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December 18, 2008

Credit Crunch, the Board Game

You can tell it’s close to the end of the year when everyone starts getting all ironic, and coming out with “home game” versions of the current financial crisis. Earlier this week it was Breakingviews with its Ponzi generator, and today it’s The Economist magazine with its “Credit Crunch” board game.

Anyway, the latter is cute. More here.

Players move round by throwing four coins and progressing as many squares as they throw heads. If a player throws four heads, he moves forward four spaces and has another turn; if he throws four tails, he throws again. When a player lands on a + square, he collects money from the bank; equally, when he lands on a minus square, he pays the bank.

The aim is to be the last solvent player. In order to achieve this, players try to eliminate the competition. Risk cards encourage players to pick on each other.

Players who cannot pay their fines may borrow from each other at any rate they care to settle on—for instance, 100% interest within three turns. They should negotiate with the other players to get the best rate possible. Players who cannot borrow must either go into Chapter 11 or be taken over.

Players may conceal their assets from each other.

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