Ludicrus Events

Find out some of the history of an independant game designer and try out one of the games for free.

If you're tired of the mindless persecution of Penquins (see Yeti Sports) and fancy something a little cerebral then there are some great games of strategy available from Games Above Board. 

GAB specialise in the design of contemporary classic simple but twisted abstract strategy board games, dice games and competitive solitaire card and coaster games and we have to say there's a great selection to choose from. 

Thanks to gameintellect.com you can now try out one of the games for free playing against the computer - click here to play Hijara.

Thanks to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it over at Games Above Board for bringing the games to our attention.  He has also emailed us with an interesting history of the development of his games....

Born in Kenya (and raised without the dubious benefit of TV), I grew up playing board and card games of the day. Many years later, my 1994 New Year's Day resolution in Munich was, to accomplish something (anything). My passion for games came to the fore and, knowing absolutely nothing about the game industry, designed and produced a 2-player abstract strategy board game called Eclipse. Games Magazine, USA included it in their Top 500 Directory and Great American Trading Company, USA licensed it on 2nd January 1995... mission accomplished!

However, GATCo requested a name change - something more exotic, fantastic, romantic... remember, this was pre-internet so, wishing to find a name in keeping with the game, its celestial graphics and, as the game board has numbers which originate in the Arabic script, I consulted an English-Arabic dictionary at the local library and discovered hijara - Arabic for small stones which, as the game is played with small glass stones, seemed entirely appropriate. Little did I know... hijara in Hindi is eunuch... so, small stones or no stones ~ you decide!

Oh well, you can't win 'em all but Games Magazine did place it in their 1996 Top 100.

My not-so-secret weapon is, I am an international flight attendant and have my captive audience test-play my prototypes in flight at 37,000 feet ... and, as Herr Klaus Zoch (of Zoch Spiele) said, "Martin's games are tested at the highest level!"

I convince bored passengers to play the prototypes (also, other flight attendants and, shh', pilots too). Believe it or not, I have often had the (oh-so-secret) Federal Air Marshals playing in the galley while drinking 'airline coffee'. Bad guys, look out - these guys are armed and tactical!

One of my best was a Rabbi and his wife playing chess, which she was not enjoying as he was unbeatable. I offered them my Mozaic prototype which is luck + strategy. She beat him 3 games in a row and was ecstatic. He asked for the game (if only to practice) but I am not known for giving the game away - however, it has since been published in 2 formats.

I have actually had 'repeat customers' - passengers who remember me from previous flights and ask if I have any new games for them to try. One genuine rocket scientist, I kid you not, explained to me that a certain card game proto. was a matrix ... news to me but he was correct.

The absolute classic is, many years ago, we flew to Munich where I was befriended by an airline employee at the airport. She would invite me to stay in her home with her family - a nice change from the hotel. Lo and behold, her husband is none other than Tom Werneck ... he of Spiel des Jahres fame!

For the most part, I receive good feedback which helps in clarification of the rules but it's amazing what people will read into the text. If I were to add a 'Do Not' list, it would be never-ending. I just say, if it is not in the rules, don't do it - unless you wish to design your own game or, don't do it unless your opponent does it first!

Turbulence has upset the games on occasion which provides a novel use for the flight attendant call-bell.

Free flight benefits are the best - for attending trade shows ~ e.g. returning from Essen Spiel, Michael Gray of Hasbro was on my flight and I was able to translate German rules for him... but here's a warning, if you value your life, don't eat the airline food!