Game: Big City

Thread: Re: Update (thanks to The Spiel)

Surya — 2008-08-28T15:24:31+00:00

They are new buildings. When VG got the rights for the game, they talked to Benno about the game, and there where ideas to expand the game a bit.

Thread: Re: Update (thanks to The Spiel)

Kestril — 2008-08-28T12:41:02+00:00

I wonder if those two new sculpts that Torben mentioned are new buildings, or new sculpts for old buildings. I got the feeling it was the former, but I don't want to spread incorrect info.

Thread: Update (thanks to The Spiel)

Surya — 2008-08-27T05:47:21+00:00

Thanks to the update on the podcast The Spiel, we now know Valley Games is going to redo all building sculpts from scratch. This means they don't have to wait to get the original molds manufactured again. They are hoping for a late 2008, early 2009 release, but I don't care how long it takes

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rober — 2008-08-12T11:36:37+00:00

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

Rappak — 2008-07-20T14:11:58+00:00

Aww man. I was going to pre-order both Supernova and Big City together. Oh well, can't hide this order very easily now...

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

spearjr — 2008-07-20T13:57:39+00:00

otrex wrote:
Yes, because of our complete website preordering system overhaul, Big City is not currently available for preorder. It is still planned as a 2008 release, and I'll be sure to let everyone know once preorders are available.

There is a good reason that Big City was bumped back a bit from the May/June 2008 estimate posted here earlier, but I'll have to wait a bit longer before saying anything more than that. I think people will be pleased.
Thanks for the update Kevin. I'm really looking forward to this one.

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

otrex — 2008-07-20T08:08:27+00:00

Yes, because of our complete website preordering system overhaul, Big City is not currently available for preorder. It is still planned as a 2008 release, and I'll be sure to let everyone know once preorders are available.

There is a good reason that Big City was bumped back a bit from the May/June 2008 estimate posted here earlier, but I'll have to wait a bit longer before saying anything more than that. I think people will be pleased.

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

GaryP — 2008-07-17T22:18:14+00:00

The July 23rd preorder date is from last year! (2007) Note Containers and Mordred on that list, which have already been released. You can also find a New post on the VG site from August 2007 that refers to that July 23rd preorder opening in the past.

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

CJHeart — 2008-07-17T22:12:20+00:00

July 15th wasn't supposed to be a release date. It's the date they were supposedly starting to take pre-orders for Big City.

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

starkeyboy — 2008-07-17T12:46:45+00:00

Surely the 15 July date currently listed on the 750 page is in error.

from the text of a press release:

750 Special Reopens on July 23rd!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[750 Logo]
Valley Games is thrilled to officially announce the restart of our new-and-improved 750 Special preorder program on July 23rd at 12pm EST (noon). We know you have been patient, and we've invested all our time and energy into making our preorder system even better than before!

For those unfamiliar with the 750 Special, this is a preorder program that allows you to preorder a game that interests you, and by doing so show your support for the production of that game. Once a game receives 750 preorders, we commit to printing the game, and fast-track the game into production. As a preorder customer, you receive 30% off MSRP, a chance to enter our various contests, and receive any preorder bonus items associated with the game.

You won't believe the amazing games that we have available on preorder starting July 23rd. From classic reprints to soon-to-be-classics, there's something available for everyone. In fact, don't be surprised if you find several games that you'll want to preorder. Here's the list, and since we promised our newsletter subscribers exclusive information, you may notice some previously unannounced titles that we have included for preorder. Surprise!

- Big City
- Municipium
- Container
- Titan
- Special Edition
- Supernova
- Republic of Rome
- Liberte
- The World as I See it (reprint of "Wie ich die Welt sehe")
- Such a Thing (reprint of Ein Solches Ding)
- Anno Domini (English printing of Anno Domini)
- Martin Wallace's Mordred (by special arrangement, and a limited edition)

Be sure to check out each game on our website, and the associated discounts, preorder bonuses, and contests available.

As you can imagine, we're looking to get these games into print as soon as possible, and your preorder helps us do just that. Remember, www.valleygames.ca is the place to visit to place your 750 Special preorder!

Snafu? Incompetence? Conspiracy?

Tute es posibile.

