Albany - The board game
All About Albany circa 1981
If you liked "Let's Have a Party Albany," you might get a kick out of this.
This week All Over Albany was introduced to All About Albany -- the 1981 board game.
Mousse up, put on your Don Johnson jacket, and lets take a little trip in the way back machine.
Our friends Paul and Eric over at Zone 5 called us about this vintage Albany board game when Paul found it in his grandmothers attic. It was created in 1981 by a company called All About Town Inc. Basically they created a prototype game and adapted it for different cities around the country for use as a marketing tool. We've found references to All About Racine, All About Jefferson City, All About Buffalo and others.
The board is a map of A-Town. Each player lives in a neighborhood and gets a shopping list. The goal is to complete your list by traveling around the city. If the review of All About Harrisburg is anything to go by -- well-- lets just say it was no state budget video game. But nearly 30 years later, it's kind of a trip to check out some of the old stores and logos.
The game comes with coupons for things like Big Dom's meatball torpedoes -- sadly, no longer redeemable, as Big Dom's no longer exists.
The Chambers Restaurant is on the map-- it's now The Dublin Underground (in between it was Savannah's).
99 "the lite" WGFM is now The River. Owens Corning Fiberglass is there, as is a place called the Modern Food Market, Marine Midland Bank and someplace called Your Kitchen.
Those of you who are old enough to remember some of the establishments long gone -- share please.
Here's a look at the board:
Say Something!
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Comments
Can we get links to full res images of the game board?
... said Go Phish on Apr 23, 2010 at 4:32 PM | link
I had a roommate who was somehow connected with the Syracuse version, but that's about as much as I remember about it. I remember the Big Dom's logo, but am pretty sure I never ate there. AM/PM was a convenience store format for ARCO (Atlantic Richfield, or Atlantic), which no longer sells gas in the region. WWOM stood for "Wonderful World of Music," and thought elevator music was a little too edgy.
Definitely, more scans!
... said CJ on Apr 23, 2010 at 6:03 PM | link
Was it just one prototype that existed? I swear my family had one growing up (I was a child of the 80''s.)
... said ashallann on Apr 24, 2010 at 8:14 PM | link
How do I get my mitts on that?
... said Summer on Apr 25, 2010 at 2:33 PM | link
I'd love to see a larger photo of the board!
... said Paul on Apr 26, 2010 at 12:31 PM | link
wow, that's so funny that there's an article about this...i just saw this game at my aunt's house yesterday (for the first time)! i believe she's selling it at a garage sale this weekend!
... said Jon on Apr 27, 2010 at 12:13 PM | link
This is far cooler than the "Albany in a Box" Monopoly-knock-off game that I reluctantly saved from the trash during my last move.
... said Kiera on Apr 27, 2010 at 4:55 PM | link
I have one for sale if anyone is interested. Make an offer...
... said Susan on May 1, 2010 at 6:21 PM | link
I have a mint condition, never played, Columbus version that I would like to sell
... said G on Jan 19, 2011 at 12:46 AM | link
I have this same game but it is for Portland, Maine. Mine has the same board and game pieces. Missing the directions but mine has a fold out map of the city to go with it. I just bought this one 3 months ago at a yard sale and would be interested to find the directions to play it. I have 3 other games that are all spin offs of Monoply. One each for the Maine towns of Portland, Bangor, and August. Found your post while looking for the directions to play. Neat.
... said Dawn on Dec 4, 2011 at 8:32 PM | link