Gametime Games (1978, $9.95)
Designer: Richard Barr
Players 2-6
Playing time 1-2 hours
Period 19th Century alternate history
Scale Strategic
Turn not stated
Map abstract areas
Unit fleets and armies

Components
1 12"x12"x2" box
1 23"x23" mounted mapboard
400 die-cut counters
1 4 page rules folder
54 punch-out cards
1 reference card
1 12"x12" sheet advertising the game

Counter Manifest
240 combat units (20 fleets and 20 armies in the 6 country colors)
50 wealth units
40 wealth no. (10xI and 6 each x II-VI)
70 miscellaneous (15 ports; 15 cities; 10 forts; 7 natives; 3 pirates; 20 blanks)

Gametime says:

“Colonial Empires! Grand Imperialism is a lusty and adventurous game of exploration and colonization set in a mythical setting during the nineteenth century. While players must expect to contend with the unexpected, they must also face the constant threat of attack from opponents, pirates on the high seas, and an ever shifting pattern of alliances.

Skill in maneuver as well as in negotiation is called for to win.”

S&T’s Briefing says:

“An expanded version of Richard Barr’s Imperialism, originally published by Flying Buffalo. The board shows a ‘home island’ divided into 12 countries ... Beyond the oceans are 36 more countries ... Each player chooses a county on the home island ... Players in turn move their fleets and armies to reach new lands [which may] contain native resistance ... Wealth units are used for building fortifications, ports (which allow a country’s wealth to be used), cities (which increase the wealth number), armies, and fleets ... Cards, drawn each turn, introduce many other happenings - pirates, storms, rebellions ... There are some rough spots in the rules that players will have to agree on before starting.” --Sid Sackson in S&T 73.

Comments

Five games were released in Heritage’s Gametime line. The games were intended to be introductory level beer & pretzel affairs, and GI represents the height of complexity found in the series. As Sackson indicates, the rules could have used a bit more work. In addition, the reference card describing the effect of cards drawn from the deck appears to have been a complete after thought - it is not listed in the component manifest or pictured in the advertisement for the game.

Collector’s Notes

GI is harder to locate than most of the Gametime games and seems to garner more attention at auction. Boone lists low/high/average prices of 11/40/24.86 at auction and 10/60/28.75 for sale.

Other Gametime Games

Quest, Sopwith, Spellmaker, Star Fighter, & Strange New Worlds.

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