Games firm betting on silver screen success

CARDS: Businessman who produced the world’s largest board game teams up to produce movie-themed activity

Measuring the size of a one bedroom flat and taking six months to complete, it’s not a board game for people who get frustrated playing Monopoly.

Created by a Perthshire businessman, Mare Nostrum allows people to recreate the Africa campaigns of the Second World War in minute detail on a playing space measuring 23ft by 23ft.

When released in 2013, it gave Blairgowrie’s John Bannerman the title of the largest and most expensive board game in the world due to its retail price of almost £500.

His business, The Knowledge Company, has since gone on to create several other games based on the Second World War.

Recent game Barbarrosa, which covers the Eastern Front, measures a more reasonable 12ft by 12ft with 7,800 counters and 16 maps.

“It takes around 185,000 hours of research to give the games authenticity,” said Mr Bannerman.

“The USA is the core market but we have clients from across the world, including Japan, Australia and Italy.

“Our customers come from all backgrounds, including the military, doctors, lawyers and business people.

“People can learn a lot about history by playing them.”

His title of the world’s most expensive game has since been claimed by another firm, but Mr Bannerman is planning a sequel, Mare Nostrum 2, which will retail at £750 plus VAT. The firm is also working on digital versions of the games and aims to open a games studio in Dundee early next year.

“We are currently in negotiation to get the software off the ground,” he said.

“We also plan to open a software studio in the city, but this has been delayed because of the pandemic, although we aim to have it open in 2021.”

In a departure from the complicated Second World War games, Mr Bannerman used the Covid-19 period to develop a movie-themed card game with old school friend Andrew Allan, priced at a more reasonable £19.99.

It is based on the concept of six degrees of separation – a concept which shot to fame when film fans sought to find the shortest path between any actor and Hollywood star Kevin Bacon.

“The Kevin Bacon game was good fun, but it always ends up in heated debate or uninteresting actor suggestions, and you have to question the relevance of Kevin Bacon in 2020,” said Mr Bannerman.

“Andrew and I spoke about how we could improve upon this by creating a bigger selection of actors for players to pick from and, importantly, integrate the latest databases out there into a suite of online tools that assist players to establish accurate connections.”

The firm is planning 15 editions covering film, TV and sports and is also working on a mobile app version that would allow players to practise on their own or hold online competitions.

John Bannerman and Andrew Allen of TKC Games with their 6 degrees of separation card game.

PA. Picture: The game is based on six degrees of separation – the concept which became popular when film fans sought to find the shortest path between any actor and Kevin Bacon.