About Time (2007) – Board Game Guys

About Time

About Time is a general knowledge historical board game that was first seen on Series 5 of the BBC new-business reality show Dragon’s Den on December 17, 2007. The game was invented by Joe Gill, Iain McGill, Matt Gould, and Michele Rosaus, who together formed a company, Circa Circa Ltd, to launch the game in the UK. The game’s distinctive artwork is by Michele Rosaus. The game is part of a growing subgenre of trivia games in which players compete by giving numerical answers, in this case years, to questions rather than factual answers.

Why is About Time Popular?

About Time is a popular game due to its unique Gameplay Mechanics of About Time and historical subject matter. Players progress by giving answers that are closest to the correct year on the question cards. The question cards all feature six events and a year in which the events took place. Chips are used as rewards and can be won or lost during high-stakes board play. Each card contains questions in six subject categories including arts, politics, everyday life, and innovation. Player pieces are iconic historical figures including Napoleon, Queen Elizabeth I, Genghis Khan, and William Shakespeare.

Game Components of About Time

Game board featuring a timeline

Event cards

Player tokens and markers

Scoring pad

Rulebook

Dice for determining player turns

How To Setup About Time

To set up About Time, start by placing the game board in the middle of the playing area. Each player chooses a token and places it at the starting point on the board. Shuffle the event cards and place them face down along the timeline on the board. Determine the starting player randomly, often using the dice. Each player receives a set of markers to mark their progress on the timeline.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Be the first player to correctly place all of their event cards on the timeline.

Mechanics:

Area Control: Players control sections of the timeline by placing their event cards.

Set Collection: Players collect and place sets of event cards in chronological order.

Tile Placement: Event cards are placed as tiles along the timeline.

Gameplay: On each turn, a player draws an event card and attempts to place it on the correct date on the timeline. Other players can challenge the placement, and if the challenge succeeds, the placing player must return the card to their hand.

Player Experience

Playing About Time is an engaging mix of history and strategy. Players must have a good understanding of historical events and their chronological order. The game encourages social interaction as players challenge each other’s placements, adding a fun and competitive element. The game is educational, making it a great choice for families or history enthusiasts.

Pros

Educational Value: Players learn and reinforce their knowledge of historical events.

Interactive: Encourages social interaction and challenges among players.

Strategic Depth: Requires a combination of historical knowledge and strategic thinking.

Visual Appeal: The timeline board provides a clear and engaging visual representation of history.

Cons

Steep Learning Curve: Requires a good understanding of historical events.

Lengthy Games: Games can be quite long, especially with larger groups of players.

Repetitive Gameplay: Some players might find the repetitive nature of placing event cards monotonous.

Personal Thoughts on About Time

About Time is perfect for those who enjoy history, trivia, and strategic gameplay. It is an excellent choice for families looking to make learning fun or for groups of friends who enjoy competitive, intellectually stimulating games. However, it may not be the best fit for those seeking a quick, light-hearted game experience. If you’re looking to test your historical knowledge and enjoy a challenging yet educational game, About Time is definitely worth considering.

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