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

CJHeart — 2008-07-17T04:11:37+00:00

jediwashuu wrote:
When is the preorder supposed to open? It is now 7/15, and you still can't order it on the website. I am looking forward to this game.

I was just wondering the same thing. It is now 7/16 and I just went to pre-order Big City but I'm not seeing a reprint available. Anyone with any ideas as to why?

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

jediwashuu — 2008-07-15T21:12:04+00:00

When is the preorder supposed to open? It is now 7/15, and you still can't order it on the website. I am looking forward to this game.

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

subhan — 2008-06-24T15:43:22+00:00

From the Valley Games Website:
Preorder start date: July 15, 2008 Price: $41.97
Late preorder start date: August 15, 2008 Price $50.96
Expected ship date: September 2008

Thread: Re: Additions THEN Multipliers? Or the other way around?

locusshifter — 2008-06-11T01:37:20+00:00

Oh, if it were ONLY the other way around....I might win. LOL

Thread: Re: Additions THEN Multipliers? Or the other way around?

kristopherjwolff — 2008-06-10T21:38:16+00:00

D'oh! Where's the emoticon for slapping myself in the forehead?

Thread: Re: Additions THEN Multipliers? Or the other way around?

Psauberer — 2008-06-10T21:03:15+00:00

Page 4 of the rules, second column, first paragraph, last sentence

Other bonuses involve multipliers, which are applied after the additions and subtractions.

Thread: Additions THEN Multipliers? Or the other way around?

kristopherjwolff — 2008-06-10T20:48:46+00:00

Simple question on how to score. I thought FOR SURE there would be a thread on it already, but I didn't see one. Do you score the additions first or the multipliers? For example, is a double residence next to a park and a streetcar (6+1)*2=14 or (6*2)+1=13? Or more important, is a single residence next to a factory and a streetcar (2-2)*2=0 or (2*2)-2=2?

Thanks for any help. Quotes from the rulebook (which I SWEAR doesn't answer the question) would be best... Just to show me how much of an idiot I am...

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Konwacht — 2008-06-09T12:08:20+00:00

a real big city - nearly all playing pieces have been placed, only the factories and the commercial buildings have been rare - winner scored 145 points with two shopping malls, one church etc.....

Thread: Re: A Night in the Big City

wgjelinek — 2008-05-13T19:16:21+00:00

denverarch wrote:
Its such an intersting and fast game with good amounts of startegy and it appeals to gamers and non gamer alike.

Agreed. We hadn't played it in a while, so it was good to get it back on the table.

denverarch wrote:
I like your quote about starting and finishing fights!

Feel free to use it when you want.
Good luck on your game development project.

Thread: Re: A Night in the Big City

denverarch — 2008-05-12T22:21:10+00:00

Great report. One of my last grail games to purchase. I liked it so much I started deisgning my own city building game. Its such an intersting and fast game with good amounts of startegy and it appeals to gamers and non gamer alike.

I like your quote about starting and finishing fights!

Thread: A Night in the Big City

wgjelinek — 2008-05-12T16:38:21+00:00

Session Report for Big City

John, my (9-year-old) son, loves when he has a chance to game with the "big boys" (me and my gaming friends). Further, his eyes light up at the mention of playing Big City. So when my gaming friend (we'll call him "Pedro") suggested we include John in a game AND we agreed to play Big City, John was as excited as I've seen him in a long time.

I've always loved the theme of Big City. I really go for games where I can build things, so this really suits me. Further, the game components really work well allowing me to witness a city spring up on our gaming table.

Rules-wise, it's a good low-complexity game suitable for introducing new players to gaming--my wife has even played a few times. The only time I've ever had a complaint with the game was when we tried a five-player game with all experienced/serious/stubborn gamers.

In case you're not familiar with the game, the first phase of the game consists of building residential and buisness properties, each of which scores points for the builder. The other types of properties are not available until someone builds City Hall. The problem has been that City Hall does not score the builder any points.

So, in our game with all veteran gamers, nobody was willing to sacrifice their turn to build City Hall figuring it would benefit the rest of the table before it would benefit himself. Consequently, we ran out of buisnesses and residences, everyone passed, and the game ended prematurely.

To fix this, we instituted a house rull whereby the builder of City Hall receives 5 points. This seems to be enough to get it into play even among the more hard-headed of players.

