Merscom announced today it is releasing Ingenious in retail stores under its ShadeTree Games label. Based on the work of internationally renowned game designer Reiner Knizia, the board game version of Ingenious has been an international best seller.

In Ingenious, players place hexagonal chips of six different colors on a hexagonal board, scoring points, blocking opponents’ tile placement and trying to protect themselves from being blocked by their opponents. The chips are like hexagonal dominoes, have two hexes connected, and each hex containing a different color. Once no chips can be placed on the board, the game is over. The player who has the lowest amount of points for any of the six colors loses. Game strategy requires that you score points for each color, and this requires concentration and strategy. Like chess, Ingenious is easy to start playing, but virtually impossible to master.

Incredibly easy to learn and just as addictive, Ingenious provides hours of fun for one to four players.

“Ingenious takes casual games to the next level,” said Lloyd Melnick, Director of Merscom. “While providing a similar look and feel as the popular and omnipresent match-three games, its ingenious gameplay mechanics will be compelling to even the most jaded gamer.”

Ingenious the board game has been named the 2006 Golden Geek Best Family Game and was nominated for the 2004 International Gamers Best Strategy Game Award and the 2005 GAMES Magazine Best Abstract Strategy Game. This award-winning game will be available in retail for the PC in mid-2007.

[tags]Ingenious, Reiner Knizia, boardgame, board game[/tags]