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Reiner Knizia's auction game about producing movies. In four rounds, players bid on chips representing genuine directors, actors, camera, effects, music, guest stars and agents (or in Nightmare Productions edition: creatures, locations, directors, musical conductors, cameos, and contractors). These all get placed on players' film-strips to complete the movie production. So one movie might need 2 actors (in editions prior to Nightmare Productions), but no music or effects and so on. As films are completed, the points value is marked and another film-strip taken. There are two parties (in Nightmare Productions edition: horror cons) each round where players get to pick from offers without paying anything. There are bonus points for first films completed and best films, best directors (in Nightmare Productions edition: best creatures), even worst film.
The auction is a basic rising offer with passing until one winning bid remains. Players pay into the pot with contracts (in Nightmare Productions edition: money), and the rest of the players share the pot each turn. So it's a closed economy with players trying to time to bid on what they really need to complete films.
See Movie Comparison - Traumfabrik for listings of movies and actors in each version prior to Nightmare Productions edition.
Note: There have been many editions of the game under varying names. All are identical except for Nightmare Productions edition which has introduced a few changes.
Nightmare Productions Review
- reiner kenitzias so i was incredibly happy to see that the latest big box connection design to be reprinted
- dream factory is a brilliant game
- this free theme just feels perfect for it
- studio executives trying to make the next big horror movie
- movie studios
- Tran fábrique
- Dream Factory
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Auction — you'll be auctioning your brains out trying to win and lose at the right time as you're trying to gather together the right creatures props and music.
- Set Collection — trying to gather together the right creatures props and music.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- it's been a massive week of reprints reskins and new additions but it's the same old me hello i'm matthew and welcome to the board game news
- it will straight up kill you yes absolutely yes
- I'm unreasonably excited about this game
- this is what i want in my life
- frodo's cool vest or sean beans in it
- can you believe it wow
- I have no idea what that is is it cool
- all i know is that in the 90s cartoon gambit was the coolest x-man right that on the show had an absolutely banging thing june
- richard garfield's name always gives me confidence but so does reiner kenitzias
- all i can tell you is that dream factory is a brilliant game
- I'm a big fan which is what us fans of katan call ourselves okay
- the expansion looks amazing
- it certainly is contempting like tempting
- the selection process for the shbielda jairus awards is veiled in an almost secret society type mystery
- my guess was savannah park so i was big time wrong
References (from this video)
- Clever bidding structure with shared spoils
- fun movie-making theme
- parody names may feel gimmicky to some
- unfamiliar theme may limit appeal
- parody/film production with a closed-auction mechanic
- Movie-making with a horror/parody slant
- humorous, movie-production theme with meta-nods
- Kusco (Super Mele)
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Closed auction — auctioning resources with money shared among players
- parody-driven theme — thematic flavor through movie-title parodies and references
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- This is one of the most iconic box covers. I love this game.
- Saddam Hussein is on the cover.
- I learned this before Access Analysis. And I taught Access and Alice.
- This is such a fantastic game.
- Way Out West was ahead of its time.
- Moving water to plants is good.
References (from this video)
- Liked by Tom Vassel
- Horror
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- This is easily on this shelf. The most checked out game. Wonderlands War I see played every time.
- Foundations of Rome despite how big this game is. It gets checked out all the time.
- Everyone's really upset with Grimlord Games cuz they never delivered their last Kickstarter, but another company has picked it up.
- I don't I still don't understand why companies can't put names on the sides of their boxes. Come on now.
- Frostpunk, the board game if you're ready to have a depressing day.
- I think Mosaic is a fantastic civilization game. So fast and easy to play.
- People love Smashup. I have almost everything for Smashup, but it just barely gets played.
- Probably Twilight Imperium is my favorite of all these here, even though I don't play it that much.
- Last Kingdom is a kind of a really fun game from Games based on said TV series. Uh but pretty good. Think Game of Thrones style.
References (from this video)
- Quick gameplay
- Interesting auction mechanism
- Closed money system
- Humorous theme
- Strategic bidding
- Less enjoyable at 5 players
- Tight auction dynamics
- Horror Film Production
- Movie Studio
- Satirical
- Modern Art
- Medici
- Raw
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Auction — Players bid on tokens to complete horror movie productions
- Set Collection — Collecting tokens to complete movie productions
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- It's not like an income phase where you get extra money - it's like you've got what you've got
- You are this very disingenuous movie studio that is just trying to hack together the latest buzzwords in terms of horror movies