Press Release

July, 2008

Catan Board Game Gallery Edition' Easier Version of Klaus Teuber Classic

Mayfair has released more details about its Catan Board Game Gallery Edition, a simpler, easier-to-play version of Klaus Teuber's Settlers of Catan Board Game, which has sold more than 15 million units around the world. The Catan Board Game Gallery Edition, which is due to be released on September 18th, is cheaper than the original Settlers of Catan Board Game and reduces the complexities of the game.

The new Catan Board Game Galley Edition, which is designed for 3-4 players ages 12 and up, can be set quickly, takes just 15 minutes to learn, and the typical game time is just 60-90 minutes making it ideal for casual gamers. The Gallery Edition includes a full color game board, 6 island pieces (rather than 19 in the standard game), 20 settlement pieces, 16 city pieces, 60 road pieces, 4 scoring markers, 93 resource cards, 25 development cards, 2 special bonus cards, 2 six-sided dice, 1 robber piece, and rules.

June, 2007

Mayfair Will Publish 'Age of Steam' Third Edition

Mayfair has announced that it will publish a new edition of Martin Wallace's Age of Steam late this year. Age of Steam Third Edition will be easier for new players to learn; advanced rules will satisfy the hard cover players. The game will include a larger board that will allow the maps from the previous edition to be laid within it, providing complete backward compatibility to the previous editions.

Two maps will come with the game. The northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada map will be suitable for three to four players; the map of the German Ruhr valley will be suitable for four to five players.

Mayfair plans to release guidelines for third party expansions, and will grant a "Seal of Approval" to those expansions that meet its requirements.

Mayfair Extends Popular Board Game Lines Crayon Rail Series & 'Settlers of Catan'

In July Mayfair Games is releasing China Rails (MSRP $40), the latest entry in its series of "crayon rail" games, and Fisherman of Catan (MSRP $4), an expansion for the hugely popular Settlers of Catan game.

China Rails continues Mayfair's series of "crayon rail" games that includes Empire Builder, Euro Rails, and India Rails. Players use different colored crayons to connect major cities on a six-piece puzzle-cut game board map of China in order to create their railroad networks. Cards help determine how much players earn by delivering their loads. Designed for 2-6 players, 10 years and up, China Rails takes about 45 minutes to play. The deluxe board game includes a six-piece full color game board, six crayons, 100 Load Chips, 100 Load Stickers, 168 cards, a pack of World Bank Notes, a Rules book, and a tray.

The Fishermen of Catan is a simple but potent expansion for the popular Settlers of Catan game. Although Catan is an island paradise and the settlers have long used the sea for maritime trade, the ocean holds another bounty and this expansion, which includes a tile sheet (of fish that can turn some of the original games sea tiles into fishing grounds) and a rigor mortis card, allows players to exploit the maritime resources of Catan in the never-ending quest for trade and expansion.

January, 2007

'Alchemist' and 'Pillars

Mayfair announced the release of two new board games for spring including Alchemist, a co-production with Amigo Spiel due out in March and The Pillars of the Earth, due out in April.

In Alchemist, designed by Carlo A. Rossi, Adepts compete by devising new potions. The game includes 160 ingredient cubes, one game board, 30 seal stones, five player screens, five scoring chips, five school ingredient cards, 10 potion value tiles and 1 oracle bag. Alchemist is for 3-5 players ages 10 and up, plays in 90-120 minutes and lists for $35.00.

Based on Ken Follett's best-selling novel, The Pillars of the Earth is set in England at the beginning of the 12th Century. Players compete by managing resources and unexpected hurdles to build Kingsbridge Cathedral. The game includes one game board, one cathedral (6-piece), 12 master builder figures, 75 cards, 35 worker figures, 82 building material cubes, nine indicator pieces, one die, one bag, and game rules. Pillars was designed by Michael Rieneck andStadler for 2-4 players ages twelve and up, plays in 90-120 minutes and lists for $49.00.

Mayfair Games has announced its newest board game in the Settlers of Catan family, Struggle for Rome, set for February release. Struggle for Rome joins Settlers of the Stone Age as the second offering in Mayfair's Catan Histories line.

Struggle for Rome, from Settlers' designer Klaus Teuber, is set during the waning days of the Roman Empire. Players compete with other barbarian leaders to ensure their own wealth and glory. The game is for 3-4 players, ages 10 and up, plays in about 90-120 minutes, and retails for $49.00.

This is the first new Catan board game offering since last fall with Elasund-The First City of Catan adventure (see "Mayfair Readies 'Elasund'") and the premium 10th Anniversary Settlers of Catan 3D Special Edition Chest Set (see "Mayfair Completes Settlers 3D Shipments").

Mayfair also announced the February release of Italia, designed by Andreas Steading. Italia follows 1500 years of Italian history through two games: Italia I, for three players, covers classical Rome B.C., and Italia II, for four players, covers A.D. 390 to 1100. Players lead non- Italian nations in various pursuits. Italia will sell for $60.00, is for players ages 12 and up, and playing time is estimated at 180 minutes

The game ($45 MSRP) includes a board of the city; rules; master, apprentice, and mechanical men figures; invention and invention component cards, laboratories; work counters; and florins. The game also includes figures of the lord of the city, who awards florins for completed projects, and Leonardo, who declares the inventor with the most florins the winner.

