Object No. 2024/31/1
'Beyond 2000' board game
This 'Beyond 2000: The Game' board game is based on the television series of the same name. The game was a product of Crown & Andrews, a household name in Australia for their range of toys and games, including their updated 1977 version of the popular game 'Test Match'. The magazine-style program was first screened on the ABC in 1981, originally titled 'Towards 2000' and showcased scientific breakthroughs and innovations in technology which could improve our lives in 2000. Despite the show's popularity with four series from 1981 to 1984, the ABC decided not to continue it (replaced by 'Quantum') and the reporters took the format to ATN7 as 'Beyond 2000'. The board game was a tie-in with the program which ran on Channel 7 until 1993 and was also broadcast internationally. From Channel 7 it moved to Network 10 until 1999 before returning to Channel 7 for three seasons from 2005 as 'Beyond Tomorrow' until finishing in 2007. The Beyond series was the genesis of the Beyond Television Productions franchise which went on to become one of Australia's leading production and distribution companies. It was an optimistic time and the general public had faith in science and technology to improve their lives. Many of the innovations shown on the program in their early stages came to fruition decades later, such as MRI, maglev trains and virtual reality. Other ideas such body-worn computers demonstrated in cumbersome fashion were superseded by smarter technology- mobile phones in our pockets now perform these functions (and more) with ease. Judith Campbell, Curatorial Volunteer, 2023 References: 1. Janet Bell, 'Beyond 2000', Australian Screen: An NFSA Website
Summary
Object Statement
Board game, 'Beyond 2000: The Game', paper / plastic, made by Crown and Andrews Pty Ltd, Granville, New South Wales, Australia, c. 1986
Physical Description
Board game consisting of lavender coloured box, black and white printed play instructions, multicoloured game board with spinning discs, six coloured counters, one red dice, and five sets of cards - inventor, challenge, chance, quiz and control. Five of the original TV presenters are depicted on the side panel of the box (left to right): Iain Finlay, Sharon Nash, Jeffrey Watson, Carmel Travers and Chris Ardill-Guinness.
DIMENSIONS
Height
72 mm
Width
480 mm
Depth
278 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
The game was copyrighted in 1986 by CIC Entertainment Corporation and manufactured in Australia by Crown and Andrews Pty Limited, then at Granville, New South Wales, Australia. The game concept is credited to Peter Harris/Creative Print Ideas. Artwork was by Rick Holland Creative Art. Crown & Andrews was founded by Gerry Crown and Vic Andrews in 1961. It became one of Australia's best known toys and games companies and one of the few Australian companies to develop new products in house and to successfully license games invented in Australia in overseas markets. In 2014 Gerry Crown sold the company to Goliath Games, a business based in Holland led by his friend Adi Golad. Crown & Andrews still operates in Horsley Park, Sydney, under its own name as a subsidiary of Goliath Games, which has offices around the globe and a worldwide distribution network. Gerald 'Gerry' Leon Crown (1932-2021) came to Australia in 1952 from England. As a young man he first made his reputation as a long distance rally driver supported by Renault, but gave up racing to concentrate on building his business interests. After he sold Crown & Andrews he returned to rallying to compete in numerous international long distance rallies including the Peking to Paris rally which he won three times with his navigator Matt Bryson. His third win in that rally was at the age of 87 in 2019 in a 1974 Leyland P76. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2004 for service to children's charities through the fundraising programs of the Australian Toy Association.
HISTORY
Notes
The board game is an adaptation of an Australian television series produced by Beyond Television Productions. The show first aired on the ABC in 1981 under the title 'Towards 2000'. Its premise was to showcase developments, breakthroughs and technical innovations anticipated to change society. In 1985, the show was rebranded as 'Beyond 2000', and retained this name until it ceased production in 1999. The series was later revived under a new name of 'Beyond Tomorrow' which aired from 2005-2007. Players proceed through three stages of the game, accumulating information, power and control by a combination of skill, chance and knowledge. The objective is to pass beyond the ages of invention by matching the people with their inventions, take control of vital technology sectors and finally challenge all comers for control of the future. Squares around the game board perimeter are allocated to scientists and inventors such as Archimedes, Alexander Fleming, Alexander Graham Bell, James Watt, Rudolf Diesel, Albert Einstein, Sir Isaac Newton and Igor Sikorsky plus squares for chance cards. Next to these squares are illustrations of the inventions in random order, e.g. polio vaccine or hovercraft. Then comes a hexagonal route whose squares instruct players to take another card, control, swap, among other actions. At the centre of the game two rings are placed on a raised plastic stand. The inner ring has six sectors: education, defence and space, technology commerce, medicine, food technology, travel and transport. The outer ring also has these six sectors on the rim plus six additional sectors: four multi takeover sectors and two any sectors.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Vitas Varnas, 2024
Acquisition Date
19 March 2024
Copyright and Licensing
Text
Text is released under Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence
Image
Copyright for the above image is held by the Powerhouse and may be subject to third-party copyright restrictions. Please submit an Image Licensing Enquiry for information regarding reproduction, copyright and fees.
Image Licensing Enquiry
Object Enquiry
