For those just tuning in for the first time… whenever we play a head-to-head game, we update the ongoing results table on our guest bathroom wall, which features chalkboard paint. Our guests are always quite amused when they take a look! (Previous Updates: Round 1, Round 2, and Round 3).

The following scores include games played December 2011 through April 2012:

Round 4: Steve vs. Amy Game Results

Right off the bat, you'll notice a high abundance of digital games played, both on iPhone and iPad. These were played during our time at the hospital while Amy was giving birth to Wesley. Here's a look at a shot from the recovery room where we are attempting to brainwash our son in the ways of Ticket to Ride while he was just 1 day old!

Wesley exposed to Ticket to Ride in the hospital

Around the same time that Wesley showed up, Ticket to Ride Asia showed up, featuring a 2-sided board. The first side features "Legendary Asia" (which I refer to as just "Asia" on our score chart). The other side contains a unique 6-player "Team Asia" version, designed for teams of 2. Amy & I tried playing the team map with normal rules, just for fun. It worked pretty well if you adjust the number of trains to non-team levels back down to individual quotas.

In this latest round, we played a total of 15 games, with Amy winning 8, and myself the victor in 7. It's obvious she figured out the new Asia map pretty quickly, but I dominated the electronic versions (a little foreshadowing… that changes quickly as Amy starts to play a lot of Ticket to Ride on the iPad during 3 a.m. feedings!). Factoring all rounds since we started keeping track of these statistics, Amy leads the series with 33 wins to my 29.

To help you decipher some of the acronyms we use on our scoring wall, here's a quick guide:

• US – The original version of Ticket to Ride, which features a United States map.
• Europe – The 2nd game in the series, Ticket to Ride Europe.
• Swiss – As previously mentioned, the out-of-print Ticket to Ride Switzerland map.
• Nordic – One of our favorite maps, Ticket to Ride Nordic Countries, which covers Scandinavia.
• Marklin – Basically, Ticket to Ride Germany. This version of the game was released in conjunction with largest model railroad company in the world, Marklin.
• Asia – Ticket to Ride Legendary Asia, Side #1 of the "Map Collection #1" expansion from Days of Wonder, debuted in 2011.
• Team Asia – Ticket to Ride Team Asia, Side #2 of the "Map Collection #1" expansion from Days of Wonder, designed for teams of 2 up to 6 players.
• Mega Game – This refers to an expansion that adds additional Destination Tickets. When used in conjunction with the US acronym, it refers to the USA 1910 Expansion. If you see it mentioned with Europe, it refers to the Europa 1912 Expansion.
• Europe Exp – Short for "Europe Expanded", a subset of Destination Tickets that are part of the Europa 1912 Expansion
• Mystery Train – The very first expansion to Ticket to Ride, which can only be used with the original US map. Now out-of-print, but you can download and print it for free.
• W&D – Short for "Warehouses & Depots", part of the Europa 1912 Expansion, but a feature that can be added to ANY Ticket to Ride map. Allows you to create a stockpile of Train Cards that you can access later in the game.
• A&D – The Alvin & Dexter Monster Expansion, which can be added to ANY Ticket to Ride map. It's an affordable must-have.
• Ghost/Ghost 2 – A fan-created set of rules called the Ghost Train, designed to tighten up the USA map for a 2-player game. The number refers to how many Ghost Trains were in play at the time.
• Pocket – Ticket to Ride Pocket, a stripped down version of the game for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Currently, just the USA map exists in this digital version.
• iPad – Ticket to Ride for iPad, which comes with the default US map (though allows you to purchase the 1910 expansions, Europe, and Swiss maps).
• PHP – Short for "Pass 'n Play", the idea of playing a game on a mobile device where you pay it back and forth between players as you each take your turn.
• Local – Multiplayer for an electronic version of the game enabled via a local Wifi network. In our case, we played a game with one of us using the iPad and the other using the iPhone, thus you didn't need to take turns with the device (in contrast to Pass 'n Play mode).

We posted Round 1 results last October, with an update on Round 2 in April.  Well, we've finished another column of games, so it's time to post the latest results:

Round 3: Steve vs. Amy Game Results

To be honest, we haven't been playing Ticket to Ride at the same pace that we had previously.  Our passion for the game hasn't subsided, but rather with Amy being pregnant and frequently tired, we just haven't had the time in the evenings to play like we used to.

