Chinatown

1999

Experience the thrill of city development and strategic trading in this game. Acquire, build, and expand businesses for bigger payouts, in the #2 Alea big box series game.

60
minutes

3 - 5
player(s)

12+

Medium

About the game

Chinatown is an intriguing board game that invites you to step into the bustling and vibrant world of 1960s New York City, specifically the spirited neighborhood of Chinatown. This game brings a unique blend of negotiation, strategy, and planning that immerses players in the role of an entrepreneur seeking to build a prosperous business empire.

The game setting transports players to a time where the energy of New York is pulsating, and the opportunity to make it big is around every corner. The board showcases a detailed map of Chinatown, divided into various plots of land that players can acquire, develop, and trade to enhance their wealth.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Chinatown is an exciting board game that simulates the experience of building and investing in businesses in New York’s Chinatown during the 1960s. The game’s components and their functions are as follows:

1. Game Board: The game board is a map of New York’s Chinatown in the 1960s. It is divided into six blocks, each containing different quantities of building lots. The game board is used to place shops and businesses.

2. Ownership markers: Ownership markers are used to indicate which player owns a particular building lot. Each player has a set of ownership markers in a specific colour.

3. Year Cards: There are 6 Year Cards in the game. These cards define the order of play and determine the number of lots and business tiles each player will get at the beginning of each year (round).

4. Business Tiles: There are 85 business tiles in the game, representing different types of businesses. These tiles are used to establish businesses on the game board. The larger the business, the more income it generates.

5. Money: The game includes fake money, which is used to make deals, buy and sell properties, and determine the winner. The player with the most money at the end of the game wins.

6. Lot Cards: There are 85 lot cards in the game, each corresponding to a building lot on the game board. These cards determine the lots a player can claim at the beginning of each round.

The interaction between these components creates a dynamic game of negotiation and strategy. Players use lot cards to claim building lots, mark them with their ownership markers, and then establish businesses on these lots using business tiles. The goal is to amass as much money as possible by strategically placing businesses, making deals with other players, and investing wisely.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Chinatown is a strategic board game where players assume the role of entrepreneurs in New York City’s Chinatown during the 1960s. The goal of the game is to develop businesses and earn the most money. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game:

Step 1: Board Placement

Place the game board in the center of the table where it’s accessible to all players. The board is a map of Chinatown, divided into six areas numbered from 1 to 6, and each area contains a number of lots.

Step 2: Player Roles

Each player chooses a color and takes the corresponding player tokens and player board of that color. The player board will be used to manage their businesses.

Step 3: Initial Resources

Shuffle the business tiles and deal five to each player. Players can look at their own tiles but should keep them hidden from others. Each player also receives a set amount of money, with the amount depending on the number of players in the game:

For 3 players: $50,000 each
For 4 players: $40,000 each
For 5 players: $32,000 each

Step 4: Random Elements

Shuffle the Year cards and place them in a stack face down. Draw the top card and place it face up next to the stack. This card determines the order of play and the number of lots each player receives for the first year.

Step 5: Lot Draw

Each player draws the number of lot cards indicated by the Year card. These lots represent properties in Chinatown that players can develop businesses on. The lot cards are kept hidden from other players.

Step 6: Business Placement

Starting with the first player and proceeding clockwise, each player can establish one of their businesses on their lots by placing a business tile on their player board.

Now the game is set up and ready to be played!

Game flow Round and round we go

Chinatown is an engaging board game that tests players’ negotiation and strategy skills. The game progresses over six rounds with each round being divided into five phases: Card Drawing Phase, Property Trading Phase, Business Establishment Phase, Income Phase, and Round Advancement Phase. Each phase involves specific actions from the players which are explained below:

1. Card Drawing Phase:

At the start of each round, players draw two property cards each from the deck.
Then, the players draw a number of business tiles from a bag. The number of tiles drawn depends on the round number. For example, in the first round, five tiles are drawn, in the second round, six tiles, and so on.

