One of the multitude of releases from Germany this year, Chinatown was in the group of games from which much was expected. It is the second release of the new Alea label from Ravensburger and the hope was that the new range would deliver on the pre-match publicity.

The packaging looks interesting -- somewhat reminiscent of the FX Schmid range (now also part of the Ravensburger empire) that included Trade in the 1970's. Polished and professionally produced.

The game itself takes place on a board that opens up to reveal 6 city blocks of New York in a 3 by 2 arrangement. Each block has between 15 and 18 smaller squares in it. These are numbered from 1 to 79 and represent building lots where players may place their shops. All players receive numbered cards which correspond to specific building plots and which when played allow the property tiles to be placed. Income is earned from these tiles with the winner being the person with the most money. All players receive some starting cash to assist trading early on in the game.

The game is played over 6 rounds. Each player receives a quantity of numbered building lot cards and may play all but two face down. These cards are then revealed and marked on the board with a marker in the player's colour to signify the current owner of the block. Now players decide what properties to place on the blocks they have acquired. The property tiles are mixed face down and players draw a number (determined by the number of players and the round number, like the building lot cards). There are 11 different types of property and each property tile has a number on it representing the number of tiles that must be linked orthogonally in order for the property to be complete. For example, the fireworks factory requires 5 linked tiles. This number also serves as a reminder as to the total number of each property in the tile mix -- three more than the number on the property.

This would all be very straightforward except that you have no idea what building lot cards will be played and the range of properties drawn means that you are unlikely to have more than two of one type. Thus begins the most important session of each round -- the trading. I felt that my games would be a bit like trading in Pit, except there is no time pressure and you have to wait to deal with other players. Certainly the noise generation was present, but with a little more persuasion thrown in. Very often there are times when you listen to the range of deals being offered and can come in as a middle man.

Deals can be constructed in virtually any way you like, so you might offer the fireworks factory from your hand for a Chinese laundry providing that another person gives you building lot number 38. The lots with the constructed properties themselves can change hands in later rounds, which can be advantageous. You also have to be careful because you might think that all sequential building lot cards are adjacent. They're not because of the road system and the way the pattern of numbers is set on the board. Cash can also be exchanged to balance off deals. This deal round can last up to 10 minutes, but by then everybody has had a chance to deal and the maximum amount of possible trading has taken place.

Tiles are then placed on the board and money is received for incomplete and completed properties. Naturally the complete ones offer a premium, but you will have considered this when you traded (won't you?). The game only lasts 6 rounds, and there is a degree of acceleration towards the end as building lots and property tiles limit the options. The frustration that one person may feel as they await the availability of a particular tile (which would complete a 6 tile set -- the largest) can and is often heard. If you are one of those people who hold back tiles to frustrate an opponent, then this could be the game for you. But beware! The clever system of replenishing up to a fixed number of building lot cards means holding back cards is likely to limit your own options. In my first half dozen games of this I have learnt that it is better to trade than be an isolationist or construct trade barriers. (No banana wars here, sir!) The game provides cards with the scoring charts, which are pretty simple and enable you to better barter a deal with cash compensation.

So did the game deliver on the pre-match hype? I would say yes and that it gives the tile layers another game on which to ponder, a game where much of the success depends on your trading ability rather than on the luck of the draw. If you are one of those quiet retiring types, get a game of Pit under your belt first and then you will be warmed up for Chinatown!