Out Of The Box distributes Rio Grande, or something

The press release is a bit vague (see below) – along with the usual boilerplate from the respective companies’ leaders about how thrilled they are to be working together, there are just a few sentences about what is actually happening. But it looks like Apples to Apples publisher Out of the Box will be “offer[ing] the entire collection of Rio Grande board games.” That could mean that the little catalog they slip into their boxes just a got fatter, and that’s all – or it could mean we will start seeing Caylus on the shelves at Go! The Game Store in the mall. (If, indeed, we see it anywhere, but that’s another story.) Either way, here’s hoping it helps RGG get its product-delivery act together.

Out of the Box/Rio Grande press release follows:

Rio Grande Joins the Out of the Box Family of Games
Top two names in the game business join forces

Richland Center, Wisconsin – Out of the Box Publishing and Rio Grande
Games announce a strategic partnership which will energize the growth
of innovative party, card and board games in the U.S. Under the terms
of this partnership Out of the Box will offer the entire collection
of Rio Grande board games.

Since 1998, Rio Grande Games has enjoyed unparalleled success in
delivering the finest European style games to the U.S. hobby games
market. Out of the Box Publishing expects to raise awareness for this
great line of European style games by opening the doors to the
average American family. Rio Grande will continue uncovering “hidden
gems” in the European game market – while Out of the Box utilizes its
national base of specialty game and toy stores to bring these games
to a broader audience.

The fastest growing game company in America, Out of the Box
Publishing’s flagship product, APPLES TO APPLES, has been at the
forefront of the revival in family gaming since 1999. The addition of
Rio Grande games will expand the Out of the Box game line to nearly
200 titles, making Out of the Box one of the largest, and most
comprehensive, game companies in America today.

“The Rio Grande line of games represent the best that Europe has to
offer,” says Mark Osterhaus, Out of the Box, President. “And we look
forward to introducing these easy-to-learn, yet highly-strategic,
products to a whole new group of players. Americans are ready and
eager for social activities that bring folks back together, and off
line from computers and TV.”

“We look forward to working with Out of the Box,” says Jay
Tummelson, Rio Grande Game, President. “And offering these games to a
wider group of players!”

Since 1999, Out of the Box Publishing has been recognized as an
industry leader in the design of award-winning card and board games.
Headquartered in Richland Center Wisconsin, Out of the Box Publishing
produces a full line of games for the whole family.

Contact:
Matt Mariani
Out of the Box Publishing Inc.
Phone: 616-844-5263
Fax: 616-844-5381
E-Mail: matt (at) otb-games.com