Up for sale is an intriguing CSI game still in its original shrink wrap. The game's character pawns are created to resemble eight CSIs from the show.
The pawns are 1.5 inches tall, sculpted, painted, rustic-looking, statuettes. I found photos of them out of the game box on the internet and have included these photos with this listing so you can see how folk-artish, yet recognizable, they are. The eight character pawns are modeled after Gil Grissom, Catherine Willows, Warrick Brown, Nick Stokes, Greg Sanders, Sara Sidle, Capt Jim Brass, and Dr. Al Robbins.
The
concept of the game is credited to Anthony E. Zuiker, the creator of the
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" TV Show. Zuiker produced all four series found within
the CSI franchise: "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation", "CSI:
Miami", "CSI: NY", and "CSI: Cyber".
This board game is titled "CSI: Senses" and has several elements that distinguish it which make the game both a great CSI memorabilia collectible and a fun, engaging educational game. These notable elements and aspects include:
1) the six case investigations found in the game are authored by CSI: Crime Scene Investigation creator Antony Zuiker;
2) mini UV flashlights are used to reveal hidden answers to questions and riddles found on game cards;
3) a bag of 8 plastic insects used in a bug matching task using the players' sense of touch
4) the game box is designed to look like the evidence cases carried by the CSI members to crime scenes;
5) a sketching task challenges the players to produce a visual crime scene element.
Playing "CSI: Senses" presents six cases to solve (since these cases are penned by the show's creator, players are guaranteed a quality mystery on par with the show's stories). The rules aren't so complicated that players feel overwhelmed and the game's changing challenges (investigative tasks) guarantee that players don't get bored. Most tasks (such as finding a specific bug in a bag and puzzling over riddles) will be equally challenging to CSI devotees and newbies alike.
The first step is to choose which CSI you want to be in the game. The game is designed for two to four players, but players can team up if there are more than four people present.
The next step is to choose one of the six cases to investigate. Each case comes folded up, with a picture of the crime scene on the outside. All players study the picture before opening the card to answer a question specific to the CSI they've chosen to be. A correct answer puts you on the shorter path for the duration of the game.
Moving down the path is by dice roll. But, before you can roll on your turn, you have to answer a question from the challenge card.
The first department is Preliminary Investigation, which features a variety of forensics questions and trivia. Though CSI fans have an obvious advantage, even those who don't watch the show regularly will probably be familiar with CSI terms that have slipped into the cultural consciousness.
Once players reach the actual department space, however, they're in for a challenge Gil Grissom would appreciate--they select a card with a picture of an insect on it and have to reach into a green pouch and, without peeking, pick out the bug on the card from eight rubber insects.
Once you correctly match your bug, the next stop is Crime Scene Sketch, where you'll be asked to sketch various crime-related items for your opponents to guess.
Interrogation is the next leg of the journey, and the challenge here requires that you get your opponents to guess the word on the Challenge card without using the synonyms listed below the word to describe it.
The Audio/Visual Lab will test your Charade skills as you act out the verb on the card you select. The final leg of the journey is Gil Grissom's Office. Here you'll be asked to answer riddles that CSI's leader would appreciate. If you're the first to finish this round, you get the first crack at the final piece of evidence and get the chance to guess the killer. If you're right, you've won the game; if not, you're out and the next player to reach the end will have the opportunity to guess the killer. The first person to do so correctly is the winner.
As mentioned, the game has never been opened. The original shrink wrap seal is starting to tear and loosen in a few places around the box. The game was made in 2006 by SBG Specialty Board Games, Inc.