Hobbies And Interests
"Gangster"
Set in 1920s Chicago, "Gangster" puts players in the roles of rival bosses vying for control of the city. A game of "Gangster" is divided into three rounds, or days, in which players drive through Chicago and station their henchmen in locations to gain influence in the city's various districts. Players can capture the gangsters of rival players and treat them to a "Sicilian breakfast" -- that is, dump them in Lake Michigan. "Gangster," which is designed for two to five players ages 10 and older, typically takes 90 minutes to complete.
"Blood Feud in New York"
The five boroughs (and parts of New Jersey) are up for grabs in "Blood Feud in New York." Players start with a single boss and five family members, then seek to expand their territory by battling opponents and accumulating thugs, henchmen, limousines and even helicopters. Each player's crew is represented by pieces of a different color that move around the game board. When rival units meet in the same location, the players battle it out by rolling 10-sided dice, and the player with the higher roll is the victor. The ultimate goal is to eliminate rival bosses, and thus the players who control them, and be the last boss standing at the end. "Blood Feud" requires strategic thinking and is meant for two to six players ages 12 and older. With so much involved (and at stake), a game of "Blood Feud" can last three hours or longer.
"Mob City"
The Don's health is failing, and he's looking for a successor. In "Mob City," players serve as captains who battle for the top job. In each game round, the players bid for privileges -- gunmen, weapons, corrupt policemen and bootleg liquor -- and acquire property in the neighborhoods of Chicago. Captains engage in shootouts over territory disputes, using their privileges to resolve fights. Once the Don passes away, his secret will is read to the players. The person with the most notoriety, or the one with the most cash, wins the game. "Mob City" is for two to six players and takes about two hours.
"Family Business"
In "Family Business," each player runs a family of nine gang members and attempts to...eliminate the competition. When a contract is taken out on a mobster, he goes on the hit list, but players can use beneficial rescue cards, like police protection, to save their gang member from a gruesome fate. When a certain number of mobsters end up on the hit list, or particular action cards are played, the mobsters get rubbed out, one by one. Any player who loses all of her mobsters is out of the game, and the last family with live gang members wins. "Family Business" lasts about 30 minutes and is for two to six players ages 8 and older.