tries out the expansion roads set.
Munchkin, the hit card game of killing the monsters and taking their stuff, is getting a new look. Starting with the 19th printing, all the John Kovalic illustrations in the fantasy Munchkin game will be in full color. Reprints of the fantasy supplements, also with colored art, are scheduled throughout the rest of 2010, starting with Munchkin 2 - Unnatural Axe and Munchkin 3 - Clerical Errors, both in June. Several other reprints, including Munchkin Bites! and Super Munchkin, are also at print.
"The last few fantasy releases had color art," commented company president Steve Jackson. "The fans noticed, and they really liked it. So we got out the paintbrushes and colored the rest of the line."
New printings of all core Munchkin games - including Munchkin Cthulhu and Munchkin Booty - will include a custom six-sided Munchkin die. The rulesheets in the core sets have also been expanded by two pages, allowing larger type and more Kovalic illustrations. A small number of cards from sets throughout the line have also been revised, says Munchkin brand manager Andrew Hackard.
"We've had nine years of feedback from Munchkin players about what they do and don't like about the game," Hackard said. "We tweaked a few things here and there to make the game smoother and more fun. It's not a new edition, but it's not the same old Munchkin, either."
Steve Jackson Games plans to support all Munchkin players, old and new. All the revised rulesheets will be posted online. In Fall 2010, SJ Games will release Go Up a Level, a supplement with replacement cards and transitional rules to make it easy for current players to keep using the sets they already own.
All future Munchkin releases will have UPCs rather than ISBNs, to avoid confusion between boxed games and books. Also, in response to higher printing and shipping costs, the prices of Munchkin games have been increased from $3.99 USD to $4.99 USD for a booster pack, from $9.95 USD to $10.99 USD for a 56-card expansion, from $17.95 USD to $19.99 USD for a 112-card expansion, and from $24.95 USD to $24.99 USD for a full 168-card set.
The 19th printing of Munchkin begins shipping May 24, 2010.
About Munchkin
Munchkin was first released in September 2001, and has rocketed to the top of sales lists around the world. The basic Munchkin alone has sold over 400,000 copies in 14 languages. Today, the Munchkin line includes nine core games, 18 expansions, the Munchkin Quest boardgame, and plush toys, along with an iPhone app and an Android version on the way. The Munchkin homepage, which includes weekly news, Frequently Asked Questions, and links to every Munchkin game and expansion, can be found at worldofmunchkin.com.