Other Gaming Distractions

That said, we also recently picked up the game Dominion, which we really enjoy.  It plays quite fast, so when time is an issue, we tend to play this instead.  We're also experimenting with Small World and Carcassone a bit, albeit in their digital iterations.

But let's get back to Ticket to Ride.  In our last update, based on the number of appearances in the list, it was obvious that we picked up the Alvin & Dexter Monster Expansion, which is still very excellent.  This time around you can see the trend of playing a lot of the currently out-of-print Switzerland map (which will be returning with the new release of Ticket to Ride Map Collection: Volume 2 – India & Switzerland).  Of all the Ticket to Ride maps, I find the Swiss version to be the most "broken" in how it works (though Alvin & Dexter can fix some of that).

We also recently picked up Ticket to Ride Marklin, which is the Germany map, and probably the most complex in the series.  We are liking it quite a bit!

iOS versions of Ticket to Ride

The last entries on the chart are digital interpretations of the game, Ticket to Ride for the iPad and Ticket to Ride Pocket (for iPhone & iPod Touch).  I recently was issued an iPad for work use, so we've been able to test out these iOS versions.  Both are impressive!

In this latest round, we played a total of 15 games, with Amy winning 9, and myself the victor in 6.  Amy continues to dominate Europe, while I tend to have the advantage when playing Switzerland.  Factoring all rounds since we started keeping track of these statistics, Amy leads the series with 25 wins to my 22.

One reason we log all our plays on the wall is to keep track of the many different ways to enjoy the game.  With different maps, expansions, and rule sets, it's never the same experience twice, which keeps Ticket to Ride quite fresh.  When you look at the investment in the game along with replayability, it's actually a great value vs. other forms of entertainment!  For those trying to decipher some of the acronyms used in this latest results photo, here's a quick guide:

• US – The original version of Ticket to Ride, which features a United States map.
• Europe – The 2nd game in the series, Ticket to Ride Europe.
• Swiss – As previously mentioned, the out-of-print Ticket to Ride Switzerland map.
• Nordic – One of our favorite maps, Ticket to Ride Nordic Countries, which covers Scandinavia.
• Marklin – Basically, Ticket to Ride Germany.  This version of the game was released in conjunction with largest model railroad company in the world, Marklin.
• Mega Game – This refers to an expansion that adds additional Destination Tickets.  When used in conjunction with the US acronym, it refers to the USA 1910 Expansion.  If you see it mentioned with Europe, it refers to the Europa 1912 Expansion.
• Europe Exp – Short for "Europe Expanded", a subset of Destination Tickets that are part of the Europa 1912 Expansion
• Mystery Train – The very first expansion to Ticket to Ride, which can only be used with the original US map.  Now out-of-print, but you can download and print it for free.
• W&D – Short for "Warehouses & Depots", part of the Europa 1912 Expansion, but a feature that can be added to ANY Ticket to Ride map.  Allows you to create a stockpile of Train Cards that you can access later in the game.
• A&D – The Alvin & Dexter Monster Expansion, which can be added to ANY Ticket to Ride map.  It's an affordable must-have.
• Ghost/Ghost 2 – A fan-created set of rules called the Ghost Train, designed to tighten up the USA map for a 2-player game.  The number refers to how many Ghost Trains were in play at the time.
• Pocket – Ticket to Ride Pocket, a stripped down version of the game for the iPhone and iPod Touch.  Currently, just the USA map exists in this digital version.
• iPad – Ticket to Ride for iPad, which comes with the default US map (though allows you to purchase the 1910 expansions, Europe, and Swiss maps).
• PHP – Short for "Pass 'n Play", the idea of playing a game on a mobile device where you pay it back and forth between players as you each take your turn.
• Local – Multiplayer for an electronic version of the game enabled via a local Wifi network.  In our case, we played a game with one of us using the iPad and the other using the iPhone, thus you didn't need to take turns with the device (in contrast to Pass 'n Play mode).

Let Round 4 begin!

