When I was a kid, there was nothing I loved more than a long game of Monopoly with my brother and my cousins. We’d play for hours, extending the game for as long as possible. When one of us ran out of money, the others would loan the loser money so that the game could continue. We made up lots of crazy rules like that and even added extra sets of money to the “bank” so that we could play for longer. It was the most fun game ever and there’s a reason why it’s been so universally popular for so many years. Invented in 1902, Monopoly was first called “The Landlord’s Game,” and it was designed by an American named Elizabeth Magie.
Magie invented the earliest known version of the game to show the economic consequences of Ricardo’s Law of Economic rent and other concepts, particularly the Georgist concepts of land value taxation and economic privilege. In other words, it wasn’t supposed to be a game all about greed and winning, but because humans are humans, that’s what we turned it into. The good news is, if you find all of this money-grabbing a bit distasteful (and who doesn’t?), you can play a different version of the game that allows you to buy up dogs as you make your way around the board. Allow us to introduce Monopoly the Dog, also known as Dog Opoly.
Amazon
The game is available on Amazon and you can have it delivered for free if you live in the United Kingdom. Here’s the great thing about this game. Animal lovers and dog lovers are always looking for dog-related gifts and this is perfect for anyone who loves dogs. In this game, you’re not buying Park Place and Boardwalk, though. You’re buying dogs. Also, you don’t pass go and collect $200. Instead, you pass “Go Fetch” and collect $200. Inflation hasn’t raised up the pay, just like in real life, see? Also, you don’t go to jail in Monopoly the Dog. Instead, you go to the kennel.
Amazon
Yikes! That’s no fun! Except that for dog lovers, this game is probably wonderfully fun. Some of the cards you can expect to see are things like “Dog Washing,” pay $15. Also, you can get a fine for “Excessive Barking.” This is a delightful game that’s sure to please kids and adults alike.
