We’ve seen recently what it looks like playing board games on a futuristic table. Today, though, we’re going to look at a board game being played on a futuristic wall.

Using advanced projector technology, this is how Settlers of Catan could look like in the year 2027. The hexagonal tiles are linked to projectors, and when you move them, the game is able to keep pace.

It’s a little rough, yeah, but imagine the possibilities once it’s ironed out. Panzer General. Advance Wars.

What Nerd Games Will Look Like In THE FUTURE [Gizmodo]

Catan – The First Island will be available soon for both the iPhone and iPod Touch, they say, though know word yet on pricing.

The iPhone version of the game will support up to four players with a “hot-seat multiplayer mode”. The game will also have an assortment of iPhone-controlled Catanians with a variety of strategies to play against.

As much as I’m looking forward to this game, I am a little bummed that it sounds like there won’t be any online support.

What is this firmware 1.0? The iPhone supports plenty of online capabilities these days, from chatting and downloadable add-on content to mulitplayer gaming.

Let’s hope they’ll be adding that functionality with an update.

As we roll toward the holidays and the number of big-name, high-value iPhone and iPod Touch games sky rockets, we’d love to know which games you’re looking for reviews of.

There’s now way we’ll be able to review every big iPhone game hitting, so we’ll do our best to try and hit the ones you all suggest. So suggest away.

An announcement on the Community & News board of the official Web site Catan.com declared today that “the game is being developed by Exozet Games in collaboration with Catan designer Klaus Teuber.” It will be published by United Soft Media. Exozet was also responsible for last year’s Catan, the First Island on handset mobiles (pictured).

As an iPhone owner and a recent convert to Catan – my friends here in Oregon play it obsessively – I’m delighted by the news. Perhaps this won’t be as social as the tabletop game, as trading makes up a good chunk of the decisions until someone gets squarely in the lead. But it’s still one of the more thought-provoking strategy games out there, video or otherwise.

My newbie advice – go for the 3:1 trading ports, build the longest road – with no more than one spur – instead of the largest army, and squat on ore if its dice number is favourable.

Official ‘Settlers of Catan’ Coming to iPhone [TouchArcade via PocketGamer

Maybe after being subjected again and again to the monotony of Sorry! and Monopoly something primal and creative must have imploded in his brain. Compelled by what was left (which must have been heaps), he crafted the Catan.

Thank you Klaus. Will have your babies, if we ever meet.

Recently however, my love of Catan has been superseded by a new game – Arkham Horror.

What struck me first was the “Call of Cthulu” branding at the bottom of the box. Yes, I’m hardcore for H.P. Lovecraft. The second thing to whack me in the face with a tantalising appendage was that it’s co-operative. The objective of the game is defeat an ancient evil, selected at random at the start. Instead of players competing for this honour, they have to work together, collecting weapons, clues and spells for the ultimate battle. Alternatively, they can go around sealing gates, and when enough have been closed, victory is obtained.

The game recommends 2-5 players, but you could have up to eight taking turns delving into the Necronomicon, exploring the Plateau of Leng or beating the acidic snot out of a Nightgaunt.

Players can choose from 16 different investigators, each with varying proficiencies at fighting, sneaking and swindling Lady Luck. Each investigator also receives a special ability, such as being able to re-roll the dice once per turn or restoring health and sanity.

Arkham Horror adopts a dice-rolling system akin to White Wolf’s series of role-playing pen and paper games (Vampire, Werewolf, etc). Players get to roll a certain number of dice, depending on their skill level and bonuses, and fives and sixes on the dice count as a “success”. For instance, a player may have a Fight skill of 3 and a sword that provides a +3 bonus. Say they’re up against a monster that needs two hits to kill, they’d get to roll six dice and would need two successes to win.

Although the game was developed in the mid-1980s, it was updated, revised and re-released last year. And just this month a new expansion was released – Kingsport Horror – bringing the total additions to the game to four.

I’ve found 3-4 players to be optimal, and a game can be finished in around two hours, once you know the rules. It’s daunting at first, scary even, but once you’ve got it down it all makes sense.

Fantasy Flight Games: Arkham Horror [Official site]