Anyway, back to tonight's game. John went first, and after hearing our story of the game from back in the day, led off with City Hall. I couldn't find anything prohibiting this, so we let it stand.

Like many games of Big City, this one came down to someone's ability to build the shopping mall before anyone else (scoring a whopping 30 points where most other builds are most often under 15 points).

The mid-game posturing and planning was going according to the book. John had big plans for Chinatown, Pedro was working on Westside, and I was working mostly in Downtown.

When Pedro played the two-square park in the middle of Chinatown, John reacted calmly. My boy's growing up. This sort of thing would have reduced him to tears or at least a big pout in the past, but not tonight.

After a couple more rounds Pedro looked like he was ready to score some big points. He had a nearly empty neighborhood with a streetcar line running well into it, and most of its cards.

Not so fast there, amigo! Gleefully, John dropped the L-shaped factory in the middle of the neigborhood, spoiling Pedro's plans. My son has learned one of Bill's Maxims of Gaming: Gamers don't get mad, they get even.

Later on, for good measure, John dropped the other factory in the middle of Pedro's next target neighborhood, demonstrating that he also understands another of Bill's Maxims of Gaming: Starting a fight is good, finishing a fight is better.

I ended up winning by 107-78-74. This game is always close unless someone gets to build a shopping center (If the second shopping center gets built, then the first guy wasn't paying attention). I was able to get my temple to capitalism built. Then I used the streetcars to make sure no one else could by bisecting a couple of vacant two-block parcels. Once nearly all the parcels along the streetcar lines were built, my defensive strategy was a success and the game was pretty much done.

Again, I like the game a lot. It is thematically very pleasing (which is important to me). There is enough strategy and planning to keep players involved, yet enough luck to keep one on his or her toes. It's fun building a city. You can mess with the other players. I'm looking forward to playing again.

Now, if I could only make the time to paint my buildings like this guy's . . . ]]>

Thread: Re: Big City vs. Acquire

StevenE — 2008-05-03T03:05:37+00:00

Thank you all for the information.

I've decided on acquiring Big City (sorry I couldn't resist that one), but having read a bit about the perils of the pre-order system I think I will wait for the reprint to hit one of my online vendors of choice. That way I stand a chance to get it in a reasonable known amount of time... as long as it is in stock.

Thanks again

Regards

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

grimstuff — 2008-05-02T19:16:39+00:00

otrex wrote:
Yes, we're probably looking at May/June 2008. It's also looking near-certain that we'll be using plastic 3D buildings just like the original (these have been the source of the delay in production).

I'll be updating the community with more info in the New Year, but we certainly have not forgotten about this wonderful project.

So... by the looks of things it's probably looking more like a May/June 2009 release? Any rough indication?
Thanks in advance.

Thread: Re: Big City vs. Acquire

goldenboat — 2008-04-30T18:52:25+00:00

You might also want to look at Manhattan.

Thread: Re: Big City vs. Acquire

nickguay — 2008-04-30T11:10:01+00:00

The reprint of Big City is more than a rumour but you will need to act fast. You need to order it from Eagles Games since you are in the United States at:
http://www.eaglegames.net/

and the opening of the pre-orders for that game will be in July (to be shipped in September) so keep a close eye on it. I suggest subscribing to "new content" on BGG so that way I'm sure Eagle Games or Valley Games or someone will post as soon as it's avalable for Pre-order. I'm going to pre-order it from Valley Games since I'm in Canada.

Enjoy
Nick

Thread: Re: Big City vs. Acquire

fellonmyhead — 2008-04-30T09:41:48+00:00

More importantly if it's a building game you're after then Acquire is not the game for you. It is more about stocks and shares than building. It is a good game, don't get me wrong; it just isn't about city building.

Thread: Re: Big City vs. Acquire

ssmooth — 2008-04-30T08:25:15+00:00

Totally different games.

Get Big City if you can. It's out of print, though I believe a new edition is still rumored. But a new edition only has a 50-50 chance of being as good as the original, and we know the original is good. I think it's best for 3 players, but for 2 or 4 it still works well.

Acquire is a classic, but it's not really a game for 2 players. Also it's pretty dry by today's standards. When you've got 3-5 people who're ready to just sit down and listen to the numbers crunch, Acquire is a good choice.

