How to Play Monopoly, the Communist Version
There are loads of versions of the famous "Monopoly" board game. The original was set in Atlantic City, but since then, you can buy one set in places as odd and out of the way as Canada, the campus of Notre Dame, even one set in the Night Sky. Whatever that is.
In Poland, though, they've come up with a unique spin. From Spiegel Online:
A Polish research institute has developed a board game to teach young people about life under Communism. In the game, which is inspired by Monopoly, players must wait in endless lines at stores for scarce goods. For added realism, they have to put up with people cutting in line and products running out -- unless they have a "colleague in the government" card.
The goal of the game, which will officially be launched on Feb. 5, is to show how hard and frustrating it was for an average person to simply do their shopping under the Communist regime in Poland. The game has been developed by the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), a Warsaw-based research institute that commemorates the suffering of the Polish people during the Nazi and Communist eras.
It's a great idea, I think: recreating the struggles of the past in game format. For a country that's been getting better, steadily, since the late 1980's, it's probably a good thing to remind everyone -- in a fun way -- of just how awful life under communism was.
But what about us? In a way, we have the opposite problem. I can imagine a future version of the "Operation" game that nostalgically reminds us of the days before socialized medicine, when you could get an operation without waiting 18 months. Or, maybe, "Chutes and Ladders" recalling an era when such things still existed, before the federal safety bans. Or even just plain old Monopoly, casting the mind back to a time when you could actually make some money, and taxes were only $75.
As usual, we have a lot to learn about the free market from those who lived under communism.
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Oct '10
Re: How to Play Monopoly, the Communist Version
Nice find, Rob.
In the Soviet era, the normal Russian department store experience required that you queue at least three times; once to view the item, once to pay for it, and once to pick it up. Of course, inventory was of poor quality and scarce.
I note that, by the time I visited in '97, inventory was less scarce.
If you really want people to experience that level of frustration I think you have to package only half of the game pieces in a box with no openings.
Nov '10
Re: How to Play Monopoly, the Communist Version
I saw this the other day, but the story I read didn't have pictures! Excellente!
Funny story: my wife and I played Settlers with a couple we know. They are pretty left of center these two. Anyway, as the game progresses, it became clear that they played board games in a fashion that was true to their political beliefs. For example, if she needed some wood, she'd just ask him if she could have some wood. He'd give her some no issue. Or if he wanted a couple of wool, she'd pass them over. They both showed everyone what cards they had, etc. "Oh, we don't care if we win, it's just to spend time together", they said. It really was too much when she asked if she could "borrow" his port to trade off some resources. I said "You can't do that, it's not in the rules that you can borrow a port!" She said, and I am not kidding, "Well it's not in the rules that you can't." Anyway...funny story. At least they were consistent.
Jan '11
Re: How to Play Monopoly, the Communist Version
In the Canadian version, I suppose if you get a house number of "4", you are financially penalized in certain neighbourhoods
http://tinyurl.com/6xjscmh
Aug '10
Re: How to Play Monopoly, the Communist Version
Your fine editor Diane Ellis brought up this game earlier, and it is right to do so again.
First, because it is good to think about the horrors of Communism.
Second, because the Czechs have some excellent game designers.
Third, this reminds me that I need to pick up a copy of Friedemann Friese's "Funkenschlag: Fabrikmanager" to go along with my copy of "Funkenschlag" by the same author. "Funkenschlag" goes by the name "Power Grid" in the US, and I imagine that "Fabrikmanager" will be called something like Operations Manager or some such.
It's a shame as I am a big fan of Friedemann's tradition of having all of his designs start with Fs as alliterations of his name.
Aug '10
Re: How to Play Monopoly, the Communist Version
Some more pictures here: http://boardgamegeek.com/image/901427/kolejka
If they ever make an English version, I'll be importing one.
Dec '10
Re: How to Play Monopoly, the Communist Version
Rob, the solution for what ails us here is the exact same game. This can introduce to many Americans just what it means to stand in line, a lesson that will help them understand the changes in their lives over the next two years.
When they introduce this in English, I'll buy it.
The first Friday after that? Kolejka party at my house!
Edited on Feb 7, 2011 at 11:54amNov '10
Re: How to Play Monopoly, the Communist Version
Is there a "Get Into Jail Free" card? Are all the avenues Baltic? They should retain the "Chance" card for verisimilitude; just raise the stakes appropriately.
Jul '10
Re: How to Play Monopoly, the Communist Version
In Soviet Russia, Boardwalk buys you...
Must get this. Then learn Polish.
Jun '10
Re: How to Play Monopoly, the Communist Version
There's a Polish guy standing in line to buy meat. He's been in line for fourteen hours and finally he's had enough. He turns to the fellow behind him and says, "That's it, I'm going to shoot the Jaruzelski" (Poland's last communist leader), and storms off.
The next day he comes back and asks his buddy, still standing in line from the day before, whether he could have his place back. The buddy says to him, "I thought you were going to shoot Jaruzelski? What Happened?"
"I went home, got my rifle, and headed off to the presidential palace. When I got to the palace, there was a three day wait for the best shooting position."
Edited on Feb 7, 2011 at 3:14pmRe: How to Play Monopoly, the Communist Version
Actually I thought it was pre-Christie NJ.
Jun '10
Re: How to Play Monopoly, the Communist Version
Eez game where everybody eez equal loser. Very funny, comrade. We hav'ed place for you just east of Ural Mountains. Eez like summer camp only colder.
May '10
Re: How to Play Monopoly, the Communist Version
The Chinese edition mustn't forget to add a community card that alerts you to approaching cannibals due to the scarcity of food.
May '10
Re: How to Play Monopoly, the Communist Version
Imagine the facial expressions of your local "progressive" educators if you tried to introduce this into a history class.
May '10
Re: How to Play Monopoly, the Communist Version
...and as you play, you discover that the printed rules have nothing to do with the actual rules.