Game designer Matt Leacock is tackling the 1960s British cult TV favorite “Supermarionation” series Thunderbirds as his next game design. The details are sketchy at best but the game will be a co-operative effort and no doubt the players (I’ll guess two to six?) will each take on the role of one of the Thunderbirds team. I have to say it’s pretty cool Modiphius Entertainment is looking to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the TV series with the game and, if Leacock’s previous designs are an indication, this should be a title with just enough meat to engage long time gamers while also providing an easy in road to those newer to the hobby.
From Modiphius:
Modiphius Entertainment is proud to announce a licensing deal with ITV Studios Global Entertainment to develop a co-operative tabletop board game based on the classic 1960s’ television series Thunderbirds.
Set in the year 2065, Thunderbirds follows the exploits of International Rescue: a secret organisation committed to saving human life, secretly founded and funded by the millionaire Tracy family. International Rescue has a host of technologically advanced land-, sea-, air-, and space-rescue vehicles and equipment ready to launch at a moment’s notice.
Stand by for action. 5!…4!…3!…2!…1!…Thunderbirds Are Go!
To bring the ultimate Thunderbirds experience to the tabletop, Modiphius has partnered with Matt “Brains” Leacock, designer of the hit games Pandemic, Forbidden Desert, and Forbidden Island.
“I’ve had a great time immersing myself in the world of Thunderbirds, learning all about the Tracy family, Lady Penelope, and all their wonderful gear. This game will give players the chance to see how they would perform in the role of the Tracys. Will they be able to anticipate global disasters and complete impossible rescue missions? This game will test each player’s nerve, logistical sense, and mettle,” said Matt Leacock. “It’ll tell you if you could be a Tracy!”
Planned for release in Autumn / Fall 2015 and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the cult TV show, the game will feature the iconic Thunderbirds machines and a high octane world full of disasters for players to come to the rescue. The Thunderbirds co-operative game will have the usual high quality design and components that fans of games produced by Matt Leacock and Modiphius have come to expect.
“Thunderbirds has always been the geek dad brand of choice as people introduce models of Thunderbird 2 or the original TV show to their kids,” said Chris Birch, Publishing Director of Modiphius.”From collecting the models and avidly watching the shows as a kid, it hasbeen a dream of mine to create an awesome game with Thunderbirds. With Matt Leacock on board, I know we’ll be able to create the ideal co-operative gaming experience for whole families to enjoy the Tracys’ world. F-A-B!”
Thunderbirds is a cult 1960s British science-fiction television series, created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. It was produced using a combination of marionette puppetry and scale-model special effects, which was dubbed “Supermarionation”. Two series, totaling thirty-two 50-minute episodes, were produced, along with a film using the same techniques.
Racing to the rescue from a secret island base beneath the luxurious home of the Tracy family somewhere in the South Pacific Ocean, International Rescue defies government spies and criminals who want the secrets of their incredible machines for their own. To combat this threat, Lady Penelope, the Thunderbirds’ aristocratic English secret agent, and her chauffeur Parker lead a network of agents to uncover those behind the disasters caused by deliberate sabotage.
A criminal mastermind known as “the Hood”, operating from a temple deep in the Malaysian jungle and in possession of strange powers, often engineers events to allow him to spy on the Thunderbird machines with the goal of selling their secrets to the highest bidder.
The iconic Thunderbirds are designed by the Tracy family’s close friend “Brains” and are assigned to each of the five Tracy brothers:
- Thunderbird 1, piloted by Scott Tracy – a hypersonic rocket plane used for fast response and rescue-zone reconnaissance, and as a mobile control base.
- Thunderbird 2, piloted by Virgil Tracy – a supersonic, VTOL carrier which transports their major rescue equipment in detachable pods.
- Thunderbird 3, piloted by Alan Tracy – a single-stage, vertically launched spacecraft
- Thunderbird 4, piloted by Gordon Tracy – a utility submersible for underwater rescue, launched from Thunderbird 2
- Thunderbird 5, manned by John Tracy – a space station in geostationary orbit that monitors calls for help from across Earth.
Finally, Lady Penelope has the iconic FAB 1
- FAB 1, driven by Parker – a pink, amphibious car
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