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Can You Hear Me Now? – RT-Deluxe – Tips and Tricks

Here are some tips and tricks for getting the most out of our  Can You Hear Me now? – RT-Deluxe insert designed to hold the retail version of Smartphone Inc.

If you are unsure which version you have of Smartphone Inc, check the bottom of this page for how to tell the two versions apart.

What is the best way to load/pack the game box for the base game?

NOTE: if you have just the base game version of the insert, use the following instructions.  If you have the additional 1.1 Expansion trays for this insert, consult the other tip specifically for that version of the insert.

Packing from bottom to top:

  1. Put the game board in the box, pushed to one corner
  2. Place the player trays and the white Improvements tray on top of the game board
  3. Place the white Goods and Technologies tray and the white Retailers / Steve / Turn Markers tray on top of the player trays, aligned to the two corners of a side.  You should now have something like the below
  4. Place the two cardboard spacers on top of the remaining player trays as shown.  If you don’t have these spacers, they can be created out of any available cardboard shipping box.  Sizing is detailed below in this document.  You should now have  something like this:
  5. Place the score track board, aligned to one of the remaining open corners, and place the Steve player board next to the score track board
  6. Stack the remaining items in order, from bottom to top:
    1. Player screens with the thicker end of the stack covering  the score track board and the thinner end of the stack covering Steve board
    2. Remaining player manual and Steve manual covering the player screens
  7. You should now have something like this
What is the best way to load/pack the game box if I have the expansion trays?

Use these instructions if you have the expanded version of the insert that also supports the 1.1 Expansion play pieces.

NOTE: Due to size constraints with the retail box, the game board that comes with the 1.1 expansion will not fit in the original retail game box.  That board has to remain in the 1.1 expansion game box.

Packing from bottom to top:

  1. The five square improvements tiles, that come with the expansion, can be stored in the existing white improvements tray that holds the double-wide improvements tiles.  Distribute the 5 tiles across the three wells with one well having just a single tile.  While these tiles will stick just a little bit above the tops of the tray, they will stay in place once packed.
  2. Place the player trays and the white improvements tray in the bottom of the game box.  You should now have something like this:
  3. Place the white Goods and Technologies tray and the white Retailers / Steve / Turn Markers tray on top of the player trays, aligned to the two corners of a side.  Additionally, place the two blank cardboard spacers that came with the insert next to the two white trays as shown:
  4. Place the score track board, aligned to one of the remaining open corners, and place the Steve player board next to the score track board.
  5. Stack the remaining items in order, from bottom to top:
    1. Player screens with the thicker end of the stack covering the score track board and the thinner end of the stack covering the Steve board.
    2. Remaining player manual and Steve manual covering the player screens.
  6. You should now have something like this:
  7. Finally, place the game board in the box, aligned so that the board covers the two white trays and leaves open areas across the player manuals, etc.
  8. Distribute the blue expansion trays around the edges of the board as shown.  It works best if the CEO house is sitting over the side by the manuals (shown at top).  You should now have something like this:
Purpose and sizing for cardboard spacers to prevent pieces shifting

The geometry of the box and the trays is such that in order to prevent pieces from shifting during transport, we need to use a cardboard spacer.

 

You should have received a set of spacers with your order, but if they have been misplaced or mistakenly thrown out, here is how to make a new set.

 

The cardboard can be cut from any standard shipping box.

 

You’ll need two pieces, each sized to be 7 1/4″ x 5 5/8″ or 18.5 cm x 14.3 cm.

 

How do I tell which version of Smartphone Inc I have?

Determining if you have the Kickstarter or Retail version

There are distinct differences between the Kickstarter version and the retail version of Smartphone Inc. The differences are so great, that the retail version requires a different collection of inserts and some fairly significant resizing in certain areas.

Be sure you know which version you have before ordering. The easiest way to tell the two version apart is to look at the lower left-hand corner of the box cover. The retail version will have a Dice Tower logo. The Kickstarter version will have a green and white Kickstarter logo.

You can see the differences below: