Now on Kickstarter from Calliope Games - The Titan Series

Gateway games - the fun, easy-to-learn games that suck people into the hobby, are a very important part of growing the board gaming hobby. In order to make games accessible to anyone, Calliope Games has decided to create The Titan Series. From the Kickstarter:

The Titan Series is a line of gateway games—casual, family-friendly tabletop games—being created by some of the best game designers (“Titans”) in the world. Each a legend within the gaming industry, these Titans are responsible for such wildly popular games as Magic: The Gathering, King of Tokyo, Shadowrun, MechWarrior, HeroClix, Quarriors!, Risk Legacy, and many more.

Their plan is to release nine (or more) gateway games over the next 3 years. If you back the entire project, it will average around $16 per game - significantly less than the $30 retail price that they're aiming for. Calliope is also relying on the backers to help with the game creating - honing the rules, choosing art, and voting on names. Currently, the first three games (coming out in year 1) are:

1. A worker placement game by Zach (Golem Arcana, Got 'Em!) & Jordan Weisman (BattleTech, HeroClix, Shadowrun) with bidding, bluffing, and deduction
2. A risk management game by Paul Peterson (Guillotine, Smash Up) where you move and manage your dice along pathways
3. A party game by Richard Garfield (Magic: The Gathering, Netrunner, King of Tokyo) where you get points for responding the same way as other people

Calliope plans for year 2 to have games by Eric Lang (XCom: The Board Game, Quarriors!), Seth Johnson (HeroClik, Golem Arcana), and Mike Selinker (Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, Axis & Allies, Betrayal at House on the Hill). Year 3 will feature Mike Elliot (Dice Masters, Thunderstone), Rob Daviau (Betrayal at House on the Hill, Heroscape, Risk Legacy), and Mike Mulvihill (BattleTech, Shadowrun). Additional games will be unlocked in the stretch goals. If you're interested in the Titan Series, check out the Kickstarter here.