Mayfair Games, publishers of the massively successful "Settlers of Catan" board game, have announced that at Gen Con in August they will be holding a game of "Catan" with 1000 players. Billing it "The Big Game", the company is pursuing the record for most people at once playing a board game. There will be judges from the Guinness Book of World Records on hand to witness the event. That will be a lot wood-for-sheep trades.

Gen Con is the annual convention held in Indianapolis for the hobby gaming industry, featuring announcements and launches for board games, card games, miniature games, board games, and the like. Gen Con is being held August 15 to 18 at the Indianapolis Convention Center. The Big Game will take place on August 16 at the JW Marriot, with check-ins beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Those who attend will get limited edition "Catan" game pieces and cards, as well as a chance to win bigger prizes. Of course, just surviving that many backstabbing players may be reward enough.