German Children’s Games Award Goes To “The Castle of Appenzell” by Zoch

Zoch - May 2007

 
Essener Feather for Exemplary Rules

This year, the "Deutscher Kinderspielepreis 2007" recognizes "The Castle of Appenzell" by Zoch (Munich) as the best children’s board game of the year. The Deutscher Spielepreis is a cultural games award based on direct consumer votes. In addition, the popular family game around the best cheese will also receive the "Essener Feder" for exemplary rules. This award is a challenge trophy endowed by the City of Essen for well-written books of rules. Both awards will be presented at the International Games Fair SPIEL ’07 on October 17th, 2007 in Essen. Thus the Munich-based board game designers this year win their fourth Deutscher Kinderspielepreis: Their first had been 2004 for "Dawn Under" by Norbert Proena, then 2001 for "Zapp Zerapp" by Heinz Meister/Klaus Zoch and 1998 for "Chicken Cha Cha Cha" by Klaus Zoch, which has long become a classic children’s game in Germany.

The biggest mousetrap on Earth opens its gates. "The Castle of Appenzell" is the very first castle being decorated with finest Blue Mould. From the ballroom up to the tiniest sleeping room – pieces of cheese are hidden everywhere. Which mouse would be able to overcome such a temptation? Even the poorest church mouse and the smallest vole set off to explore the castle. This family game around the most delicious cheese is another three-dimensional play fun designed by Zoch for children aged 6 and up, first released in March 2007.

The mice smell the cheese and enter the castle through one of the corner towers. Each player tries to collect four different kinds of cheese with their own four rodents. This sounds like an easy enough task but soon turns out to be a tricky mission. All the time the floor slides under their feet and desired objects shift places. That’s only possible because of the unusual design of the castle with its five different levels. Cunning mice prepare clever moves to get delicious cheese, while careless rodents tumble down into basement vaults.

"The Castle of Appenzell" by Jens-Peter Schliemann and Bernhard Weber appeals to the whole family with its multi-layered castle, its beautiful 3D mice and easily creates an exciting play atmosphere. Surprising twists caused by "sliding action" improve children’s capacity to concentrate and remember. But thanks to the tactical features also parents stand a chance!

"The Castle of Appenzell"
Authors: Jens-Peter Schliemann and Bernhard Weber
Design: Victor Boden
For 2 to 4 Spieler
Ages 6 and up
Appr 30 Minutes
Ca. Euro 30
Released in March 2007