three-dimensional hotel tower. Each player could be the perpetrator. Yet you can’t see where the trail of the suspects leads only hear it. By opening the individual floors the investigators can secure the clues and use their own traces to cover their tracks or simply let these disappear. The cunning rules of the interplay of suspicions and “han-dling tracks” guarantee astounding twists: tracks disappear and reappear somewhere else. One thing is certain: whoever is caught in the wrong place at the wrong time will soon be found guilty of the crime.
The tower is exceptional: eight blocks placed over each other – wider at the bottom and narrower at the top – make things difficult for the investigators. ”Mord im Arosa“ is an exceptional game idea which calls for a detective’s flair. The attraction of the game lies in listening, strategic thinking and tac-tical defense components. Info: www.zoch-verlag.com.

Mord im Arosa
Author: Alessandro Zucchini
For 2 to 6 players 10 and up
Illustrator: Tobias Schweiger
Duration: about 30 to 45 minutes
Price: EUR 19.90

Fifty Fifty – a card game by Reiner Knizia
It’s all a matter of balance

Winners generally leave the game with their hands full. In ”Fifty Fifty“ the winner leaves with empty hands! In this lively card game by Reiner Knizia it is a question of have or have not. Of a grim (blue) half of the face and a laughing (yellow) eye. If a player puts two halves together the face dissolves in ”pleasure“, because it has found ”inner balance“. So all players are always looking out for the halves of the face they don’t have at the moment. Players who play high cards get grim faces. Low cards help players to laughing, yellow halves of faces. But only the players who manage to bal-ance the different halves and at the end own none of them will win the game.
The lively card game is suitable for families with kids of nine and up. 60 game cards and easy rules are all this game needs. The interactive game ensures that fun is had by all so players will be keen to play again. Info: Zoch Verlag, Tel.: + 49 89 5205 740, www.zoch-verlag.com.

Fifty Fifty
Author: Reiner Knizia
For 3 to 5 players 9 and up
Illustrator: Marek Blaha
Duration: 30 minutes
Price: about EUR 10

Geistesblitz
A reaction game in a familiar style by Jacques Zeimet

Quick as a flash – recognize, snatch, react quicker than your fellow players. ”Geistesblitz“ by author Jacques Zeimet is a lightning fast reaction game for up to eight players eight and up. The main figures in the game are a bot-tle, mouse, chair, book and ghost, each in their individual colors. These are placed in the center of the table. Cards turned over decide which object is to be snatched. If the figure is shown in the original color then this is the object sought. If both figures are not shown in the original color players try to quickly snatch the figure that corresponds neither in color nor form. The winner is the fastest player, who has the most cards at the end.
Playing together, reaching for objects at the same time ensures that ”Geis-tesblitz“ is great interactive fun – so each game round starts off well. Info: Zoch Verlag, Tel.: + 49 89 5205 740, www.zoch-verlag.com.

”Geistesblitz“
Author: Jacques Zeimet
Illustrator: Gabriela Silveira
For 2 to 8 players 8 and up
Duration: about 15 minutes
Price: EUR 10



Mille Grazie
Calls for a detective’s flair

Northern Italy in the 16th century: Trade is flourishing, the streets between Florence, Pisa and Venice are uncomfortable and hoodlums lurk in ambush: ”Mille Grazie“ is an exciting ”game of bandits“ for the whole family. The players alternately slip into the roles of traveling noblemen and thieving rabble. Whereas as noblemen players attempt to travel unmolested on northern Italian trade routes as thieves players thwart the travel plans of their fellow players. The nobleman try to help themselves by taking detours and using escorts. However thieves often linger where one least expects them. Nobody can foresee from which ambush noblemen and merchants will be attacked, as each player secretly sets these on a wheel. Job cards control the actions of travelers. The aim is to get through well as a merchant and to take as much booty as possible as a thief.

With its exciting northern Italian playing figures and atmosphere “Mille Gra-zie“ is an ideal game for families with children of eight and up. Info: Zoch Verlag, Tel.: + 49 89 5205 740, www.zoch-verlag.com.

Mille Grazie
Author: Dirk Hillebrecht
For 2 to 4 players 8 and up
Illustrator: Alexander Jung
Duration: about 30 to 45 minutes
Price: EUR 19.90

Pig 10
A card game for kids

Calculate fast and avoid the traps quickly: “PIG 10“ by Avelet Pnueli is an exciting card game for children in which everything revolves around the number “10“. There are 100 cards in the game, three in each hand. Whoever places the exact “10th“ card on the joint pile wins all cards played so far. If there are more than “10“ cards the neighbor to the right of the card player wins the cards. So it is always a matter of having the right card at the right moment to avoid traps set or even set one’s own traps. The game for two to eight players six and up is most convincing thanks to its easily learnt rules and high replay incentive, which is reminiscent of the classic “Mau Mau“, for example. Info: Zoch Verlag, Tel.: + 49 89 5205 740, www.zoch-verlag.com.

Pig 10
Author: Ayelet Pnueli
For 2 to 8 players 6 and up
Illustrator: Claudia Stöckl
Duration: about 15 minutes
Price: about EUR 7

Husch Husch kleine Hexe
A children‘s game classic reissued by Zoch

Reissue of a classic: In “Husch Husch kleine Hexe“ by Heinz Meister, which has now been issued by Zoch in a new look, five little witches hide under their large witches hats. Whoever can remember where which witch is hiding can take her one step closer on her flight to Blocksberg, the moun-tain of fate. The winner of the witches‘ flying competition is the first player to get one of the witches to land on Blocksberg. This prettily implemented topic from the world of fairy tales is a popular classic in memory games for the youngest age group. It‘s not only great fun it also trains concentration and retention skills. Info: Zoch Verlag, Tel.: + 49 89 5205 740, www.zoch-verlag.com.

Husch Husch kleine Hexe
Author: Heinz Meister
For 2 to 6 players 3 and up
Illustrators: Heidemarie Rüttinger and Detlev Richter
Duration: about 15 minutes
Price: EUR 19.90

 

Munich, October 25, 2010

More press information and illustrations:

Susanne Heiss, HEISS PUBLIC RELATIONS
Tel. +49 89 2729 9322, Fax -34, presse@zoch-verlag.com

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Further press information, picture material and review requests:

Susanne Heiss, Heiss Public Relations
Tel. + 49 89 27 29 93 -22, Fax -34
presse@zoch-verlag.com