Europe Divided - a game of an expansionist Europe, a resurgent Russia, and a second Cold War

The end of the Cold War brought in a new age of European expansion. Central and Eastern Europe emerged from dictatorships and wanted to consolidate their democracies. They sought European integration to ensure they would not fall back into the old Russian sphere of influence. Russia — only a shell of its former power as the Soviet Union — could do nothing to slow the European expansion.

But then everything changed.

Oil prices increased, strengthening Russia's economy. Putin came to power, and despite political discontent, his popularity remained strong. In 2008, war broke out between Russia and the NATO-aspirant, former Soviet region of Georgia. Russia's resurgence had begun, further exemplified by the 2014 annexation of Crimea and invasion of eastern Ukraine.

In the game, you will control of one of the two powers: Europe (controlling both NATO and the European Union) or Russia. Europe is strong and rich, but bureaucratic and slow to react. Russia lacks Europe's resources, but is able to respond rapidly.

Players will score victory points by having dominant influence in contested countries in Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Caucasus. They may also score victory points by bringing key historical events to fruition. Gameplay is rich with history and includes today's potential flashpoints, but it contain a fast-playing card-driven core mechanism. Players will use cards associated with countries they control to establish political and military influence, gain financial resources, and deploy their military presence. An elegant deck-manipulation mechanism will weaken players' decks as they increase their influence, creating tension between seeking to expand and overreaching.

Will the Velvet Revolution result in the separation of the Czech Republic and Slovakia? How will the Bosnian War conclude? Players will decide the fate of history throughout this period of Europe Divided.