Ticket to Ride Marklin

Compared to other versions of the game, Marklin is considered to have the most advanced play, namely because it introduces the concept of "Passengers" who travel along the routes you build, picking up cargo points along the way.  (FYI, Marklin is the name the largest model railroad company in the world, based in Germany.)

Is this passenger traveling light due to TSA restrictions?

When our game arrived, we unpacked it to discover a broken piece among the components.  One of the purple passenger figures was missing a suitcase for some reason.  When I shared this via Facebook, I had to chuckle at the story my friend Adam Stevanovic posted regarding this character's fate:

That's the Purple Man, a notorious one-suitcase train bomber. He obviously is trying to bomb that Rebel Alliance railroad that he is standing on. You can even see the restraining bolt Darth Vader had installed into his ankle. Poor little rebel scum – sniff- they never had a chance!!!

But seriously, on Tuesday morning I dropped an e-mail to the Customer Service folks at Days of Wonder, makers of the game.  That afternoon they replied stating that "the replacement parts for your Days of Wonder game were shipped today."  On Thursday afternoon, they arrived.

Replacement piece arrived in less than 3 days!

Now that's great Customer Service.  Thanks again, Days of Wonder!

Ticket to Ride Map Collection #1 Asia

The company received 612 entries from 40 countries… but has been pretty tight-lipped about the winning map or what might be contained in the "Map Collection."  Fans have been hoping for the unpublished "Japan" map that creator Alan R. Moon previously noted was the inspiration for the Alvin & Dexter expansion.  Leaked information from a game event website seemed to indicate that this "Map Collection" concept was actually part of a series, with many releases planned.

Recently, the Diamond Comics website did a feature on upcoming game releases, and seemingly spilled the beans on the "Map Collection" theme and packaging.  Here's what they featured on their site:

Ticket to Ride Map Collection 1 Asia

Introducing the Ticket to Ride Map Collection, a new series of Ticket to Ride expansions featuring 2 different Ticket to Ride maps on a single double-side board. With Ticket to Ride Asia, you'll embark on an incredible adventure in Alan R. Moon's Team Asia map. Specifically designed for up to 6 players, you and a partner will team up against other groups on a 25,000 km wild ride from Kabul to Beijing, through the steppes of Mongolia and the Gobi desert up to the Yellow River! Or, if you prefer the quiet pleasures of traveling alone along the Silk Road, or winding your way through the hustle and bustle of Indochina, venture into Legendary Asia.

So… that's interesting.

The first thing we notice from the phrasing and box art is that it looks like we're getting just 2 new maps.  Based on the contest text from February, I thought there would be quite a bit more.  For example, the original contest description noted that the winner's design would be "included in the Ticket to Ride Map Collection to be introduced at Essen Spiel 2011, alongside brand new maps designed by Alan R. Moon himself."  The word "maps" is plural regarding Mr. Moon's contribution, thus you'd assume there would be a couple from him along with the winning fan map.  However, based on the artwork and description, it looks like we are just getting an "Asia" map and a "Legendary Asia" map.

Another interesting element to note is the box art includes the number 1 (look at the side as well as right above the Days of Wonder logo on the front).  This would seem to support the earlier hunch that this "Map Collection" idea is more of a series rather than a single-release product.

As far as the "double-sided board," this has never been done for a Ticket to Ride map before, however Days of Wonder has a lot of experience doing it, as they currently use this production technique for their Memoir 44 World War II map expansions, as well as for their Small World civilization game.

An interesting twist from the description is the idea of accommodating up to 6 players using a team-based approach.  Currently, a Ticket to Ride game can handle only 5 players (without creative modification).  Without the addition of new trains or components, it's been suggested in the BoardGameGeek forums that this would only require 3 sets of trains, with each partner team controlling one set.  We'll have to see if this speculation is correct when the game comes out.

In the end, in looks like Ticket to Ride Map Collection #1: Asia is modeled after the Switzerland expansion in regards to packaging and pricepoint.  The artwork shows a pretty thin box, which would indicate just the inclusion of maps and new Destination Tickets, just like Switzerland.  The player would need to provide trains and Train Cards from other version of Ticket to Ride.  The suggested price of $30 also is quite a bit lower than a full Ticket to Ride game.  Let's hope the production quality is better than Switzerland, as Days of Wonder learned the hard way on that one.  The board was sub-par in quality when compared to other Ticket to Ride games, there were omissions (such as a lack of scoring table) and city misspellings, and the company eventually reissued the Destination Tickets that came with the game due to the lower quality paper they used.