Thread: Big City vs. Acquire

StevenE — 2008-04-30T07:38:20+00:00

Not sure if this is a fair or proper comparison but I've had my eye on both of these games.

Does anyone have advice?
My only other city building type game is Carcassone.

I play mainly 2 or 4 player games.

Thanks

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yasu — 2008-04-26T12:41:15+00:00

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

Inntrepid — 2008-04-21T23:22:51+00:00

Valley Games has partnered with eaglegames.net to handle the preorders.
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/308006

On Valley Games site it looks like they are going to reopen preorders for Big City in July 2008.
http://www.valleygames.ca/games.html

I am looking forward to getting this whenever it becomes available.

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

Kestril — 2008-04-17T04:59:11+00:00

Take a look on the Valley Games publisher page on BGG - there are plenty of threads there that have VG replies in them.

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

lightnng — 2008-04-17T02:03:31+00:00

2ndPlace wrote:
Update: No answer to my Email. Maybe this company is no longer in business?

I asked the same question in a general thread and got bashed out of existence.

But it's a legitimate question: do they still exist?

I agree that their complete lack of consistency in communications is absolutely terrible. I've pre-ordered most of their supposed 2008 lineup, so I've certainly put my money where my mouth is; I want them to do well. But they are doing very, very poorly right now.

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Thommy8 — 2008-03-08T16:05:40+00:00

66 points from 3 triple residences is quite a feat (that one on the right was on the outskirts when it was placed)

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Thommy8 — 2008-03-08T16:02:32+00:00

Twin shopping centers at the heart of the Big City!

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

2ndPlace — 2008-03-07T04:01:10+00:00

I put in a preorder many months ago but sent an Email last night to cancel my preorder. I'm not happy with the lack of communication by Valley Games. Their website is way out of date and my preorders of both Containers and Rome H. vs C. showed up finally but the extras were not sent and nothing about when they will ever show up if at all.

I had high hope for this small company but now have totally given up on them. Too bad they don't know how to run a website when it's really needed to sell games and keep customers informed of what is going on. If the game finally comes out I might buy it. But I don't want to be part of the "it's coming one of these days people" waiting for their order to show up.

Hope they get their act together but don't think it will happen.

Update: No answer to my Email. Maybe this company is no longer in business?

Thread: Re: Question - Scoring Outskirt/Inner

Thommy8 — 2008-03-04T18:23:49+00:00

Thanks for the quick response Michael, I appreciate it. I thought we must have been playing it wrong last night because the residences ran out much quicker than the businesses, but I guess that's right. I mean, businesses still certainly have lots of uses, but getting that small +1 bonus is a fair bit harder, especially if the board develops in linear fashion. Although of course businesses will surround the city hall area. I think the rules call that "virtual parkland" you speak of to be "inner city," and yeah, if the board develops that way, then businesses could certainly be more popular. Alright, glad to know though, we were thinking about switching the rule, and making it so residences had to have the entire thing touch the outskirts to get the +1, would've made the decision between residence vs. business pretty arbitrary for many of the placements, those that have one square on outskirts and one on inner city. Thanks again.

Thread: Re: Question - Scoring Outskirt/Inner

CortexBomb — 2008-03-04T17:50:50+00:00

Thommy8 wrote:
So it's a lot easier to get the +1 bonus when placing a two-square residence than when placing a two-square business, is that correct? So the board generally has a good deal more residences than businesses? Am I understanding this correctly?

Yes, scoring the outskirts bonus is usually much easier.

Note the wording though: the "outside edge of the city" which means that it is possible to build the board in a squarish shape with a decent sized open space in the middle which is not on the outside edge of the city (virtual parkland?) which can make it easier to score business bonuses.

Realistically though, a lot of games (the majority...at least 80% if I were going to guess) see the residence buildings exhausted before the commercial ones because of this rule. The biggest reason to place commercial buildings is the access they give you to more special buildings, and the fact that they can score off of city hall proximity.

Thread: Re: Question - Scoring Outskirt/Inner

Thommy8 — 2008-03-04T16:19:57+00:00

So it's a lot easier to get the +1 bonus when placing a two-square residence than when placing a two-square business, is that correct? So the board generally has a good deal more residences than businesses? Am I understanding this correctly?

