Wizards of the Coast is planning to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its Avalon Hill division by releasing an array of products in both the board game and miniature categories. 

 

The most fitting celebration of the Avalon Hill anniversary will be a new edition of the company's signature game -- The Axis & Allies Anniversary Edition (MSRP $100).  Designed by Larry Harris, the original designer of the game, the Anniversary Edition will feature the debut of Italy as the third Axis nation, the introduction of the cruiser unit to the naval lineup, and the largest Axis & Allies game board ever, which will measure 24 x 46 inches.  The new edition of Axis & Allies, which will feature more than 600 pieces, will be available in October.

 

Avalon Hill is resurrecting two classic board games in 2008.  Diplomacy (MSRP $30), a strategy war game that will feature all new packaging and components, is due out in March followed by a revival of Acquire (MSRP $30), which will also have new packaging and components, in June. 

 

 

Miniatures

A number of key new releases for both the Axis & Allies and War at Sea collectible miniature games (CMGs) are set for 2008.  The long-awaited Axis & Allies North Africa 1940-1943 Expansion, which contains 60 models including the British Matilda Tank and the German 88mm anti-tank gun, will be released at the end of March along with the North Africa 1940-1943 Map Guide, which contains two scenarios and three full-color double-side battle maps. 

 

In October the second major Axis & Allies CMG release of the year, Axis & Allies Miniatures Eastern Front 1941-1945 Expansion, which will include 60 additional models, will be released along with the Eastern Front 1941-1945 Map Guide.

 

The one War at Sea CMG release of 2008 is War at Sea: Task Force, a booster-only release that includes 60 models of WWII combat vessels and aircraft including the U.S.S. Yorktown and the German aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin.