randomlife

Participants: Seth, Becky, Me, Daniel, Ryan, Steven, Brina
Place: Seth and Becky's place

Merchant of Venus
Players: Me, Seth, Becky, Steven, Daniel, Ryan
Finally, Becky got her game pick! Ryan was Tele Gate boy and I think he was having too much fun with his Jump Start relic to concentrate on actually winning the game. There were very few clearly good trade routes in this session, so we all ended up scattered all across the board. Frankly, I don't know why I won—it seemed like everyone was doing fairly well. I think the edge that gave me the game was when I sold a Dokken video to a hapless alien race.
Winner: Me

Africa
Players: Me, Brina, Steven
I've only played this game a handful of times, so it was nice to see a player get four points by placing an animal next to three others of its kind. Good job, Steven. He also made another great play when he moved a nomad from the crowded middle to an isolated spot and then built a base camp in the vacated spot, earning something like nine or ten points in one turn! Smooth. Actually, I think Steven is Reiner Knizia and he just hasn't revealed it to us yet.
Winner: Steven

Verräter
Players: Seth, Becky, Ryan
Due to something in the atmosphere of Twin Peaks, games seem to take a little longer than normal. It also might be the frequent trips to the kitchen for bread and cheese.
Winner: Ryan

The Powerpuff Girls: Villains at Large Game
Players: Me, Brina, Steven
As the oldest player (by one month), Steven started the game. It appeared that he was going to open with the Nimzovich-Larsen attack, but it became clear about halfway through the game that he had been using a variant of the Tartakower (Makagonov-Bondarevsky) system. Brina and I should have paid more attention to the Powerpuff Girls Nationals Tournament, as Steven has climbed the ranks rather spectacularly this year. I hear he's going to take on Deep Blue at an exhibition next Spring.
Winner: Steven

Druidenwalzer
Players: Me, Steven
As Steven read the rules of this game to me, I thought I was having an acid flashback. Nevertheless, we gave it a try and I can't for the life of me figure out how this odd game system could have occurred to anyone. I want to try it again, if only to make sure that it was real.
Winner: Steven

Spinergy
Players: Me, Brina, Seth, Becky, Ryan, Steven
Another fine evening of Beaujolais, Milla Jovovich, and time travel stories. I know it's getting a little cliché, but at least there were no photosensitive hedgehogs this time.
Winner: Ryan