The engine building, worker placement card game Star Scrappers Orbital, designed by Jacob Fryxelius - the author of Terraforming Mars, will start to hit the US shelves on May 25th. The game is published by Hexy Studios and distributed by Ares Games in North America. Another game set in the Star Scrappers Universe, Cave In, becomes available in US retail - released in 2018, it hasn't been distributed in the American market before.
Star Scrappers: Orbital is based on "Space Station" card game, the first game by the designer of the famous Terraforming Mars, improved and re-themed in the Star Scrappers setting, with completely new, stunning art and two different solo modes added.
The Star Scrappers Universe is a space western setting invented and developed by Hexy Studio. Countless alien species explore the galaxy in search of wealth and glory. Last interstellar war between Terrons and Hy'drans broke out 50 years ago and since then peace treaties are in power. Trade routes are set, civilizations flourish, but new source of unlimited power is discovered - Hexis crystals. New space nations arrive to influence history - cybernetic Bioss and mechanical Metanels. Old inhabitants of ancient planets - Weedlocks and Minegglers are pursuing their mysterious goals once again.
In Orbital, 1 to 5 players compete to build the biggest, best, and most beautiful space station the worlds have ever seen. Each player builds their own space station (orbital), starting with a core module, then over five years (rounds) they expand it by paying and placing new module cards. Each year they each start with a five card hand, crew tokens, and new money, the amount of crew and money determined by the structure of their orbital. They use money primarily to pay for new modules, and the crew gives them special effects on many of their modules.
Players take turns to perform one action each: build modules to expand their orbitals, play event cards, make repairs, buy cards from the market, and operate their modules. When everyone passes, the year ends and victory points are awarded. There are six kinds of modules and for each kind, the player with the most modules of that kind is awarded a victory point. At the end of the fifth year, the player with most victory points wins.
Star Scrappers: Orbital can also be played as a solitaire game in two different ways: players who are more into peaceful development and enjoying the growth of their own creation can choose the peace mode, while who want to experience a feeling of fierce rivalry while playing alone can employ the bot players version and get prepared for an attack.
Star Scrappers: Cave-in is a highly interactive "discard builder" game for 2 to 4 players, playing the role of Trade Guild representatives who compete in difficult, merciless industry - mining. Their task is the excavation of Hexis crystals. Players take roles of Galactic entrepreneurs, rival mining bosses who compete in this difficult, sometimes even merciless industry.
As a mining boss, each player will have to recruit new mercenary laborers, use their skills, and collect precious artifacts. Their job is to excavate the Hexis crystals but never let their guard down though, as competition is waiting for a chance to buy off their trusted men and steal the bounty from under their nose! The goal of the game is to get as many victory points as possible before the crystal mine collapses.
For more information about Star Scrappers Orbital and Cave-In, visit the game's pages at Hexy Studios section.
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