2. Property Trading Phase:

During this phase, players negotiate and trade their property cards and business tiles with each other.
There are no hard rules for trading, and players can make any offers or deals they wish.

3. Business Establishment Phase:

Once the trading phase is over, players can establish their businesses on the properties they own.
To establish a business, a player must place a series of matching tiles on adjacent properties. The size of the business depends on the number of matching tiles placed together.

4. Income Phase:

During the income phase, players earn money based on the businesses they have established.
The income depends on the size of the business and its type, as indicated on the income track on the game board.

5. Round Advancement Phase:

Finally, the round marker is moved forward to the next round, and a new round begins starting once again with the card drawing phase.
The game continues in this manner for six rounds, after which the player with the most money is declared the winner.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

During a player’s turn in the board game ‘Chinatown’, the player can engage in a number of actions that can have a significant impact on the outcome of the game. These actions and strategic choices are as follows:

1. Draw Business Tiles

At the start of each round, each player draws a certain number of business tiles from the bag. The number of tiles drawn depends on the number of players in the game. This action can impact the player’s strategy by determining what businesses they can potentially open or expand.

2. Draw Building Cards

After drawing business tiles, each player draws a certain number of building cards. The number of cards drawn depends on the number of players in the game. These cards indicate the lots on the board where the player can place their businesses. This action can affect a player’s strategy by dictating where they can place their businesses.

3. Negotiate with Other Players

After all players have drawn their business tiles and building cards, they can negotiate with each other to trade their tiles and cards. This action is a crucial part of the game and can affect a player’s strategy significantly. Players can negotiate to trade tiles and cards that are beneficial to them, potentially setting them up for success in future rounds.

4. Place Businesses

After the negotiation phase, players can place their businesses on the board. The placement of businesses is a strategic decision that can impact a player’s income and potential to expand their businesses. Placing businesses adjacent to each other can increase their value, while spreading businesses out can provide a more diverse income stream.

5. Earn Income

At the end of each round, players earn income based on the businesses they have on the board. The amount of income earned depends on the size and type of the businesses. This action can affect a player’s strategy by providing them with the funds needed to expand their businesses or negotiate more favorable trades in future rounds.

Through these actions and strategic choices, players attempt to maximize their income and gain the most money by the end of the game.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

Chinatown is a strategic board game where players try to build successful businesses in New York’s bustling Chinatown. The game ends after the sixth round, and the player with the most money wins the game.

The game is divided into six rounds or years, with each year consisting of four phases: the card phase, the trading phase, the building phase, and the income phase. After the sixth year, the game ends and final scoring is calculated. Here is a detailed breakdown of the phases:

Card Phase: At the beginning of each round, players receive a number of cards equal to the year number. Each card represents a plot of land in Chinatown. Players must place their ownership markers on the corresponding spaces on the game board.
Trading Phase: During this phase, players can trade plots and business tiles among themselves. There are no rules for trading, everything is allowed as long as both players agree to the deal.
Building Phase: Once the trading phase has ended, players can build businesses on their plots. Each business needs a specific number of adjacent plots to be complete and to generate income.
Income Phase: Players receive money based on their built businesses. The larger the business, the more money it generates.

At the end of the sixth year, the game ends. No further actions are required from the players other than to count their money. The player with the most money is declared the winner. If there is a tie, the player with the most individual businesses wins. If there is still a tie, the player with the most plots wins. If there is still a tie, the win is shared.

It is worth noting that all transactions are binding, and players must honor their deals. This includes trades and promises made during the trading phase. Players are also not allowed to give or lend money to other players outside of agreed trades.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

‘Chinatown’ is a strategy board game where players aim to score the highest possible points through business development in New York City’s Chinatown during the 1960s. The game has a unique scoring system based on the types of businesses players manage to establish and grow. Below are the detailed steps for scoring in ‘Chinatown’.