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

jsper — 2008-02-17T17:35:08+00:00

otrex wrote:
Yes, we're probably looking at May/June 2008. It's also looking near-certain that we'll be using plastic 3D buildings just like the original (these have been the source of the delay in production).

I'll be updating the community with more info in the New Year, but we certainly have not forgotten about this wonderful project.

After two months with no-news, could anybody tell us some info about this project?

Thread: Re: Solo-variant

bvongunten — 2008-02-14T08:36:51+00:00

Very interesting!

I'll try this in the comming days ...

Greetings from Switzerland,

Bernhard

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vekoma — 2008-01-16T18:21:38+00:00

special buildings

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vekoma — 2008-01-16T18:21:05+00:00

homes and office blocks in all available sizes

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vekoma — 2008-01-16T18:20:27+00:00

parks

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vekoma — 2008-01-16T18:20:07+00:00

factories

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vekoma — 2008-01-16T18:19:42+00:00

detail on miniature tram

Thread: Solo-variant

vekoma — 2008-01-15T19:40:24+00:00

I've come up with a solo variant.
It might need some tweaking but I think the idea is good enough to share here, where it can get some fresh ideas and finetuning.

Preparation
First shuffle the decks of all districts thoroughly into one pile.
Draw the top 4 cards from the pile (don't look at them yet), make sure they are from four different districts... if not insert them into the shuffled pile again until you have four different districts.

Look at your four cards and place the districts, if any of them is a factory or park reshuffle them through the deck for now and draw as many new cards as you discarded (the 4 districts are already fixed at this point!)

Place the city hall on one of the blocks corresponding to one of the cards in your hand and discard that card. If you can place the city hall by the rules you must, if not you may choose the location.
It is important to remember that the tram-line will start adjacent to the city hall!

Gameplay options
1. Building
Discard one or more cards and place a building according to the normal game rules.

1x1 housing or office: no further benefits
1x2 housing or office: draw one new card and start or extend the tram line with one tram.
1x3 housing or office: draw two new cards and start or extend the tram line with two trams.

Special buildings: Choose one card from the top 10 discarded cards.

Park: Immediatly place the park according to the rules and draw a new card. You loose 5 points if you are unable to play it.
Factory: Immediatly place the factory according to the rules and draw a new card. You loose 5 points if you are unable to play it.

2. Discarding and drawing
Discard one card without placing a building and draw two new cards.
Optionally you can extend the tram line by one but ONLY in the direction of the just discarded card using the quickest route (choose if more then one are the quickest).

You can NOT discard two turns in a row.

If you draw a new card from a district not yet in play place it next to another district block that has one of the digits of the newly drawn card.

Example: you draw card 24 and district 2 is not yet in play. You can now add this district as long as it connects to another district block with either 2 or 4 in its digits (14, 41, 44, 72 are all valid). Normal game rules also apply.

Game end
Game ends when you are through the draw pile or are unable to continue play because you don't have playable cards anymore and are unable to discard.

Try to beat your top score.

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

Jeff — 2007-12-15T17:27:11+00:00

Thanks for the update Kevin. Looking forward to the reprint of this classic. I was a bit surprised the preorder numbers climbed so slowly for an OOP light Euro. Maybe enough people haven't played this one?

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

jsper — 2007-12-15T11:42:55+00:00

Oh, thanks for the answers!

Another question, the box size will be similar to Hannibal:Rome vs Carthage or Die Macher?

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

otrex — 2007-12-14T19:11:34+00:00

Yes, we're probably looking at May/June 2008. It's also looking near-certain that we'll be using plastic 3D buildings just like the original (these have been the source of the delay in production).

I'll be updating the community with more info in the New Year, but we certainly have not forgotten about this wonderful project.

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

mudhoney — 2007-12-14T16:14:25+00:00

In a very recent thread here at BGG, I think titled "Valley Games P750", or similar, a Valley Games rep suggested that we could see Big City in the spring 2008.

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

jsper — 2007-12-14T14:05:18+00:00

Any new about reprint of Big City?

The pre-orders page is out since a lot of days

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

Flix — 2007-11-16T17:16:44+00:00

Does anyone know how we can get the word out on this?
Hmm, who else than us would eagerly await such a reprint?

