Negotiations, double-crossing are king in new Montreal-inspired board game

Getting stuck in traffic on Highway 40 proved inspiring for twoMontrealers who created aboard gamepokingfun at the city's well-known ailments, called Construction & Corruption.

The game was designed by multimedia editorDavid Loach and co-creator Frank Perrin.

"The game features a lot of negotiation. Bribes and promises are frequent, but never binding," Loach said.

The board is a map of Montreal with zones shaded different colours and highways crossing the map.

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Players get contracts and can decide where to put work crews. They can also vote for a mayor who, in turn, can reward or punish the players.

Work is delayed to earn more moneyand the game ends with a federal investigation.Whoever has the most money at that point wins.

Loachsaid that every time someone double-crosses another player, the game gets more hilarious.

"Test players comment that they feel dirty when they play it. You end up collaborating with some people and then turning your back on them," he said.

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The creators have been working on the game in their spare time since July and have invested their own money inmaking it.

They are launching the English versionDec. 16 at Victory Point Board Game Cafin Cte-des-Neiges.A French version will be released in January.