Automania: The Game of the Motor Giants (1991) Board Game

Automania: The Game of the Motor Giants is a board game released in 1991, designed by Gavin Dunn and Peter Kellond. It is a game that revolves around the economic and manufacturing aspects of the automotive industry. Players take on the role of competing automobile manufacturers, striving to build the best cars and outdo their rivals in the market.

Game Components of Automania: The Game of the Motor Giants

Game board

Car-shaped symbols for each player

Embargo cards

Resource and commodity tokens

Player action cards

Track for racing the car symbols

Rulebook

How To Setup Automania: The Game of the Motor Giants

To set up the game, each player chooses a car-shaped symbol and places it at the starting line on the track. The game board is laid out, and players receive their initial resources and commodity tokens. Embargo cards and player action cards are shuffled and distributed according to the rules. The track is prepared to track the progress of each player’s car symbol, which advances based on the player’s actions during the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Category: Economic, Industry / Manufacturing

Mechanics: Commodity Speculation, Secret Unit Deployment

Objective: The goal is to be the first player whose car symbol crosses the finish line on the track while also accumulating the most overall profit from manufacturing and exporting cars. Players must navigate through economic challenges, including embargos set by opponents, to achieve this.

Player Experience

In **Automania: The Game of the Motor Giants**, players take on the roles of automobile manufacturers and exporters, competing against each other in a dynamic economic environment. The game requires strategic thinking, as players need to speculate on commodities, manage resources, and deploy secret units to outmaneuver their opponents. The racing element adds a thrilling layer, where the progress of the car symbols around the track serves as a timer and a visual indicator of the game’s progression.

Pros

Strategic Depth: The game combines economic management with strategic deployment, offering a deep and engaging experience.

Interactive Elements: The embargo system and secret unit deployment add a layer of social interaction and surprise.

Unique Theme: The automobile manufacturing and exporting theme is unique and intriguing.

Cons

Limited Availability: The game was only manufactured in editions of 1000, making it hard to find.

Complexity: The game has a medium to high complexity level, which may deter casual players.

User Rating: The game has a low user rating on some platforms, indicating it may not appeal to all players.

Personal Thoughts on Automania: The Game of the Motor Giants

**Automania: The Game of the Motor Giants** is ideal for experienced board game enthusiasts who enjoy economic games with strategic depth. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate complex gameplay and are looking for a unique theme. However, due to its limited availability and medium to high complexity, it may not be the best choice for casual players or those new to board gaming.

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