I mean, I don't see any casual gamers missing that game, be it because they don't know anything about its existence or because there is so much else on the market....

Flix

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

jaycdu — 2007-11-16T16:28:49+00:00

look like they're up to 275.

Does anyone know how we can get the word out on this? Are there any other board game sites, maybe based in the states, that we could post this on?

has all of the 221 people here that want this game pre-ordered?

Thread: Re: Valley Games - Big City Preorder Information

Drew1365 — 2007-11-07T21:15:08+00:00

So, how's Big City coming?

Thread: Big City:Review in Portuguese

MGBM — 2007-10-11T11:47:21+00:00

Publicada originalmente em www.abreojogo.com

Big City. O boardgame de construir uma cidade inteira do nada. Faz lembrar o SimCity.

Este boardgame devia ser considerado um clássico, mas pelas razões erradas como verão mais à frente.

Primeiro, do que se trata. Como devem ter adivinhado, é um boardgame sobre construir uma cidade. Não tem vertente económica nenhuma, no entanto; este boardgame é sobre Set-Collection do que outra coisa qualquer. Tudo depende das cartas que tivermos na mão.

O jogo suporta de 2 a 5 jogadores. Tem uma peculiaridade, este é dos melhores boardgames de caixa grande que existem para 2 jogadores. 2 jogadores com este jogo é do melhor. Claro, com 5 jogadores também é bom.

A apresentção deste boardgame é mitica entre os boardgamers. Tem, sem dúvida alguma, as melhores peças que alguma vez vi num boardgame. Não têm comparação com outro boardgame de facto, vejam as imagens no boardgamegeek e digam se não concordam comigo. E ao vivo as peças ainda são mais lindas de se ver! Temos casas residenciais, prédios de escritórios, igrejas, cinemas, centro comerciais, industrias, parques, tudo o que uma cidade pode ter. As peças têm que ser vistas para se acreditar no quão boas elas são.

Vamos ao jogo. Depois do setup, em que se coloca as neighborhoods e se recebe cartas conforme o número de jogadores, os jogadores têm cinco acções e só pode escolher uma por ronda:

Colocar edificios em jogo
Aumentar o metropolitano
Colocar um novo neighborhood
Trocar cartas
Passar

As acções que se fazem mais são as duas primeiras.

Colocar edificios é simples. Cada neighborhood tem vários áreas divididas em números, e cada neighborhood tem um stack de cartas. A gente recebe cartas de cada neighborhood. O objectivo é ficarmos com cartas de áreas com números adjacentes. Isto é importante pois os edificios maiores requerem três espaços e eles têm que ser adjacentes. Se tivermos as cartas certas, descartamos as cartas e põe-se nos números das cartas um edificio. Os edificios postos dão--nos pontos logo. Há manhas no entanto, nomeadamente que os edificios têm prerequisitos. Os mais comuns, as zonas residenciais e comerciais, não têm, mas dão bonus de pontos se postos em determinados sitios. Os edificios especiais, como as igrejas, os correios, os cinemas, têm prerequisitos para serem colocados, como por exemplo estarem adjacentes a duas zonas residenciais.

O metropolitano não dá pontos em si, mas é um dos prerequisitos para muitos edificios e dá pontos bonus a vários edificios se eles forem colocados perto dum metropolitano.

Existem 4 edificios especiais, os parques e as industrias, que têm uma carta própria só deles. Estes edificios podem ser postos a qualquer altura, sem impedimentos. Este é o factor de lixar o jogador, pois estes edificios ocupam espaço que pode pertencer a outros jogadores, tornando as áreas inuteis. As fábricas, então, são horriveis, pois dão bonus negativos a quem construir ao pé delas.

Depois de jogada a ronda, os jogadores sacam cartas até terem o mesmo número de cartas na mão com que começaram, embora não possam sacar mais de duas cartas do mesmo neighborhood.

Este jogo é lindo no sentido literal. É um repasto para a visão, principalmente quando o jogo termina e temos uma cidade inteira à nossa frente. A apresentação deste jogo não se equipara a mais nenhum boardgame que conheça, é pura e simplesmente fenomenal. E é por isto que este boardgame devia ser um clássico, não pelas mecânicas, mas pelo aspecto.

