Call: Save 'Acquire' from oblivion!

[Guus Geluk]

Dear All,

The summarize my posting, I would like that BGA together with Asmodee buys the rights of 'Acquire' from Avalon Hill. If needed with the help with some fund raising. I am prepared to do some investment.

Why?

Acquire is a classical game that is very playable, also for people that are not hard-core boardgame players. With Christmas or Easter, when my nephews are there, and we propose to play a game, they ask, "Can we play the game with the Hotels?". The rules are relatively easy, they are much shorter than Catan. Still, it is a game with depth, tactics and strategy. Also women like to play the game.

But I am disappointed how the game was treated since its inception:
- There is no consistency in artwork over the years. All versions look totally different.
- Some versions are of poor quality, other versions has suddenly very strange names for the Hotels.
- Although there is no in-game text (except for the Hotel names), the game is only distributed in English. Because of the short length of the rules, it can easily be made with 5 languages per version.
- The last version even deviated from the original game.
- Some rules issue were never properly fixed.

What I think that should be done:
- Make one artwork and stick to it for the coming 50 years.
- Make an "international" version, with rules translated to different languages and appealing for different countries.
- Fix some rule issues.
- Of the new version, make a BGA implementation to give it attention again.

I hope the game will not go into oblivion,

Regards,

Guus Geluk

[MoiMagnus]

It's definitely not BGA's purpose to work on a new edition of a game.

If Hasbro (Acquire's right owners) want their game on BGA and pay for some devs, they will not say no. If any voluntary dev want to code an implementation for this game, and that Hasbro accepts to have their game here, then they will also accept. In both cases, except explicit approval from Hasbro, the implementation will be as close as possible from the last edition of the game.

Asmodee could theoretically buy the ownership, but I doubt they would even consider buying the right over a single game rather than a company, and I doubt Hasbro would sell it.

Since, up to my knowledge (not a lawyer), game mechanics are not subject to copy-right (though art is, and exact words and descriptions might be subject to trademark), it means you might be able to start a kickstarter for the development of a game inspired of Acquire, using similar if not the same mechanics, and with a different art style. On top of monetary support, that would require a lot of work (handling a kickstarter campaign, hiring the artists, etc). After that, this game could be implemented on BGA by voluntary devs.

You might find peoples interested to help you on this forums, but I would be very surprised if BGA itself took any initiative more advanced than contacting Hasbro to ask if they want to put their game here. They're not a company that design games, and will not change into one anytime soon.

Best,
Magnus

[Guus Geluk]

I fully understand, but it is such a pity. So, I hoped to bring someone on an idea with my post.

It is still a very playable and sellable game.

Guus Geluk