The Big Idea (2011) Board Game

The Big Idea is a party game that was released in 2011 by James Ernest and published by Arclight Games. It is designed for 3-6 players, with the best experience being with 5-6 players. The game revolves around players coming up with wacky inventions and pitching them to investors in order to make the most profit.

Game Components of The Big Idea

Item cards: These are the blue cards containing nouns.

Description cards: These are the green cards with adjectives.

Vote cards: Including reward and blank cards.

High-quality, full-color illustrated cards: Packaged in a nice box[3.).

How To Setup The Big Idea

To set up the game, each player starts by drawing a set of vote cards, including one metal card and enough blank cards for all other players. Each player then draws three description cards and three item cards. If a player is not satisfied with their cards, they can discard and redraw, but must keep the second hand. This process ensures each player has a varied set of cards to work with.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Card Combination: Players combine any number of adjective and noun cards to create a unique invention.

Pitching: Players take turns pitching their inventions to the group, mimicking venture capitalist presentations.

Voting: Players secretly vote on which invention they think is the best by giving a reward card to the chosen invention and blank cards to the others.

Winning the Round: The player who collects the most rewards wins the round.

Game Objective: The player with the fewest penalty cards ( blanks ) at the end of the game wins, indicating they had the fewest “busts” as an inventor.

Player Experience

Playing The Big Idea is an engaging and humorous experience, especially with creative and outgoing groups. The game encourages players to think on their feet and come up with silly, often nonsensical inventions. The voting system adds an element of surprise and social interaction, as players must convince others of the merits of their ideas. It’s a great game for those who enjoy improvisation and laughter, similar to the atmosphere of shows like Shark Tank.

Pros

Creative Freedom: Allows players to come up with inventive and humorous ideas.

Social Interaction: Encourages lively discussions and pitching.

High-Quality Components: The 2011 edition features full-color illustrated cards and a nice packaging.

Quick Gameplay: Games typically last around 25 minutes.

Cons

Not for Everyone: May not be suitable for quiet or shy players.

Subjective Voting: Voting can be random and influenced by personal biases rather than the quality of the pitch.

Limited Strategy: The game is more about creativity and humor than complex strategy.

Personal Thoughts on The Big Idea

The Big Idea is perfect for groups that enjoy creative humor and social interaction. It’s a great party game that can bring people out of their shell and encourage laughter and creativity. While it may not be the best fit for those who prefer strategic games, it shines in its ability to entertain and engage players in a light-hearted and fun way. If you have a group that can handle silly combinations and tell funny stories, this game is an excellent addition to your game collection.

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