Some of the game-related news items posted in our discussion forum recently include:

• Worldwide Coverage of Monopoly Here & Now: The World Edition
• Profile of Game Designer Jack Elias (Barrel of Monkeys, Perfection)
• Mah Jongg Salon in Boston
• Scotland Yard for Nintendo DS
• Sababa Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
• Gen Con 2008 Recap
• U.K. Monopoly Championship
• Halo Board Game - Trailer Released
• Sodbusters - Farming-Themed Board Game

The town of Rutland, Vermont, will soon be in the record books. On Friday night, residents of the town played Twister on a board measuring 102 feet long and 39 feet wide, according to The Rutland Herald. Once verified, that will rank as the largest Twister board ever.

The Guinness Book of World Records web site lists the previous record for largest Twister board as 88.9 feet long and 27.6 feet wide. It was set on April 24, 2005, in Limburg, Netherlands.

^{Image courtesy of Hasbro}

Monte Carlo Solitaire is a simple card game that depends heavily on luck, although skilled players will win more often than beginners. The game starts with a 5x5 grid, with the player removing pairs of cards and then consolidating the board. Here are the complete rules for Monte Carlo, also known as Double and Quits, or Weddings. (A closely related, and slightly easier, game is Monte Carlo Thirteens.)

More Solitaire Card Games:

• Little Spider Solitaire - Rules
• Poker Solitaire - Rules
• Best Solitaire Games

The rights for the fantasy-themed battle game BattleLore, originally published by Days of Wonder, have been sold to Fantasy Flight Games. In a press release, Days of Wonder CEO Eric Hautemont said, "This agreement now allows us to focus our resources on providing even more support for the other games in our portfolio as well as successfully launching ... new games." Fantasy Flight CEO Christian T. Petersen said, "We plan to support this game vigorously. Even in the very first discussion with Eric and Richard about this deal, there was a flood of exciting ideas for how FFG can expand this game." (The entire press release is available in our discussion forum.)

BattleLore was designed by Richard Borg, who said, "I am delighted with the opportunity to see BattleLore gain a second life at Fantasy Flight, and look forward to partnering with them as we continue to develop and expand the BattleLore system."

This move makes sense for both companies. BattleLore never felt like a natural fit in the Days of Wonder line, and hopefully the shift to Fantasy Flight will allow it to meet its great potential.

BattleLore was my choice as the #1 board game published in 2006. It is also my pick as the #2 game designed by Richard Borg.

^{Image courtesy of Days of Wonder}