I'm looking forward to more details leaking out as we get closer to the release date of October 26!

100 Thumbs on BoardGameGeek.com

At the time, I cross-posted my review to the highest-traffic boardgame website, BoardGameGeek.com.  There's an internal "karma" system there that allows members to give "Thumbs Up" to posts they like or recommend.

Small expansion, but very fun!

I'm happy to say that my review has reached "100 Thumbs" on that site, which is sort of a big deal (well, I'd like to think so!)  I hope that my writing at least helped steer some folks towards checking out Alvin & Dexter; it's a goofy expansion idea, but I think it's a hidden treasure!

Round 2: Steve vs. Amy Game Results

In Round 2 of our matchups, we tied in wins with 8 games each.  You'll note that our more recent games have included the awesome new Alvin & Dexter Monster Expansion, which really adds so much more fun to any Ticket to Ride game.

On the wall you'll also note our "W+D" references, which represent the "Warehouses and Depots" game elements that are part of the Europa 1912 Expansion (and like Alvin & Dexter, can be added to any version of Ticket to Ride).  This expansion also includes new Destination Tickets much like the USA 1910 Expansion for the original game, except that Ticket to Ride Europe is now the benefactor, providing 3 different expansion games to play (Europe Expanded, Mega Europe, and Big Cities of Europe).

Providing a fun break from regular TtR games, our friend Jason Steele gave us a fan-made map of the London Underground which really was quite different.  We haven't released the monsters on this city yet, so apparently the folks on London are safe for a little while longer!

I'd also like to point your attention to a fan-created set of rules called the Ghost Train, which actually did a very nice job of tightening up the USA map for a 2-player game.  Such a simple concept, but it added a lot more cutthroat action in a recent game.

Finally, I'm particularly proud of the Nordic game we played where I won with the really low score of 71-57.  This game almost had me sleeping on the couch because I ended up defeating Amy in under 20 minutes using a strategy I read about online.  She was NOT happy about that technique.  Needless to say, I haven't used that strategy since then.

Who's ready for Round 3?

Ticket to Ride: Alvin & Dexter Monster Expansion

There are still other games in the series that we haven't explored, but our minds were sort of blown when back in December rumors started leaking about another expansion… involving aliens and monsters? Surely this wasn't the case of completely throwing the theme of a turn-of-the-century railroad game out the window. But in fact, it was true!

And you know what? It's a great idea!

Back of the box

So what is exactly the "Ticket to Ride: Alvin & Dexter Monster Expansion"? Well, it's basically a really small box for $15. Inside you'll find 2 plastic figures, a rule book, and a stack of cards. And that's pretty much it.

Officially, Days of Wonder describes the expansion with this story:

Meet Alvin & Dexter – two detailed monster figures that bring their own special brand of chaos to cities across the Ticket to Ride landscape. Alvin (the Alien) and Dexter (the Dinosaur) are two wacky characters ready to help you stomp opponents and zap tickets in this fun expansion. But don't take them too lightly; they also introduce a devious new tactical layer to the game.

In effect, what Alvin & Dexter represents is the ability to screw over your opponents using a method besides just blocking a route they wanted.

Ticket to Ride tends to play as more of an independent, solitaire-like game, with each player having their own goals and building their routes as they please based on their Destination Tickets. (A lot of folks compare its set-matching elements with Rummy). Sure, things get disrupted when opponents are building in the same place as you, and you often have to adapt, which is a core element of the game. You can choose to play nicely (and keep your wife happy) or you can be a stinker (and end up on the couch!)

Meet Alvin, the alien

Alvin & Dexter introduces another level of strategy which I personally feel revolutionizes the game a bit, despite the odd theme of monsters. The beauty is that this expansion can be added to any version of the game, so it's a valuable compliment to your existing Ticket to Ride collection.

How to Play

At the start of the game, after you have selected Destination Tickets, one player sticks the Alvin pawn on any city on the board. Another player then places Dexter on another city. Then the game begins as normal.

