3M bookshelf game series
Encyclopedia
The 3M bookshelf game series was a series of board game
s produced by 3M
from 1962 to 1975. These games were marketed towards adults and were designed to fit onto a standard bookshelf. Each game fit into a slip cover that was made to resemble the spine of a hardcover
book. 3M's catalog described them as "bookcase games, packaged in attractive leather-like slipcases, make a handsome set of volumes for any bookshelf."
The line consisted both of republished classics such as Go
, Chess
and Backgammon
as well as original games designed by freelancer
s, such as Acquire
.
and Sid Sackson
were largely responsible for shaping the direction of the line towards abstract strategy and economic games.
In 1976, 3M was looking to get out of the board game business and sold their entire line to Avalon Hill
, which produced a competing line of bookcase games. Avalon Hill continued to publish the line until 1998, when it was dissolved by its parent company. The Avalon Hill name and properties were subsequently purchased by Hasbro
. Some of the bookshelf games, such as Acquire
, were obtained by Hasbro in the deal. While Acquire was republished by Hasbro/Avalon Hill in a new format, the company has indicated that they have no plans to publish any of the 3M or Avalon Hill bookshelf games.
Some of the games that were not acquired by Hasbro, such as Facts in Five
and Executive Decision have since been published by University Games in a bookshelf format. Like the 3M series, they are designed to mimic the appearance of a large hardcover book, but instead of a slip-case, the games use a magnetic closing flap.
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
s produced by 3M
3M
3M Company , formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation based in Maplewood, Minnesota, United States....
from 1962 to 1975. These games were marketed towards adults and were designed to fit onto a standard bookshelf. Each game fit into a slip cover that was made to resemble the spine of a hardcover
Hardcover
A hardcover, hardback or hardbound is a book bound with rigid protective covers...
book. 3M's catalog described them as "bookcase games, packaged in attractive leather-like slipcases, make a handsome set of volumes for any bookshelf."
The line consisted both of republished classics such as Go
Go (board game)
Go , is an ancient board game for two players that originated in China more than 2,000 years ago...
, Chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
and Backgammon
Backgammon
Backgammon is one of the oldest board games for two players. The playing pieces are moved according to the roll of dice, and players win by removing all of their pieces from the board. There are many variants of backgammon, most of which share common traits...
as well as original games designed by freelancer
Freelancer
A freelancer, freelance worker, or freelance is somebody who is self-employed and is not committed to a particular employer long term. These workers are often represented by a company or an agency that resells their labor and that of others to its clients with or without project management and...
s, such as Acquire
Acquire
Acquire is a board game designed by Sid Sackson.The game was originally published in 1962 by 3M as a part of their bookshelf games series. In most versions, the theme of the game is investing in hotel chains. In the 1990s Hasbro edition, the hotel chains were replaced by generic corporations,...
.
History
3M relied exclusively on freelance designers for the bookshelf game series. Between 400-600 submissions were received every year by the company. These were screened to find unique and interesting games that were connected to any recent trends or fads. Designers like Alex RandolphAlex Randolph
Alexander Randolph was a designer of board games. Randolph's game creations include TwixT, Breakthru, Inkognito , Raj, Ricochet Robot, and Enchanted Forest ....
and Sid Sackson
Sid Sackson
Sid Sackson was a significant American board game designer and collector.His most popular creation is probably the business game Acquire...
were largely responsible for shaping the direction of the line towards abstract strategy and economic games.
In 1976, 3M was looking to get out of the board game business and sold their entire line to Avalon Hill
Avalon Hill
Avalon Hill was a game company that specialized in wargames and strategic board games. Its logo contained its initials "AH", and it was often referred to by this abbreviation. It also published the occasional miniature wargaming rules, role-playing game, and had a popular line of sports simulations...
, which produced a competing line of bookcase games. Avalon Hill continued to publish the line until 1998, when it was dissolved by its parent company. The Avalon Hill name and properties were subsequently purchased by Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
. Some of the bookshelf games, such as Acquire
Acquire
Acquire is a board game designed by Sid Sackson.The game was originally published in 1962 by 3M as a part of their bookshelf games series. In most versions, the theme of the game is investing in hotel chains. In the 1990s Hasbro edition, the hotel chains were replaced by generic corporations,...
