This year's recipients are:
General Strategy, Multi-Player category: Puerto Rico
Designed by Andreas Seyfarth and released by Alea and Rio Grande Games, Puerto Rico was also my pick for the best game published in 2002.
Puerto Rico was chosen from a crop of solid games, including Pizarro & Co., a personal favorite, and TransAmerica, a finalist for the 2002 Spiel des Jahres.
Founding a new land has never been so engaging. Players must balance numerous factors as they try to operate the most prosperous colony in Puerto Rico. Which role will you play in this new world: Prospector? Governor? Settler? Trader?
The ultimate goal is to achieve the greatest prosperity and highest reputation. Grow and harvest crops, sell and ship goods, construct buildings, populate the island -- how will you best manage the various paths to prosperity and victory? Puerto Rico is a game deep with excitement and strategy, a rich gaming experience.
Historical Simulations: Hammer of the Scots
Designed by Jerry Taylor and Tom Dagliesh, this Columbia Games release features the popular "block" system. Wooden blocks represent units and face away from the enemy, injecting the "fog of war" concept.
Blocks can be rotated as unit strength changes. This two-player game creates the campaigns of Scottish heroes Wallace and The Bruce against the English occupiers. A simple but deep game system joins with attractive components and historical flavor to create a wargame that anybody could enjoy.
The International Gamers Awards was created to recognize outstanding games and designers, as well as the companies that publish them. Members of the committees who chose the winners live in countries throughout the world.
Note: In order for a game to be eligible for the General Strategy category, a game must have been released on or after July 1 of the previous year and no later than June 30 of the current year. To make sure that this change did not exclude games released during the period of January 1, 2002, to June 30, 2002, the IGA is presenting an additional award for games released during that period. Puerto Rico is being honored as the best game released during that time frame. Finalists for the regular July 1, 2002, to June 30, 2003, time period will be announced soon.