Davinci, co-produced by Mayfair and daVinci Games, is designed for 2-5 players ages 10+ and runs about 60-90 minutes.

MODERN ART: Do you have the insight to make the biggest profits in the unpredictable world of high-stakes art auctions? Buy and sell, auction and acquire! Manipulate the art market through cunning use of sale and acquisition in this re-release of the Refiner Knizia classic. For 3-5 art dealers, ages 10
and up.

STATION MASTER: Station Master is a quick and highly interactive card game where players attempt to influence the value of departing trains by assigning passengers and carriages, in an effort to get the trains to depart on time and accumulate the most points. For .3-6 conductors, ages 8 and up.

ANNO 1503: Based on the popular electronic game, and artfully executed by the master of Caton, Klaus Teuber! ' In Anno 1503, players journey forth from the homeland to build ships used in the acquisition of resources like wood, stone, tools and cloth, in their quest to increase their population and develop their settlement, into a city. Be prepared for pirates as you strive to acquire wealth and power! For 2-4 ambitious explorers, ages 10 and up.

RUSSIAN RAILS: Build an empire from the Black Sea to the Baltic in this Empire Builder system game featuring a unique timeline orchestrated by event cards and a distance warp to accommodate the vast distances of the Soviet Union region. Beginning in the post WWII era players draw rail lines and deliver loads, wary of the inevitable fall of the Soviet Union. For 2-6 comrades, ages 10 and older.

Starship Catan: Now you can take the role of a Starfarer and brave the unknown reaches of space! Battle dastardly pirates, explore and colonize new worlds, strike vital trade agreements, perform missions of merry, rescues, and interventions, all while improving and preparing your Starship for the journey home. Gain membership in the Galactic Advisory Council and learn the way home! A 2-player game case pack for players ages 10 and up.

Oh Gnome: A contest in strength, a battle of wits, a prayer for squirrels! Battle the gnomes next door for control of the garden hose. Marshal your forces in this tug-of-war game where only the most cunning and determined endeavor to pull their neighbor into the adjoining fence and claim ultimate victory!

Settlers of Catan - Cities & Knights: Dark clouds are gathering over the peaceful island of Catan. Wild barbarians, attracted by the wealth of Catan, sailed to attack the country. Fortunately, warning has given Catantime to meet the danger. The size of the barbarian army corresponds to the number of cities in Catan. Thus, for Catan to fend off the barbarian attack, the players must form a knight force as strong as the barbarian force. In addition to the barbarians, players compete to build the three great metropolises of Catan. Each of these magnificent centers are worth two addition victory points. To build a metropolis, players must invest in city improvements. To acquire these improvements, players must acquire the three new types of Trade Cards: Coinage, Paper, and Cloth. These cards can only be gained by building a city next to mountain, forest, or pasture hexes. Prepare for new challenges and a longer game. Requires ownership of Settlers of Catan to play.

Seafarers of Catan: Adding Islands, Pirates, Gold, Ships, Islands and Trade, and expanding you Settlers of Catan game in new directions. Play an immigrant on the newly populated Archipelago of Catan. Build settlements, roads, Shipping Routes, Harbors, Settlements, and Cities by taking commodities from the land and islands around you. Turn a sheep, some rocks, and grain into a knight, bricks and wood into road, or try to complete other combinations for more advanced buildings and services. Trade with other players, or at local seaports to get commodities you might lack. Requires ownership of Settlers of Catan to play. Some scenarios may require 2 copies of Settlers of Catan to play.

Quo Vadis, Caesar's Roman Senate: Return to the glory of Rome and walk in the footsteps of Tome's elite. In Quo Vadis you play one of the mighty patrician families in the power struggle that will determine the destiny of Rome, and the world. To win, you must survive the treacherous political waters of the empire and reach the Senate. The Quo Vadis board is a political map of Rome, showing the many committees that players must navigate to reach the Senate. There are one, three and five member committees waiting to be filled. Each player starts at the bottom of the political ladder, and tries to move up the board through the committees to reach the Senate. In true Roman fashion, the road to power is strewn with laurels; to win the player must reach the Senate and collect deals and promises, not all of which they have to keep. Players can also use Caesar's favor to advance. But there is only room for five senators at the top. For 3-5 players. Ages 10 and up. Playing time 30-45 minutes.

Caesar & Cleopatra: Egypt wants to be independent, but who will decide how? With the independence of Egypt at stake, who will rule? A two-player card game where the players vie for the political power to control the fate of Egypt. Through a system of secret bids, players attempt to influence committees in the senate. This German import comes with English rules. 5 Committees will assist in determining the rules under which Egypt will gain its independence. But both Caesar and Cleopatra have different visions of how that new government will work Can you win over the committees and determine Egypt's fate?