Asmodee Games has announced plans to release two new board games in North America, one each in August and September.  Le Fantome de l’Opera is, naturally, inspired by the legendary “phantom” who haunts the Paris Opera House, while Shafausa offers market manipulation in a world populated by fantasy races.
 
Le Fantome de l’Opera was designed by Ludovic Maublanc and Bruno Cathala, the design team behind Mr. Jack and Cleopatra and the Society of Architects.  This two player deduction game pits the eponymous Phantom against an investigator who seeks to unmask the fiend before he can scare off the Opera’s lead singer.  The game will release in September with a suggested retail price of $42.99, but Cathala is scheduled to present the game at Gen Con in August.  Le Fantome de l’Opera was produced by Hurrican.
 
Christophe Borgeat’s design, Shafausa is a resource management and speculation game.  Dwarves have discovered great wealth below “Mount Ego”, and now various tribes of fantasy races compete to control the wealth by manipulating the commodity and currency markets.  Shafausa has an August 30th street date and a suggested retail price of $59.99.  The game was produced by Helvetia Games.