Mayfair Games in conjunction with 999 Games is preparing to release Automobile, an elaborate board game designed by Martin Wallace whose Age of Steam won the International Gamers Award in 2003.  Automobile, which has an MSRP of $50, is due out in North America in the third quarter.

Automobile is typical of Wallace’s games in its economic sophistication and its blend of European board game-style game mechanics and a potent historical theme.  The game hearkens back to the early days of the American automobile when inventors, entrepreneurs, and craftsmen created a stunning new industry replete with huge rewards and company-killing pitfalls.  Players have to tap the talents of inventors and innovators such as Ford, Sloan, Kettering, Chrysler, Howard, and Durant.  In their quest to make a fortune building and selling cars the would-be auto magnates have to balance quality and quantity, decide between mass production and premium production, choose innovation or aggressive sales tactics.

Designed to be played in two hours by 3-5 players 13 and up, Automobile is an elaborate and sumptuously produced board game with high quality components including: a full-color game board, 140 automobile tiles, 40 salesmen tiles, 48 factory tiles, 16 demand tiles, 6 character tiles, 40 wood innovation cubes, 50 wood loss cubes, 9 wood special markers, 10 wood player tokens, colorful paper money, and simple full color rules.