Cryptozoic will release The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Board Game on December 20th, a week after the movie premieres in theaters (see "Third 'Desolation of Smaug' Trailer").
 
Like Crypto’s first Hobbit movie board game (see "'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Board Game'"), this game is designed by Reiner Knizia.  The game is stand-alone, but can be combined with the Unexpected Journey game.  Players must work cooperatively as they travel to the gold-filled caverns of Lonely Mountain in search of treasure and the courage to defeat Smaug.  The game is for 1 – 4 players, ages 15 and up, and plays in 30 – 45 minutes.  MSRP is set at $40.00.
 
The box contains 2 game boards, a resource board, 4 cheat sheets, tiles, cards, custom dice, markers, a dragon pawn and a rulebook.
 
Cryptozoic also updated release dates for several of their other Middle Earth related titles.  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Deck-Building Game and The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King Deck-Building Game are now Q1 2014 releases, and The Middle Earth Expandable Card Game: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Edition Starter Set and Expansions  will also release early next year (see "'Hobbit,' 'LotR' Card Games" and "Six 'Hobbit' and 'LOTR' Games").