Gamers Glossary: Chrome

Chrome:

1. Originally a term for particularly high quality components, in which the actual production value far exceeds what is necessary for the game to work. Presumably originates from the Automobile Industry in which chrome is often used as additional non-functional decoration.
(example: the "Raptor" pieces in Battlestar Galactica are not involved except to spend as currency, yet they have full individual 3d models included in the game)

2. Recently the term become used for any description of a highly produced games with plenty of high quality pieces with which to play.
(Examples of games with plenty of "Chrome" in this sense are BattleLore, Conan and the king of them all, Twilight Imperium 3)