The London Cabbie Game or Cabbie is a board game designed by David Drakes and first published by Intellect Games in 1971.[1][2] Players drive taxicabs through the streets of London, with the winner being the player who accumulates the most tips and fares in a specified time limit.[3]
| Designers | David Drakes |
|---|---|
| Publishers | |
| Publication | 1971 |
| Players | 2-6 |
| Playing time | 120 minutes |
| Age range | 12+ |
Gameplay
editLondon Cabbie is played on a board showing a map of the major streets of central London, which shows the one-way and two-way roads and simulates traffic jams.[4] Five face-up passenger cards are laid out, which can be taken and replaced when a passenger is picked up by a player's taxi.
Players start with one taxi token which they can move each turn by spending up to 20 movement points. Later, players can acquire a second taxi, although it shares movement points with the first. Cabs cannot move through other cabs, which can block one-way streets, and the rules of the road (denoted by arrows on the board) must be followed.[5]
Upon picking up a passenger, a player must draw a destination card and drop off the passenger at that location. Depending on the distance of the journey, a fare is paid to the player from a chart listed on the game board. Additionally, the player draws a tip card when the trip is completed. Each taxi can only have one passenger at a time.
The winner is the player with the most money earned in a specified time, with this time limit is decided by the players.
Reception
editBarty Philips, reviewing for The Observer, said that London Cabbie has "excellent design [and a] remarkably good quality board."[6] In a review for Games & Puzzles magazine, Eric Solomon described the game as "a really beautiful concept which is not used to full."[5]
The game is on display at the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Cabbie", Games & Puzzles (20), Punch Publications Ltd: 16, December 1973,
Inventor: David Drakes
- ^ "London Cabbie Game | Board Game | The Dice Tower | The Dice Tower". www.dicetower.com. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ "Long Grove toy store offers quality, selection". The Herald. 13 December 1974. p. 115. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ Horace, Sutton (21 December 1975). "Christmas gift ideas for travelers". Chicago Tribune: 74.
- ^ a b Solomon, Eric (June 1974). "Games View; Cabbie". Games & Puzzles (25): 20 – via archive.org.
- ^ Philips, Barty (9 December 1973). "Games". The Observer. p. 29. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- ^ Peter Watts. "Taxi! and London Cabbie". London board games.
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