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While not really miniature gaming related, still related because it is Asmodee.

http://www.tabletopgamingnews.com/asmodee-acquires-catan-from-mayfair-games/

Well, this is quite a thing to start off the morning. How many here have played any of the various Catan games? *watches damn-near everyone put their hand up* Yeah, that’s what I figured. Catan has quite a long and storied history. Well, that history is getting a new chapter, as Asmodee North America has acquired the license to the English language publishing and sales of Catan from Mayfair Games.

So what does all mean? Well, a new studio is being started, of sorts. Catan Studios, Inc. is the name being given to the team that is part of Asmodee. Mayfair isn’t just cutting all ties, though, as they will still help with the coordination of all official events listed for Catan this year, as well as Catan Day, and the Catan World Championship.

This change is part of a management change happening at Mayfair. Such changes include Larry Roznai becoming both President (which he already was) and CEO (formerly held by Pete Fenlon). Alex Yeager will now be the VP of Acquisition & Development, which had been done by S. Coleman Charlton. Various other VP and Director positions have new people in charge of them as well.

While Mayfair may be losing Catan, they’re gaining several other titles. These include Steam, Aeroplanes, Automobile, Test of Fire, and Clash of Wills.

If they make the tiles for a new edition the same size but not so prone to warping it'll be a good change. The warping kills that game for me.

Warping, and a slight table knock moving everything out of place.

Ideally, it needs a plastic game board to place the tiles in.

We'll keep this thread open to specifically discuss the Catan news.

For other Asmodee discussion related to their new game distribution policy, see here:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/673974.page

For myself... whoa! Interesting... I love Catan, although really just the base game and maybe the 6-player expansion. Hope they treat it like it deserves

I need some wood for my sheep!

Anybody got wood?

 Grot 6 wrote:
I need some wood for my sheep!

Anybody got wood?

Psh. I've built whole empires out of nothing but sheep. Which reminds me:

What's the difference between the Rolling Stones and a Scotsman?

On topic: They say they're picking up new titles, but I've heard of zero of those. Can all those really make up for losing one of the biggest names in the game?

I'm curious what Mayfair will replace it with at Gencon, and if Asmodee will become a big sponsor of the convention.

Perhaps Asmodee will have an even bigger event space in the Exhibit Hall this year, with Mayfair dialing it back a bit?
Edit:
Ignore me- Actually read the whole post. Mayfair will finish out all the events planned this year, but next year...

 Manfred von Drakken wrote:
Can all those really make up for losing one of the biggest names in the game?

Well, they might not see this as a loss. I asked Out of the Box Games about their licensing (?) Apples to Apples to Hasbro, and they said the money from Hasbro enabled them to release more game titles they otherwise weren't able to publish.