Certainly the most unexpected news to reach my mailbox this month comes from Massachusetts. Alan R Moon, that quintessential gamer, has decided to renounce the physical world and enter a monastery. He intends to devote the rest of his days to quiet contemplation of game theory and praise of the Great Celestial Gamer. Apparently, he will be joining a Carmelite monastery where he will be expected to take a vow of silence. Gamers both here and in Europe will sorely miss Alan's random phone calls on topics ranging from end game strategy in rail games to possible dates in western Europe. Alan quipped that he would at least be assured of three square meals a day and, after years of gaming with Mike Schloth, it might be nice to sit down to a quiet game of something every now and then.
The news from England is good, indeed, but almost as surprising. The Time-Warner magazine group has acquired Sumo and is taking it big time. I've seen proofs of the first issue and they do look slick: full color, 75 pages, Reiner Knizia game in the centerfold, and all in English, for a change! A tip of the hat to Mike Siggins and Stuart Dagger, who will be heading up the editorial staff. Rumor has it that Siggins is under a two year contract after which he will be heading off to the Costa del Concrete to join the English Steve Jackson and other famous gaming expats.
Merfyn writes to fill us in on one more game from the Nuremberg Toy Show:
Digestion is a race game in which each player takes the role of a piece of food and tries to hurry from the mouth, through the stomach, on to the intestines, and out the back side. Each player is dealt a hand of cards which control the movement of the various food pieces. Cards include saliva, bile, and bowel movement to propel your food along. Ulcer, gas, and belch cards slow your opponents. The cramp card can send everyone back one space and the dreaded green luncheon meat will send everyone back to the start. Its a ripping game with lots of tension and player interaction. The game has one downside: early results show that the corn has the best chance to make it through in one piece.
Finally, a tip of the hat to all of the folks out there in the rest of the world who may have never heard of April Fools Day. Grab the nearest Net surfer and ask 'em!