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GRO: Battle for the Petri Dish
 
GRO: Battle for the Petri Dish is an abstract strategy game for 2 players.  Each player controls the growth and expansion of a strain of bacterium within the confines of a petri dish.  The goal is to become the dominant strain.

Each player starts with a single germ.  Germs may grow and divide to produce more germs, which may grow and divide to produce more germs, which may grow and divide...you get the idea.  Germs may also move, and they may attempt to surround opposing germs.  When a germ is surrounded, it dies.

The petri dish contains 4 goal areas.  The first player to gain exclusive control of 3 of the 4 areas, wins.

Follow this link for an example of the first 5 moves of a game of GRO.
 
Download Follow this link to download all of the components, plus the original cover art, in one PDF (2.5 MB).  Or go to the Components section below to download one file at a time.
 
You are free to make copies of GRO for yourself and your friends.  However, Interformic Games retains its copyright to GRO. Copyright
 
Index
Description
Stats
Components
Acrobat Reader
Rules, etc
Counters
Kampf der Kulturen
Retailers
Zillions of Games
Reviews
Mailing List
Example Game...


Stats

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Stats
  • Construction Time:  1-2 hours
  • Number of Players:  2
  • Complexity:  Medium
  • Playing Time:  1-2 hours
  • Age Group:  13+
  • Skill vs Luck:  100% skill
Your input is welcome.  If you think these numbers should be adjusted, send an email to   Thanks!


Components
 
  Red Germ

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Get Acrobat Reader

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Acrobat Reader
All files are in Portable Document Format (PDF.)  You can read and print these files using Adobe's Acrobat Reader.  If you do not have Acrobat Reader, follow this link to download a free copy from Adobe's web site...
 


Rules, Reference Card, and Game Board
 
  • Print the rules file on standard paper using a black ink printer.
  • Print a reference card for each player on both sides of standard paper or card stock using a black ink printer.
  • Print the game board on card stock using a color printer.
 
Files
 
Petri Dish

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Blue Germ

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Counters
  • Print the counters on full sheet labels using a color printer.
  • You can mount your counters either on chip board or 2mm EVA foam sheets.  Both can be found at your local hobby supply store.  EVA is easier to cut and comes in a variety of colors.
  • Cut each counter out of the full sheet label, peel off its backing, then attach it to the chip board or EVA sheet.
  • Finally, cut each counter out of the chip board or EVA sheet.
File


Kampf der Kulturen
 
A German language version GRO is available from Sphinx Spiele.  It was translated by Henning Poehl and re-titled Kampf der Kulturen (Culture War). The German version features colorful artwork and fuzzy germs.  Follow this link for more information or to to purchase a copy from Sphinx Spiele.
 
Other German Translations
 
  Kampf der Kulturen

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Cover Art

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Retailers
If you would like a physical copy of GRO, you may be able to find one gathering dust at your local game store.  Or you can buy it from one of these online retailers:


Zillions of Games
 
You can play GRO: Battle for the Petri Dish on your PC thanks to and Zillions of Games (ZOG).  ZOG is a versatile engine that can be programmed to play just about any 2 player, abstract game you can imagine.

Follow this link for a free ZOG demo.  Once you have ZOG, download the GRO rules file here.  To see more games Stephen has programmed for ZOG, visit his web site.
  Zillions of Games

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A Darn Fine Game

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Reveiws
"A darn fine game." - Matt Ryan of Envelope Games
"If you enjoy a hard fought game of chess, you will probably like GRO." - The Greenwood Gamers
"If you like Go, give this much simpler game a try, I think you'll be pleased." - Tom Vasel
"Un jeu à découvrir pour les amateurs de stratégie abstraite et originale." - Pierre-Nicolas Lapointe of JesWeb
"I really thought the germ analogy worked well." - Ken Kaufman, Mensa Mind Games 2000 participant
"...I'd certainly consider purchasing it for some people I know." - JJ Armour, Mensa Mind Games 2000 participant
You can read more comments at boardgamegeek.com


Mailing List
 
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 Rolodex

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