Startup Fever (2012) Board Game

Startup Fever is a board game that was released in 2012 by Meetpoint LLC. Designed by Louis Perrochon and illustrated by Gary Simpson, this game falls into the dice and economic category, with gameplay revolving around area majority and influence, as well as dice rolling mechanics. With a runtime of about 120 minutes and suitable for players aged 14 and above, Startup Fever can accommodate 2 to 6 players, making it a great choice for game nights with friends and family.

Game Components of Startup Fever

Game board

Employee cards (engineers, sales, executives)

Product cards

Money tokens

User tokens

Event cards

How To Setup Startup Fever

To set up the game, players start by placing the game board in the middle of the playing area. Each player chooses a starting company and receives a set amount of money and initial employees. The product cards, employee cards, and event cards are shuffled and placed within reach of all players. The game is ready to begin once each player has their starting resources.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Resource Management: Players manage money and employees.

Worker Placement: Allocating employees to different tasks.

Area Control: Competing for users through product showdowns.

Poaching: Hiring employees away from other players.

Game Objective

The objective is to obtain the largest number of users across all products by the end of the game. Players achieve this by investing in engineers to improve products, hiring sales employees to generate money, and strategically poaching employees from other players.

Player Experience

In Startup Fever, players take on the roles of company founders in Silicon Valley, navigating the challenges of building and maintaining a successful startup. The game starts with a frantic hiring phase, followed by intense competition as players poach employees and engage in product showdowns. The game’s outcome can be influenced by bad luck or unforeseen events, adding an element of unpredictability.

Pros

Engaging theme that simulates the startup environment

Dynamic gameplay with multiple strategies

Interactive elements like poaching add a fun and competitive layer

Suitable for a range of player counts (2-6)

Cons

Long playing time (120 minutes)

Complexity may be overwhelming for new players

Luck and events can significantly impact strategy

Personal Thoughts on Startup Fever

Startup Fever is ideal for players who enjoy strategic resource management and competitive gameplay. It is particularly suited for those interested in the startup culture and the challenges associated with it. The game’s length and complexity make it more appealing to experienced board game enthusiasts rather than casual players. If you’re looking for a game that combines strategic depth with a unique theme, Startup Fever is definitely worth considering.

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