For the first time in the company’s history, German game publisher Queen Games had a booth at the Gama Trade Show this week.  The company recently took over distribution of its own products in America, separating from long-time partner Rio Grande Games.  Company president Rajive Gupta told ICv2 that he felt the Queen Games mark had finally reached a high enough level of recognition among American game buyers to make the new distribution arrangement possible.

Queen Games was displaying its two latest releases at the show:

In Samarkand, the players are rich merchants seeking riches and fame in the deserts of the Near East.  They must court the powerful merchant families, guide their caravans across the trackless wastes, and arrange beneficial contacts between the families.  This is a fast-paced family-friendly game.

 

Fresko puts players in the role of master fresco painters, charged with the restoration of a magnificent cathedral ceiling.  They secretly send their workers out into the town to purchase paints, mix colors, earn money by painting portraits, or conduct the critical work of painting the cathedral.  The game comes with three complete “expansions” included, allowing for a variety of play with different levels of difficulty.

Queen Games was also previewing some upcoming releases, including New York, based on the award-winning Alhambra and featuring famous landmarks from the city, as well as Alhambra – The Card Game, which drops the city-building aspect to create a faster, more focused game.  Both titles are expected to release in June.