Scoring during the game:

Each round, players can earn money based on the size of their businesses. A business is considered complete when it fills all the spaces it is designed to occupy. Incomplete businesses do not earn any money.
The earnings from these businesses are calculated based on a chart provided in the game. For example, a photo shop that occupies three spaces would earn $30,000, while a factory occupying six spaces would earn $120,000.

Scoring at the end of the game:

At the end of the game, players convert all their remaining money into points, with $10,000 equaling 1 point.
The player with the most points is declared the winner. In the event of a tie, the player with the most individual businesses wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who had the least starting money at the beginning of the game wins. This is to reward efficient use of resources.

Understanding the scoring system in ‘Chinatown’ is critical to developing a winning strategy. Players must balance the need to earn money each round with the goal of growing their businesses to earn more points at the end of the game.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Chinatown is a strategy board game where players buy, sell, and swap properties in order to build the most profitable businesses. However, there are several special rules and exceptions that can affect gameplay:

1. The Initial Deal:

At the start of the game, each player is dealt a hand of cards that represent properties. It’s important to note that the distribution of these cards is not perfectly balanced – some players may receive more valuable properties than others. This is a fundamental part of the game’s design and is meant to encourage negotiation and deal-making.

2. Business Placement:

A player can choose to place a business tile on any property they own, regardless of where it is on the board. However, once a business tile is placed, it cannot be moved or replaced. This means that if a player places a business tile on a property and then later acquires a better location for that business, they cannot move the tile.

3. Trading:

Players are allowed to trade properties, business tiles, and money. All trades must be agreed upon by both parties and all terms must be fulfilled immediately. It’s important to note that players cannot make future promises or agreements – everything must be settled right away.

4. Income Calculation:

At the end of each round, players earn money based on the businesses they’ve built. However, the value of a business is determined by the number of adjacent businesses of the same type, not the total number of businesses a player owns. Therefore, it’s often more valuable to build multiple businesses of the same type together, rather than spreading them out across the board.

5. Game End:

The game ends after the 6th round, and the player with the most money wins. However, it’s important to note that unspent money is not counted towards a player’s final score – only the income generated by their businesses. Therefore, it’s not beneficial to hoard money without investing it in businesses.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Chinatown is a classic board game that involves strategy, negotiation, and planning. To truly excel at this game, it’s important to understand and implement various strategies, avoid common mistakes, and optimize gameplay. Below are some tips and tricks to help you master the game:

Advanced Strategies:

Leverage the power of negotiation: Chinatown is a game that heavily relies on negotiation. Always keep in mind that every deal you make can significantly impact your game. Therefore, always try to negotiate deals that are in your favor.
Plan ahead: In Chinatown, you must plan your moves in advance. Try to predict your opponent’s moves and plan your strategy accordingly. This will give you an edge in the game.
Optimize your building placements: The placement of your buildings can make or break your game. Always try to place your buildings in a way that maximizes your earnings.

Beginner Tips:

Understand the rules: Before you start playing the game, make sure you understand the rules. This will help you to make better decisions during the game.
Start small: As a beginner, it’s recommended to start with smaller deals. This will help you to understand the game mechanics and to build your confidence.
Learn from others: Watch and learn from other players. This will help you to pick up new strategies and tactics.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Not negotiating effectively: One of the common mistakes players make is not negotiating effectively. Always remember that every deal is an opportunity to gain an advantage. Therefore, always negotiate with a clear goal in mind.
Ignoring the importance of building placements: Another common mistake is ignoring the importance of building placements. The placement of your buildings significantly impacts your earnings. So, always pay careful attention to where you place your buildings.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Stay focused: Always stay focused on your game. This will help you to make better decisions and to respond effectively to your opponent’s moves.
Practice regularly: Like any other game, practice makes perfect. The more you play, the better you’ll get at the game. So, always make time to practice.