Mobile Markets: A Smartphone Inc. Game (2021) Board Game

Mobile Markets: A Smartphone Inc. Game is a board game released in 2021 by Cosmodrome Games. Designed by Ivan Lashin and featuring artwork by Viktor Miller Gausa, this game is set in the world of smartphone manufacturing and economic competition. Players take on the roles of smartphone companies, aiming to dominate the market by developing innovative technologies, expanding production capabilities, and outmaneuvering their rivals.

Game Components of Mobile Markets: A Smartphone Inc. Game

4 Corporation Boards

4 Pairs of Planning Pads

5 Starting Feature Cards

6 Starting Technology Cards

4 Double-sided Reference Cards

20 Player Markers (5 per player)

Game Board (in 4 parts)

Scoring Track

2 Setup Cards

1 Phase marker

12 Progress Tokens

12 Discount Tokens

108 Customer Cards

15 Event Cards

30 Technology Cards

30 Marketing Campaign Cards

30 Feature Cards

16 Steve Jr Cards.

How To Setup Mobile Markets: A Smartphone Inc. Game

To set up the game, players start by assembling the game board and distributing the Corporation Boards and Planning Pads. Each player receives starting Feature and Technology Cards, and the Customer Cards are shuffled and placed within reach. The game also involves setting up the Scoring Track, Phase marker, and other tokens. The setup is designed to be more compact compared to its predecessor, using a card-based system instead of a large map.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Action Queue: Players use action boards to plan their moves.

Deck, Bag, and Pool Building: Building decks and pools of cards for technologies and marketing.

Layering: Combining different components to optimize strategies.

Card Drafting: Selecting customer cards to fulfill specific demands.

Simultaneous Action Selection: Players make secret actions to optimize their plans.

Turn Order: Stat-Based: Turn order determined by player stats.

Objective: The goal is to earn more money than competitors by selling smartphones, researching technologies, launching marketing campaigns, and managing production and sales efficiently. The player with the most accumulated wealth wins.

Player Experience

In **Mobile Markets: A Smartphone Inc. Game**, players take on the role of CEOs of multinational consumer electronics companies, competing to sell the most smartphones. The game requires strategic planning, including pricing strategies, technology research, marketing campaigns, and production management. Players must balance the costs of adding features to their smartphones with the need to fulfill customer demands. The game offers a realistic depiction of the smartphone industry, with a focus on nett profit and direct sales to customers through a card drafting system.

Pros

Strategic Depth: Offers more complexity and strategic planning compared to its predecessor.

Realistic Market Simulation: Pricing and production management reflect real-world market dynamics.

Compact Design: More streamlined and compact compared to the original game.

Variety in Customer Demands: Customer cards provide diverse and changing demands, keeping the game dynamic.

Competitive: Encourages cut-throat competition among players.

Cons

Complexity: May be overwhelming for new players due to the depth of mechanics.

Lengthy Setup: While more compact, the setup still requires some time and effort.

Steep Learning Curve: Requires multiple plays to fully grasp all the strategies and mechanics.

Personal Thoughts on Mobile Markets: A Smartphone Inc. Game

**Mobile Markets: A Smartphone Inc. Game** is ideal for fans of economic and strategy board games, particularly those who enjoyed **Smartphone Inc.** The game’s complexity and depth make it more suited for experienced players who enjoy managing resources, researching technologies, and executing marketing campaigns. It is a great addition to any board game collection for those who appreciate a Challenge and a realistic market simulation. If you’re looking for a game that combines strategic planning with competitive elements, **Mobile Markets** is definitely worth considering.

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