Falando em mecânicas, este jogo é basicamente set-collecting e saber o timing de quando se deve colocar edificios. Tem uma mecânica muito básica, nada de complicado de facto. É um bom jogo para introduzir novatos nestas andanças. Explica-se as regras em 3 minutos e pode-se logo começar a jogar.

É um boardgame médio-leve, com alguma sorte envolvida, visto que as cartas que recebemos são baralhadas e viradas para baixo, logo não controlamos o que recebemos. Alguém que receba más cartas durante o jogo pode ter o jogo todo lixado, e isso é mau. Fora isso, não tenho nada de negativo a apontar.

Também não tenho nada de muito positivo, além da apresentação. As mecânicas são simples e usadas em muito jogos, pode haver um problema de downtime, mas pelo menos o tabuleiro é sempre modular.

Se este boardgame não tivesse as peças que tem, seria mais um numa lista infidável de boardgames bons mas indistintos. As peças elevam-no ao estatudo de mitico no entanto.

Este boardgame também tem uma peculiaridade. É um dos raros boardgame que, depois de jogado, ficamos com a distinta impressão que uma expansão com mais edificios faria maravilhas, no sentido de criar uma cidade enorme, com mais edificios diferentes. Isso teria sido espectacular.

Mas parece que este jogo vai ser reprinted, com novos edificios. A questão que permanece é, serão as peças tão boas como as desta edição?

No fim, eu gosto do jogo, mas fora as peças não há nada que o distinga, com excepção do modo de 2 jogadores, que é muito bom. Este jogo é literalmente salvo pelas peças, pelo prazer de construir uma cidade diferente todas as vezes e ver como ela fica no fim. É um boardgame onde o prazer deriva mais das peças e de ver o tabuleiro a ser construido do que da mecânica de jogo.

Como tal, eu daria um 12 de 20 se não tivesse as peças que tem, mas com as peças, sou forçado a dar mais, pois as peças são o elemento que faz aumentar o gozo do jogo. É o único jogo em que a minha opinião sobre ele muda devido à apresentação do mesmo.

14 de 20.

Thread: Re: Big City session at Gryphon Games in Toronto

jody — 2007-09-15T15:06:12+00:00

Eldard wrote:

It's worth noting that it was designed by the late great Franz-Benno Delonge. Valley Games promises to reprint this classic with new artwork and a few new buildings if they get 750 pre-orders, so if you've longed for a copy of Big City but the re-sales are too pricey, pre-order from Valley Games.

http://www.valleygames.ca/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VLY...

210 pre-orders to date...

Thread: Re: Big City session at Gryphon Games in Toronto

asm_zero — 2007-09-15T01:56:14+00:00

Justin, yes it is quite like a review but after reading through the posts regarding what constitutes a review I felt that a review style report after only a single play really is a session report.

Or I posted it as a session by mistake and the posts about what constitues a review support that by coincidence.

One or the other.

Oh and I am certainly glad that I indirectly screwed Hutton out of a good play by making you discard the cards that you had in your hand for spaces that my factory occupied. What fun!

Thread: Re: Big City session at Gryphon Games in Toronto

Von Cougar — 2007-09-15T00:40:53+00:00

Isn't this more of a Review than a Session Report?

Andrew, I'm glad you're getting this. I really do dig it, and want to play again ASAP.
I love the SimCity feel, without bogging down with silliness.

Thread: Re: Big City session at Gryphon Games in Toronto

asm_zero — 2007-09-14T21:41:05+00:00

Thanks for the info. I had seen Big City on thier site when looking up info on Titan and wondered what it was (this was prior to actually playing Big City) and after seeing the actual game I didn't make the connection back to the Valley Games reprint. Now that I know what it is I'll definately pre-order.

Thread: Re: Big City session at Gryphon Games in Toronto

Eldard — 2007-09-14T21:16:27+00:00

Excellent description, Andrew. Big City was one of our first Euro-game purchases back in 1999, and it remains one of my favorites today.

It's worth noting that it was designed by the late great Franz-Benno Delonge. Valley Games promises to reprint this classic with new artwork and a few new buildings if they get 750 pre-orders, so if you've longed for a copy of Big City but the re-sales are too pricey, pre-order from Valley Games.

http://www.valleygames.ca/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VLY...