Play the Game of Life

History

The Game of Life was based on a game called The Checkered Game of Life that was first published in 1860 by Milton Bradley. This was Milton Bradley's first game. Over 45,000 copies of the game were sold in the first year.

In 1959, executives at the Milton Bradley company worked with Reuben Klamer to develop a game to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the company. Klamer is a toy and game inventor who has invented more than 200 products and was a pioneer in the worldwide use of polyethylene, an unbreakable plastic. Klamer and a co-inventor developed The Game of Life based on the Checkered Game of Life. The Game of Life was introduced in 1960.

The Game of Life was updated in 1992 to include new LIFE tiles with current subjects such as recycling and drug use. The game is one of the most loved board games and is played all over the world in twenty different languages. The game is used in schools to reinforce life lessons and to practice math, economics and investing.

The game is part of the permanent collection of the National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institute.

How to Play the Game of Life

It takes about 60 minutes to play a game. The game gives two to six players a wide variety of options of how they want to handle various situations. All players are quickly involved in the details of the game decisions. It is a great game to play when bored.

The Game of Life game box includes:

• Gameboard
• 6 car pawns
• Pink & blue "people" pegs
• 3 mountains
• Bridge
• 7 buildings
• Label sheet
• Spinner
• Stack of play money, insurance policies and bank loans
• 25 LIFE tiles
• Deck of 36 cards
• Banker's tray

Setting Up the Game Area

The first time the game is played, there is some assembly required to several of the game pieces. This assembly does not have to be repeated on subsequent uses of the game:

• Apply labels to the mountains and bridge – Identify the mountain and bridge labels from the label sheet. Match the letters that are next to the four labels on the label sheet with the circled letters on the mountains and bridge.
• Assemble the spinner – Punch the spinner ring out of the cardboard sheet. Match the double-notched section on the underside of the plastic spinner dial, under the number 8. Snap the ring into the dial by sliding the ring under each of the plastic tabs. Place the assembled dial onto the green peg in the center of the spinner base. Press the spinner arm into the spinner rim, pointing the spinner arm towards the center of the spinner.

The next time the game is played, the players will need to:

• Choose a banker
• Shuffle the Share the Wealth cards
• Set up the game board
  • Place the houses around the board
  • Put the spinner in the large receptacle near the starting point
• Choose a car - Insert a peg it in the car and place the car at the starting point
• Choose a life path - The players can choose either the:
  • Career path – It is shorter, but the player is less likely to earn a lot of money.
  • College path - It puts the player in debt, but the player has a better chance of getting a high paying job.

Getting Started

Spin the spinner to determine which player starts first. Play then moves clockwise (to the left).

The banker needs to:

• Deal Share the Wealth cards – One card should be dealt to each player. The remainder are placed face-down on the gameboard.
• Distribute case – Each player should be given one $1,000 bill and three $500 bills

Basic Rules of Play

To play the Game of Life, the first player:

• Puts their car at the starting point
• Decides whether to purchase auto insurance
• Spins the spinner
• Moves the number of spaces indicated by the spinner. If a space is not vacant, move to the next vacant space.

Each player then takes turns and moves around the board in order. Read the directions on the spaces as they are landed upon. The player may be required to pay out money or may receive money. The players have the opportunity to:

• Get married
• Have children
• Purchase residential property
• Purchase insurance
• Purchase investments

Each player needs to select a final path once they reach the end of the board. The player can choose either:

• Millionaire's Estate
• Countryside Acres

Winning the Game

The player with the most money at the end wins the game.

Editions

There are several editions of The Game of Life including:

• The Game of Life
• The Game of Life: Spanish Edition
• The Game of Life: Twists & Turns
• The Game of Life: Bikini Bottom SpongeBob SquarePants
• The Game of Life: Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man's Chest Edition
• The Game of Life: Simpson's Edition

Where to Buy

• Amazon.com
• Target
• eBay
• Wal-Mart
• Toy stores