Gold Mine Release Event  On July 24, Stratus Games held a release event for Gold Mine at the Vista Montaña Clubhouse in Tucson, Arizona. It was a wonderful opportunity for playtesters, friends, and the community to celebrate the launch of this exciting new game. It was a rewarding celebration of almost a full year of development from start to finish. At the event, attendees enjoyed door prizes, refreshments, and lots of fun as they played Gold Mine to their hearts' content. Door prizes included t-shirts, game mats and bags, key chains, and tote bags. The event marked the beginning of a limited quantity release of Gold Mine. Until Labor Day, Gold Mine will only be available via the Stratus Games website, or ordered wholesale directly from Stratus Games. After Labor Day, Gold Mine will also be available for worldwide distribution through Publisher Services, Inc. (PSI). Here are some photos from the event:   
More Photos  Optional Rules On July 27, Stratus Games released the official Optional Rules section of their website. Optional Rules are community-submitted rule variations that expand upon the core gameplay of each game, without requiring additional product purchases. They can be applied individually, or, in many cases, with many other Optional Rules simultaneously. The possibilities are endless! Optional Rules that are submitted to the website can be rated, commented on, printed, and shared with others. Here are some examples of the Optional Rules that have been collected so far: Phantom of the Mine
The Phantom is a Miner that died in a cave-in many years ago and is very angry because he can no longer mine for gold. The only thing he can do is haunt the mine and steal items from the living Miners. He prefers to be in darkness, so he dwells in Caverns and stores all of his stolen items there. Read more Cursed Pirate Gold
The Miners are cursed! They have stolen forbidden pirate gold and are trying to put it back. The first Miner to get rid of his gold and exit the mine will have the curse broken, while all the others will be cursed forever. Read more Gold Mine Solitaire
A single player creates a 10x10 grid following standard tile-placement rules. Read more More Optional Rules Monthly Game Nights Starting August 21, Stratus Games will be holding a monthly game night at the Sunny Daze Café in Tucson, Arizona. Sunny Daze is located at 4980 S. Campbell Ave. Click here for a map. Game nights will be hosted on the 3rd Saturday of every month, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. There will be a variety of great games for families, casual gamers, and social gamers. Attendees can choose from the provided games or bring their own favorites to enjoy. Everyone is welcome! This month's focus will be Gold Mine (along with some great new Optional Rules) and pre-release copies of Launch Pad. Launch Pad Sneak Peek Stratus Games' new card game, Launch Pad, is slated for release in November, just in time for holiday shopping. With its unique gameplay elements, terrific artwork, and fast-paced strategy, it is generating quite a stir in the gaming community. Here is the game description: The space race is on!
You are battling to build the biggest, baddest rockets possible and send them soaring into space. Each rocket requires metal, fuel, and the expertise needed for liftoff. As you build your rockets, beware of your opponents, who are eager to steal your goods and sabotage your work—you may even have some tricks of your own to thwart their progress.
All the while, the launch pad is being constructed—as soon as it’s ready, the rockets that are “go” for launch will blast off into space, leaving all others behind!
Do you have what it takes to make your rockets soar before it’s too late?
Currently, only three copies of Launch Pad are in existence -- two prototypes, and one official tooling sample -- and they will be available for play at the game night to be held on August 21 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Here are some photos from the recent unboxing of the first tooling sample:   
More Photos Industry Events Gold Mine was on display at the PSI booth at the GAMA trade show in April and the ASTRA Toy Fair in June. The Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) is the premier trade association for the hobby games industry. GAMA holds a yearly event in Las Vegas, where all of the latest and greatest games are put on display. The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) is the largest association for companies in the toy and children’s products arenas. ASTRA holds a yearly toy fair in Rhode Island, where toy and game companies can showcase their latest products. Here are some photos of a Gold Mine sample on display at the ASTRA fair:   
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