April 5, 2008
The Project GIPF site
I’m very sorry that the Project GIPF site hasn’t been updated for such a long time and that I haven’t been able to give proper information about TZAAR and the replacement of TAMSK. The last news posted on this site dates back to October 2006. Already so long ago…
As some may remember, I had become slow with updating the site anyway. The main reason is that I’m not good at it. The more updates I did myself, the more difficult if became to go on with it. I’ll say the words: I made a mess of it. The question here at SMART was: shall we ask a wizard to clean up and reorganise the chaos, or is it wiser to start from scratch again and set up a structure that will make it easier to update the site from now on?
So far what I wrote in the last GIPF newsletter. Meanwhile a decision has been made—and An Stuyck was the victim who had to face the outrageous task; she was the poor dudette who was pointed out to tackle the chaos with all possible means—legally allowed or not. And look: a miracle has happened. Here we are again!

FAQ’s
I have received many questions since TAMSK has been replaced by TZAAR. Read some of the answers in this update’s editorial.

Availability of TZAAR
The official version of TZAAR is ready. The only differences with the pre-release version are the artwork of the box and the colour of the paint on the white Tzaars and Tzarra’s. That was silver, now it is gold. The black Tzaars and Tzarras still have silver paint, the same as in the pre-release version.
The games have been shipped to the distributors in the respective territories, so the game should be available soon. Thanks for your patience!

October 7, 2006
Alive & kicking

Yes, still alive and kicking! I'm very sorry for my silence - and for the fact that this site hasn't had an update for such a long time. First of all, I needed a break after the release of PÜNCT. The previous years have been very satisfying, but also very tough. Taking a few steps back for a while was an absolute necessity, amongst other reasons to spend a bit more time at home. Today - that is: heute, aujourd'hui, vandaag! - Lou, my youngest son and very promising "Ultimate GIPF" player (see below), is becoming 1 year! So, awaiting the birthday cake, picking up the maintenance of this site is part of the celebration.

Another reason is that I always knew that being a publisher was only temporary. With the completion of Project GIPF there was no reason to remain a publisher. Which leads me to the following topic:

Project GIPF transfered to "SMART"

I'm enraptured - and very reliefed as well! - to announce that I have come to an agreement with SMART. Through this agreement SMART will become the publisher of all of the games and sets of Project GIPF. In other words: SMART will take over the work I was doing with Don& Co - and will undoubtedly do it a lot better!

Under the brandname of SmartGames, SMART today has a line of successful Multilevel Mind Challenging Games that are distributed in more than 25 countries. With obtaining an exclusive license for the games of Project GIPF, SMART wants to widen it range of action. It expresses its strong interest in abstract strategy games for 2 players and their long term commitment and ambition to publish - permit me to quote myself - :"this most beautiful category of games!"

The first concrete result of the new partnership will be the release of GIPF Set 3 during “Spiel 06”. Which leads me to the following topic:

Release GIPF Set 3

We will have a small quantity of GIPF Set 3 ready for the fair in Essen. Set 3 will contain 6 white and 6 black YINSH-potentials, 6 white and 6 black PÜNCT-potentials, and 3 white and 3 black extra GIPF-pieces to play "Ultimate GIPF". For the very brave amongst you: that is GIPF with 21 basic pieces and all 5 different kinds of potentials.

Don & Co and SMART will share a booth in Essen. Everybody is invited to pass by at our stand in Hall 9 and have a game of GIPF with as many potentials as you want! Which leads me to the following topic:

Use of potentials: rule adjustment

Originally you had to bring the different kinds of potentials into play according to a specific order. That is not the case anymore. You may load your basic pieces with potentials in any order and you may switch from one type of potentials to another as often as you want. Which leads me back to the previous topic: in particular if you agree that a fair amount of chaos can be fun, feel free to join us in Essen, in Hall 9, booth 48. (The show runs from the 19th to the 22nd of October!)