''Time Tripper'' is a science fiction board game published by

Simulations Publications, Inc. Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI) was an American publisher of board wargames and related magazines, particularly its flagship ''Strategy & Tactics'', in the 1970s and early 1980s. It produced an enormous number of games and introduced innovati ...

(SPI) in 1980.

Gameplay

''Time Tripper'' is a game for 1-4 players, where each player controls a

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...

era American GI who inaccurately manipulates the time flux and is transported to a significant battle in either the past or the future. If he survives the battle, the soldier then tries re-manipulate the time flux, either returning to his own time, or being randomly transported to another battle. The game includes a box, a rulebook, a map with two time displays (for the past and future) that include 36 "time locations", and counters for the soldiers, their equipment, and the creatures and soldiers they encounter.

Reception

In the September 1980 edition of ''

The Space Gamer ''The Space Gamer'' was a magazine dedicated to the subject of science fiction and fantasy board games and tabletop role-playing games. It quickly grew in importance and was an important and influential magazine in its subject matter from the la ...

'' (Issue No. 31), Keith Gross admired the refreshingly novel nature of ''Time Tripper'', saying, " tis one of the few non-Swords-and-Sorcery fantasy games. Its design is highly innovative. ''Timetripper'' is highly recommended for all fantasy or s-f gamers who want to try something out of the ordinary." In the October 1980 edition of '' Dragon'' (Issue 42), Tony Watson also liked the innovative nature of the game, as well as its value as a solitaire game: "''Time Tripper'' is a fun game. The idea is novel, the encounters are interesting without taking themselves too seriously, and the game is varied enough so that it never gets boring. It’s also a fine solitaire game, and that’s a big plus for those gamers who have a difficult time meeting with opponents."

Awards

At the 1981

Origins Awards The Origins Awards are American awards for outstanding work in the game industry. They are presented by the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design at the Origins Game Fair on an annual basis for the previous year, so (for example) the 1979 aw ...

, ''Timetripper'' was a finalist for the

Charles S. Roberts Award The Charles S. Roberts Awards (or CSR Awards) is an annual award for excellence in the historical wargaming hobby. It was named in honor of Charles S. Roberts the "Father of Wargaming" who founded Avalon Hill. The award is informally called a "Ch ...

for "Best Fantasy or Science-Fiction Board Game of 1980."

Other reviews and commentary

*'' The Wargamer'' Vol.1 #17 *''Campaign'' #101 *''

Richard Berg's Review of Games ''Richard Berg's Review of Games'' was a wargaming review magazine edited by Richard Berg and first published in 1980 by Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI). Contents ''Richard Berg's Review of Games'' was a slim professionally produced fanzin ...

'' #5

References

{{reflist Board games introduced in 1980 Cooperative board games Simulations Publications games