This is Dexter, the dinosaur

Now, during gameplay, you cannot build a route into or out of any city that has either Alvin or Dexter sitting on top of it. They are each considered a "City in Chaos," apparently because they are being terrorized by aliens and monsters. This greatly changes the way you may plot a route on the board.

Alvin likes to vaporize cities

To remove this problem, on your turn you may choose to move Alvin or Dexter to another city, either to get them out of the way of a path you wanted to build… or to inhibit an opponent from going where they desire. To do so, you simply play a Locomotive card as a free additional action on your turn. Doing so allows you to move Alvin or Dexter up to 3 cities away from where they currently reside. (If you play 2 Locomotive cards, you can move them up to 6 cities away.)

Cards for Alvin & Dexter

When you move either monster, you then take a card that matches their name and place it in front of you, basically making a collection of your moves. It also indicates that monster was moved during that round of turns, preventing it from being moved by someone else until the next round.

It's a Monster Showdown!

Now, you would think that you could just avoid the monsters, working around their path and not really caring to move them. But you'd be wrong. While you don't have to be actively moving them all the time (though it's a good idea), you do have to be aware of how they are affecting your game. In the end, it will matter a great deal.

Apparently, Dexter just eats trains

Scoring

When the game ends, any Destination Tickets that list a city that just so happens to be the place where either Alvin or Dexter ended up… well, they are only worth HALF their original value. So in many ways, it's to your advantage to keep moving these monsters around the board, perhaps in the hope that you can hurt your opponent's final Destination Ticket values at the end. This mechanic can also work to your advantage if you discover that you have some Destination Tickets that you are unable to complete, and thus will count negatively against you. By parking Alvin or Dexter on one of the cities found on your card, you cut your negative value by half as well!

Alvin's 15-point Bonus Card

Bonus Cards

The monster-oriented strategy is extended with additional points as well.  At the end of the game, one 15-point Alvin Bonus Card and one 15-point Dexter Bonus Card are awarded to the persons who moved each monster the most times (that's why you track their moves by picking up a monster card and placing it in front of you during the game). If you manage to move both monsters the most and collect both Bonus Cards, that could be a 30-point swing, more than any Longest Route or other bonus, which could significantly change who wins a game.

Dexter's 15-point Bonus Card

But Why Monsters?

Incidentally, I bet you are wondering just where this goofy monsters idea came from. Well, that was asked of the game's creator, Alan Moon, in a discussion over on BoardGameGeek.com. Here's how he explained it:

The third Ticket to Ride map I designed was Japan, back in 2005. At that time, Days of Wonder was trying to license the game to a Japanese company and we assumed they would want a Japanese map rather than the USA or Europe maps. In the end though, Bandai decided to put the USA map in their edition.

My Japan map included Godzilla right from the start. It just seemed like a natural fit to me. Part of the inspiration came from my enjoyment of playing Manhattan with the Godzilla rules.

As time went by, it seemed like the Japan map wasn't going to be published, so I suggested to Days of Wonder that we publish a small Monster Expansion for all the maps instead. They tested my first prototype and didn't think it was enough, so I went back to work. I added a second Monster (originally Rodan), changed the way the Monsters were moved on the board, and much more. I don't know how many different versions I tested, but this last one is definitely the most fun. The addition of the Monster Cards, and giving the player who moves each monster points at the end of the game, was the final step.

The box is small vs. others in the Ticket to Ride family

Maybe one day we'll see that infamous Japan map that Alan talked about, perhaps as part of the future planned release of a Ticket to Ride Map Collection. In any case, once he shared this story, the goofy addition of monsters to the game made a whole lot more sense.

My Take

Now that you've read about how this expansion works and even the backstory on how it came to be, what's my take? Is it a crazy theme with monsters going after trains and cities from the 1900s? Yes, completely so. You could have used anything else to fit the theme better, such as weather or maybe a transit strike. But would you buy a "Bad Weather" or "Economic Crisis" expansion to the game? Monsters and aliens are so weird that it just works. The key here is that the new game mechanic found in Alvin & Dexter is excellent. With the ability to dramatically alter what your opponents are doing, I'm keen to look beyond the goofy names and monster toys. The gameplay is refreshing and innovative, and it adds a breath of fresh air to any version of Ticket to Ride you own. I'm quite curious to see how it changes up Nordic Countries and Switzerland, since Locomotive cards are much easier to come by vs. the original US or Europe versions.

