If you\u2019re in Madison and looking for a good gluten-free craft beer and maybe a game of pinball or two, the first place you\u2019d probably head is ALT Brew, a small brewery tucked away near Madison College\u2019s Truax campus.<\/p>\n
But those arcade cabinets had to learn to share, because a game that is quite literally much bigger is now at the brewery: Killer Queen.<\/p>\n
For those who\u2019ve never heard of it, the concept of Killer Queen is definitely a bit out there. The game features slow-moving snails, killer queens and bundles of berries ready for the taking. There are three ways to win \u2014 get your team\u2019s snail to its goal, kill the opposing team\u2019s queens, or collect enough berries for an economic win. Think \u201cSettlers of Cataan\u201d meets \u201cSuper Mario Bros.\u201d<\/p>\n
The machine itself is built for two teams of five, 10 players total, so \u201cbeast\u201d is a good way to describe it. It\u2019s six feet tall and weighs in at 450 pounds per side. The actual cabinet takes up the same amount of space that four regular-sized arcade games would, making size its most challenging aspect, one of the founders, Josh DeBonis, said in an email.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re from New York, where space is at a premium, and it\u2019s been very challenging to find local venues,\u201d he says. \u201cThe game has taken its strongest hold in the Midwest, and I think largely it\u2019s because it is easier to dedicate the required floor space.\u201d<\/p>\n