, were obtained by Hasbro in the deal. While Acquire was republished by Hasbro/Avalon Hill in a new format, the company has indicated that they have no plans to publish any of the 3M or Avalon Hill bookshelf games.
Some of the games that were not acquired by Hasbro, such as Facts in Five
Facts in Five
Facts in Five: The Game of Knowledge is a trivia game for up to five players published in 1967 by the 3M Company as part of its bookshelf game series, though it was originally published by Advanced Ideas Co of Arlington, MA. Rights to the game were acquired in 1976 by Avalon Hill, which published...
and Executive Decision have since been published by University Games in a bookshelf format. Like the 3M series, they are designed to mimic the appearance of a large hardcover book, but instead of a slip-case, the games use a magnetic closing flap.
List of games
- AcquireAcquireAcquire is a board game designed by Sid Sackson.The game was originally published in 1962 by 3M as a part of their bookshelf games series. In most versions, the theme of the game is investing in hotel chains. In the 1990s Hasbro edition, the hotel chains were replaced by generic corporations,...
- BackgammonBackgammonBackgammon is one of the oldest board games for two players. The playing pieces are moved according to the roll of dice, and players win by removing all of their pieces from the board. There are many variants of backgammon, most of which share common traits...
- BaseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
- Bazaar
- BreakthruBreakthru (board game)Breakthru is an abstract strategy board game for two players, designed by Alex Randolph and commercially released by 3M Company in 1965, as part of the 3M bookshelf game series. The game has been compared to Chess and Fox and Hounds, although it shows more characteristics of the Tafl games of the...
- Challenge Bridge
- Challenge Football
- Challenge Golf at Pebble Beach
- ChessChessChess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
- ContigoContigoContigo is a 1974 board game designed by Frank Thibault and published by 3M as part of their bookshelf game line. The game is playable by between 2 and 4 players, and is similar to both Mancala and Checkers.-External links:*...
- Events
- Executive Decision
- Facts in FiveFacts in FiveFacts in Five: The Game of Knowledge is a trivia game for up to five players published in 1967 by the 3M Company as part of its bookshelf game series, though it was originally published by Advanced Ideas Co of Arlington, MA. Rights to the game were acquired in 1976 by Avalon Hill, which published...
- FeudalFeudal (game)Feudal is a chess-like board wargame originally published by 3M Company in 1967 as part of its bookshelf game series. It was kept in print by Avalon Hill after they purchased 3M's game division, until Avalon Hill was in turn bought by Hasbro. The object of the game is to either occupy one's...
- Foil
- High Bid
- HockeyHockeyHockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
- GoGo (board game)Go , is an ancient board game for two players that originated in China more than 2,000 years ago...
- ImageImage (board game)Image is a board game developed by 3M released in 1971. The object of the game is to put together cards that represent an image, a description of a famous person....
- Jumpin
- Mr. President
- Oh-Wah-ReeOh-Wah-ReeOh-Wah-Ree is a 1962 board game designed by Alex Randolph and published by 3M as part of their bookshelf game line. A variant of mancala, the game is playable by between 2 and 4 players...
- Phlounder
- PloyPloy (board game)Ploy is an abstract strategy board game for two or four players, commercially released by 3M Company in 1970, as part of the 3M bookshelf game series. The game is said to have a “chess-like feel.” As in chess, the game features several types of pieces, each with their own moving capabilities. The...
- Point of LawPoint of LawPoint of Law is a game in the 3M bookshelf game series. It was designed by Michel Lipman and published in 1972. The game includes a book giving summaries of one hundred real-life court cases, each with four possible outcomes. The players discuss the case, then each decides which of the outcomes is...
- Quinto
- Stocks & Bonds
- TwixTTwixTTwixT is a two-player abstract strategy game invented by Alex Randolph. It is a member of the connection game family, along with games such as Hex, Havannah, Y, PÜNCT and *Star...