Packaging and what's in the box

Packaging

Probably my biggest gripe with Alvin & Dexter has to do with the packaging. The box it comes in is very small and seems to be designed more for showcasing the figures on a store shelf. However, it's not very practical for long-term storage or constant use. Inside you basically find an plastic insert that snugly holds the Alvin & Dexter plastic figures.  In the hollow area under this insert, the stack of cards and the rule book are tucked away.  It's rather a pain to get all back together, to be honest.  A box like the ones used with the USA 1910 or Europa 1912 expansions would have been more practical solutions for a game owner in this case. I'm still not sure what the best storage option will be for me regarding this thing.

Final Thoughts

Should you pick up Alvin & Dexter? Unlike an expansion like USA 1910, which I believe brings vital fixes to the game, this monster expansion is more like an extra cherry on top of an already awesome ice cream sundae. If you are tired of plain vanilla Ticket to Ride, it's a good option. If you want more cutthroat competition and fierceness in your gameplay, Alvin & Dexter is a great addition. Is there a fascination in your marriage to sleep on the couch due to your spouse not appreciating your monster attacks?  You've found just the game! Do you have a passion for game expansions that may not seem to make any logical sense, but are quite fun?  Alvin & Dexter is for you!

Bonus: Official Rules Clarifications

Since the release of Alvin & Dexter, there have been some questions raised regarding situations that were not covered in the official rules released with the game.  These have often specifically dealt with other Ticket to Ride versions that utilize unique elements, such as Stations. The game's creator, Alan Moon, has been answering those questions and compiling a master set of clairifications.  Here's a summary of what's been created to date, should you pick up this expansion and have questions.

Alvin & Dexter Official Clarifications
by Alan R. Moon

• A Station¹ cannot be built in a city with a Monster.
• A Depot² cannot be built in a city with a Monster.
• A Passenger³ cannot be moved out of, into, or through a city with a Monster.
• A Monster can be moved into a city with a Station¹, Depot², or Passenger³.
• If a Monster is in a Country⁴ location, the whole Country⁴, not just the specific space, is in Chaos.
• Cards cannot be added to or taken from a Depot² in a city in Chaos.
• At the end of the game, a Station¹ in a city in Chaos can still be used normally.
• If both Monsters are in the same city at the end of the game, Destination Tickets that include this city are only halved (not halved twice).
• When you move a Monster, you must move him at least one space, you cannot retrace steps (as in moving one city forward and then one city back), and you may not end the Monster's movement in the same city where it started the move (by moving in a loop).

 

Key:

¹ Stations are used in Ticket to Ride Europe
² Depots are used in Ticket to Ride Europa 1912 Expansion
³ Passengers are used in Ticket to Ride Märklin
⁴ Countries are used in Ticket to Ride Märklin and Switzerland

Look what just arrived in the mail!

It would appear some new Ticket to Ride fun is in order!  (More about Alvin & Dexter)

Amy, Megan, Branden, & Sarah take on TtR Europe

The 11 of us played every one of our TtR games, including the original USA version (with the USA 1910 Expansion), Europe (with the Europa 1912 Expansion featuring Warehouses & Depots), Switzerland, and Nordic Countries.

3-person TtR Nordic Countries battle among Amy, Sara, & Jason

Amy and I play against each other quite a bit, but there's nothing like the communal experience of playing with lot a of folks.

The Europa 1912 expansion with Warehouses & Depots got a big workout... and was liked for its ability to give you a bunch of cards quickly!

Some of the dynamics and game mechanics just take on completely different feels with you have more than 2 players.

Nick & Catherine fight for territory in TtR Switzerland

Overall, quite a fun time that I think we'll be repeating again in the near future… because then we can play with monsters!

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Ticket to Ride - Alvin & Dexter Expansion

A forum user at BoardGameGeek.com discovered this product being listed on Japanese site AmiAmi.jp, an online retailer for miniature figures. If this does play out to be a real expansion, it's quite an unexpected twist for the TtR world created by Days of Wonder. However, given that I'm a huge fan of the series, any expansion is welcomed these days.

