Wolfgang Kramer

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Wolfgang Kramer (born June 29, 1942 in Stuttgart) is a German board game designer.

Kramer formerly worked as an operations manager and computer scientist, but since 1989 he has worked full-time on game design. He has designed over 100 games, many which have been nominated for or have won the Spiel des Jahres. He frequently collaborates with other designers, notably Michael Kiesling and Richard Ulrich.

A common feature of German-style board games, where players' scores are recorded on a track around the edge of the board, is known in Germany as the Kramerleiste in honour of Wolfgang Kramer. Kramer himself first used this method of score-tracking in his 1984 game, Heimlich & Co.

Kramer is also an author of mystery novels. His works include "Der Palast der Rätsel" (The Palace of Mysteries) and "Die Rätsel der Pyramide" (The Mysteries of the Pyramid).

[edit] Notable games

2005 Hacienda
2005 Verflixxt! (with Michael Kiesling) - nominated, Spiel des Jahres
2004 Maharaja - nominated, Spiel des Jahres
2000 Java (with Michael Kiesling)
2000 Torres (with Michael Kiesling) - winner, Spiel des Jahres; 2nd place, Deutscher Spiele Preis
2000 Princes of Florence (with Richard Ulrich) - 3rd place, Deutscher Spiele Preis
2000 Pete the Pirate - winner, Deutscher Spiele Preis children's game
1999 Tikal (together with Michael Kiesling) - winner, Spiel des Jahres and Deutscher Spiele Preis
1996 El Grande (with Richard Ulrich) - winner, Spiel des Jahres and Deutscher Spiele Preis
1994 6 Nimmt! - winner, Deutscher Spiele Preis
1991 Corsaro - winner, Spiel des Jahres children's game
1987 Auf Achse - winner, Spiel des Jahres
1984 Heimlich & Co. - winner, Spiel des Jahres