Spiel des Jahres
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The Spiel des Jahres (German for Game of the Year) is arguably the most prestigious board game award for German-style board games.
The award was created in the late 1970s to reward excellence in game design, and to promote top-quality games in the German market. It is thought that the existence and popularity of the award is one of the major drivers of the quality of games coming out of Germany. However, some game fanatics feel that in the last couple of years, the award is awarded for diplomatic reasons, cycling between the three or four largest game producers in Germany.
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Award critera
The award is given by a jury, which reviews games released in Germany in the preceding twelve months. The award generally goes to a 'family style' game. Games such as wargames are not considered.
The award critera are:
- Game idea & originality
- Rule structure & clarity
- Presentation (art and parts)
- Game mechanics
2005 nominations
The nominations for the 2005 award were released on 8 May 2005 and the winner will be announced 27 June 2005. The five games nominated are:
- Verflixxt - Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling, Ravensburger
- Around the World in 80 Days - Michael Rieneck, Kosmos
- Niagara - Thomas Liesching, Zoch Verlag
- Jambo - Rüdiger Dorn, Kosmos
- Himalaya - Régis Bonnessée, Tilsit (game publisher)
Previous winners
Here is the list of games that have won this award:
- 2004 Ticket to Ride (German title is Zug im Zug) - Alan R. Moon, Days of Wonder
- 2003 Alhambra - Dirk Henn, Queen Games
- 2002 Villa Paletti - Bill Payne, Zoch Verlag
- 2001 Carcassonne - Klaus-Jürgen Wrede, Hans im Glück
- 2000 Torres - Wolfgang Kramer and Michael Kiesling, Ravensburger
- 1999 Tikal - Michael Kiesling and Wolfgang Kramer, Ravensburger
- 1998 Elfenland - Alan R. Moon, Amigo Spiele
- 1997 Mississippi Queen - Werner Hodel, Goldsieber
- 1996 El Grande - Wolfgang Kramer and Richard Ulrich, Hans im Glück
- 1995 The Settlers of Catan (German title is Die Siedler von Catan) - Klaus Teuber, Kosmos
- 1994 Manhattan - Andreas Seyfarth, Hans im Glück
- 1993 Call My Bluff (German title is Bluff) - Richard Borg, F.X. Schmid
- 1992 Um Reifenbreite - Rob Bontenbal, Jumbo
- 1991 Drunter und Drüber - Klaus Teuber, Hans im Glück
- 1990 Adel Verpflichtet - Klaus Teuber, F.X. Schmid
- 1989 Café International - Rudi Hoffmann, Mattel
- 1988 Barbarossa - Klaus Teuber, Altenburger und Stralsunder Spielkarten-Fabriken
- 1987 Auf Achse - Wolfgang Kramer, F.X. Schmid
- 1986 Top Secret Spies (German title is Heimlich and Co.) - Wolfgang Kramer, Ravensburger
- 1985 Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective - Raymond Edwards, Suzanne Goldberg and Gary Grady, Kosmos
- 1984 Railway Rivals (German title is Dampfross) - David Watts, Schmidt Spiele
- 1983 Scotland Yard - Werner Schlegel, Dorothy Garrels, Fritz Ifland, Manfred Burggraf, Werner Scheerer and Wolf Hoermann, Ravensburger
- 1982 Enchanted Forest (German title is Sagaland) - Alex Randolph and Michel Matschoss, Ravensburger
- 1981 Focus - Sid Sackson, Parker
- 1980 Rummikub - Ephraim Hertzano, Intelli
- 1979 Hare and Tortoise (German title is Hase und Igel) - David Parlett, Ravensburger
See Also
External link
- Spiel des Jahres (http://www.spiel-des-jahres.com/) - official website
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