A Sampling of Monopoly

By Margaret Duncan, Ed.D.

The Histocrats support the idea of incorporating board-games into your personal life as well as in the classroom.  As such, we are constantly on the lookout for games that we can play for fun.  One of the games that most student own, know how to play and can be incorporated into the classroom is Monopoly.  While this game has its critics, those who say there are far better games than monopoly, it is a game that has stood the test of time.  It is also a game that has been replicated countless times, and so many variations exist.  Let us take a trip around Go so that we can collect our $200.   

Classic Monopoly
Monopoly is a competitive economic based property real estate trading game. The aim is to develop your property and to remain profitable while at the same time forcing your opponents into bankruptcy. Make a move, make a deal, and make a fortune to win it all. There can be only one winner in the Monopoly game—so, will it be you?

The thrill of bankrupting an opponent is addictive, but the player must consider their business decisions wisely. Sometimes it pays to play nice as your fortunes could change with the roll of the dice. Play nasty, and you might find everyone gangs up on you. Experience the ups and downs of the trading game with the classic Monopoly game. Collect complete color sets to build houses, and maybe even upgrade to a hotel. The more properties you own, the more rent you can charge. Chance cards could be worth money, or one might just tell you to Go To Jail. Take a trip around the Monopoly board to see who wins it all.

Collect as many properties as you can, and make deals to get color sets. Build your houses and hotels, and see if you can bankrupt everyone else to win. Keep an eye on your money, because you never know when the dice will land you with a massive rent bill to pay. Sometimes staying In Jail can be the safest place to be, but only after your properties are primed to make you money. You've got to buy, sell and negotiate to win.

Monopoly Variants
Monopoly is an easily recreated and reproduced game.  From Colleges to cities to sports teams to classic movies, you are bound to find a personalized version of the classic Monopoly.  Indeed, when students bring their personal copy of Monopoly to class it is always interesting to see what exactly will show up.  Often the Monopoly variant matches the student’s personality.

The Muppets Monoploy
Celebrate the sensational, inspirational world of the Muppets as you make like miss piggy. Monopoly, the Muppets. Celebrate the sensational, inspirational world of the Muppets as you make like miss piggy and try to own it all in this Muppets collector’s edition of monopoly.

Star Wars Monopoly
This special Monopoly game is filled with Star Wars references replacing Monopoly ones. Instead of houses, you build colonies. The colonies can be rebel (have an X-wing on them) or Imperial (have tie-fighters on them). Instead of hotels, you put Corellian Cruisers or Star Destroyers.

Pythonopoly
In this Monty Python Monopoly-esque game you can quest for the Holy Grail, as knights buy hovels, build castles, take a ride on a Llama, or charge excessive groats for hanging out at your Castle of Aaarrrggghhh. Pythonopoly is based on "Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail."

Bankers Game
This is a Japanese version of the ultimate real estate and money management game.  It is published by the Japanese Hanayama boardgame company.

For more info on Monopoly views:
Dice Tower Showdown: Monopoly vs. Power Grid

Pair of Dice Paradise Monopoly Overview

*All product descriptions are from the manufacturer.

 

Talking Games in the Classroom with Tom Vasel

By Margaret Duncan, Ed.D.

In May, I attended the Cool Mini or Not Expo in Atlanta and was able to meet Tom Vasel from the Dice Tower, and discuss incorporating games into the classroom.  Vasel is the host of The Dice Tower, a podcast and Youtube channel that reviews and discusses all things boardgames.  He is also a youth pastor and former teacher.  It was his role of gamer and teacher that I sought to talk with him about my own desire to incorporate games into my history classroom.

As a teacher, I am always looking for new ways to bring history to life and have attempted to incorporate games into the classroom.  When I met Vasel, he was playing Rivet Wars: The Eastern Front and was able to share with me ideas and games.  As a former History teacher himself, he talked about playing games with students in his classes.  Among the games he would play were Diplomacy, Race for the White House, Founding Fathers, 1960: The Making of the President, and Democrazy.  These are all games that range from easy to hard, one class period to several. For example, Diplomacy is a complex and long game.  Vasel suggested giving out parts to students and then playing the game, one move a class period over a long period of time.  Therefore, do not give up an entire class period but a small fraction over time. It also allows students to build confidence in their gaming roles and excitement over the next move.  He said it was amazing when students would discuss the game outside of class, especially at lunch. 

With Race for the Whitehouse, Vasel suggested pitting class versus class rather than just groups within one class.  Indeed, using multiple classes and groups would give more of a realistic approach and feel to a true election cycle.  Another game he suggested was Democrazy.  This is a game I have never played but after speaking with Vasel, I am excited to try it out.  In this game, student players would attempt to pass laws which benefit themselves. The laws are either immediate or semi-permanent, and they can have all kinds of different effects.  For example, all players with glasses would get five points, vote cards must be played with the left hand, or some sort of re-evaluation or redistribution of the chips that each player has. The chips are the main way that players score, but their worth fluctuates constantly. On a turn, a player draws a card and then proposes a vote, and this continues until the end card is drawn or the teacher ends the game. 

One inhibitor to incorporating games into the classroom is the cost of the games.  However, Vasel was able to suggest using a document projector and smartboard to play one game as a class.  This is a much cheaper alternative to having to buy multiple games.  Simply project the game on the board and as a class play it.  This is an idea I had never thought of but will suggest it in the future to fellow teachers.

Although I was only able to speak to Vasel for a short time, I must admit it was enormously informative.  Vasel was incredibly nice and accommodating.  Even when folks were trying to hurry him away, he continued to talk with me and even did a quick video to a fellow teacher and gamer on the birth of his son. 

It is obvious that not only does Tom Vasel love games, but he is eager to help teachers use games to get students excited about learning.  Be sure to check out The Dice Tower, it will be well worth your time. 



For more information on The Dice Tower