Here's the description as listed on AmiAmi.jp:

~/~

Description
This expansion set unleashes two monsters to the world of Ticket to Ride. The monsters raid on the cities one after another, blocking the railways to the cities they are staying. The monsters can be transferred to another city by using cards.

Designer
Alan R Moon

Number of players
2-5

Play time
30-50 min.

Release Date
Late Feb-2011

Specifications
The set includes:

• 2 Figures
• 2 Bonus Cards
• 20 "Alvin" Cards
• 20 "Dexter" Cards
• Rule Book (in 11 languages)

~/~

Based on the limited description provided, it would seem that this is a "negative effect" expansion, which I'm pretty sure we haven't seen much of in the Ticket to Ride universe. To this point, the only thing that really had a negative impact on your ability to complete routes is an opponent blocking you by taking the route first.  The description here seems to indicate that this expansion would introduce a new type of blocking, whether it be random or initiated in some way by a player.  Maybe it's like the "Robber" in The Settlers of Catan or the "Dragon" in Carcassonne, both of which disrupt gameplay and point scoring.

Also, is "Alvin" a monster who flies a UFO, while "Dexter" is some sort of Godzilla-like creature?  The artwork looks "official" given the style that Days of Wonder typically uses for their products, though the dimensions of the design aren't typical of what we find in previously-released expansions (which tend to be small box, tall and narrow).  This artwork has the dimensions typically associated with a standard release of the game (square box, found with USA, Europe, Switzerland, and Nordic Countries).

In any case, the infusion of monsters to a game that historically has been set in reality and turn-of-the-century theme is quite a break from the norm.  However, given how the franchise is aging (the original game was released in 2004), maybe this will spice things up a bit.  Or maybe we'll discover that it's just one big hoax and look stupid.  We'll see!

I've started a discussion over at TannerWorld Junction to track ongoing developments or news regarding this potential expansion.  You may want to keep an eye on it, along with these other sources of information:

• "Ticket to Ride – Alvin and Dexter Expansion" at TannerWorld Junction
• Official Days of Wonder "Alvin & Dexter Monster Expansion" page
• Product listing on AmiAmi.jp
• BoardGameGeek.com discussion
• BoardGameGeek.com product entry
• Boardgame News article

~/~

Update 1/4/11: It would appear that this expansion is legit. W. Eric Martin, author of the respected Boardgame News (soon to be merged with BoardGameGeek), wrote about it today and provided more details and images.  It would appear that the packaging is more akin to miniatures vs. the card boxes we typically see with Ticket to Ride expansions, in that it's shaped like a cube.  The size harkens back to the dimensions of the Dice Expansion box, to be honest:

Monsters Purchase Ticket to Ride, Smash
Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Trends are a constant in the board game industry, as they are in any industry. Gamers looking back through the years will see pirates, vikings, Rennaissance happenings, European expansion, European merchantilism, haberdashery and many other topics rise and fall among trends in games hitting the market.

Packaging for this expansion

For 2011, the trend appears to be giant monsters that destroy things, with Richard Berg's Godzilla: Kaiju World Wars coming from Toy Vault, Richard Garfield's King of Tokyo coming from IELLO, and now the newly announced Alvin & Dexter – A Ticket to Ride Monster Expansion from Alan R. Moon and Days of Wonder.

Artwork from Alvin card

These monsters stymie players both during the game and once it ends. During play, no routes can be built into or out of a city where Alvin or Dexter are currently nesting, and during the final score tallying, any destination ticket showing a city where either monster stands is worth only half its normal value. Desperately need to build a route to Seattle, Paris or wherever else a roaming monster has set up shop? Discard one (or two) wild locomotive cards, and you can move the monster up to three (or six) cities away from its current location. Move a monster more than any other player, and you'll pick up an endgame bonus for your role as monster minder.

Prototype "sculpt" of the Dexter piece

Alvin & Dexter – A Ticket to Ride Monster Expansion, which includes twenty monster cards, two bonus cards and rules in eleven languages in addition to the two figures, retails for $13/€10 and will stomp into stores in February 2011.

Source