University Games Anti-Monopoly Board Game

by University Games

Product Features

• The real estate trading game for the 21st Century.
• Revolutionary method of play with multiple set of rules.
• Free market competitors clash with ruthless monopolists.
• Great game fun 2 to 6 players.
• Learn Econ 101 as you play!

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 15.8 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0007Q1J9I
• Item model number: 01851
• Our recommended age: 8 - 12 years
• Manufacturer recommended age: 8 - 12 years
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #81,668 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Anti-Monopoly Board Game, by University Games, is The Real Estate Trading Game for the 21st Century. This game is an update of the "monopoly" folk game invented 100 years ago by Elizabeth Magie. Free-market competitors clash with ruthless monopolist. Competitors charge fair rent, create supply and demand and can end a price war. Monopolists are greedy, charge high rents, restrict supply, but can go to prison for price fixing. The players follow different rules, depending on their status, in their quest for big money and real estate.

Product Description

The Anti Monopoly Board Game is the real estate trading game for the 21st century! An update of the monopoly folk game invented by Elizabeth Magie 100 years ago. A twist right out of today's headlines: free market competitors clash with ruthless monopolists. Patented gameplay allows all players to complete on equal terms. Learn Econ 101 as you play! Ages 8+

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't Waste Your Time, June 3, 2008

By 

LMR (Whitehall, PA) - See all my reviews

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:2.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: University Games Anti-Monopoly Board Game (Toy)

Perhaps there is a trick to this game that I am missing, but so far I have found it immensely frustrating. The concept is that you either play as a Monopolist or a Competitor. It is very difficult to win when playing as a competitor, because the rents you charge are much lower, although you pay the same amount as the monopolist for everything. For example, the railroads cost $200, both of you have to pay that amount. The competitor charges $20 rent. If the competitor owns all four railroads, he still only charges $20 rent. However, if the monopolist buys all four railroads, he charges $320 rent. Considering you only receive $100 for passing Go, landing on a railroad could bankrupt you if you are the competitor.

As far as property is concerned, you both still pay the same to own a property, and you pay the same amount for houses and hotels. However, the competitor charges much less rent. For a property with three houses, a competitor may charge $25, while a monopolist will charge $50. As a competitor, you never make back as much money as you spend.

The first four or five times we played this game, the monopolist easily won. The last time we played it, the competitor managed to survive, and the game was "balanced". Then all we did was exchange money back and forth--competitor lands on my property, he pays me. I land on his, I pay him. There was no real way to win the game at that point. The game went on for at least two hours, and I have never been so bored playing a game in my life. We thought if we kept playing the game, we would get better at it and it would become more enjoyable. I think the most enjoyable part of this game would be watching it burn.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Anti-Monopoly lives up to its name, February 21, 2010

By 

Mike "@Mike_Fielden" (Texas City, TX, US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:2.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:2.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: University Games Anti-Monopoly Board Game (Toy)

If you are a person that likes the original Monopoly, pass on this game. This has to be the most boring, frustrating thing I have done since I played hide and go seek with a blind guy. Dude sucked at that game. If there is excitement to be had here I must have missed it.

How it works:
In Anti-monopoly, the players are split into 2 different factions. The Monopolists, which I will, from this point further, refer to as the winners, and the Competitors, or losers. Everyone starts with the same amount of money and can spend the money on houses or "apartments" (aka hotels). I played the banker and about the time I finished counting and distributing the money the fun ended.
Losers don't have to wait until all of that color property is owned to start building houses. All they need is 1 property and they can start building. But the downside is that no matter how many houses are on a property, the losers only charge a flat amount for rent. Whereas the winners can charge crazy amounts for having houses on a property but the winners can't buy houses until the majority of property of that color is owned. If this sounds confusing, its because it is.
Players run out of money way to freaking fast in this game. After about 15 minutes most of us had less than $100 left of the starting $1500. Need more money? No worries just pawn your properties to the bank at 0% interest! That is the best deal ever. Its like a payday loan but without the hassle of getting your legs broken when you fail to pay the interest. Another sure fire way to get more money, get randomly selected at the beginning of the game to be a Monopolist.

How to win:
Play as a Monopolist.

Verdict:
Take my word for it, avoid this game. It reminds me of that bag of fake knockoff cereal you get in the grocery store. You know, the fake Trix called Fruity Shapes or something. If you've ever had those you know something isn't quite right but you just can't place your finger on it. Maybe the cardboard has some chemical reaction with the toxis plastic that gives the cereal some different taste. I dunno, anyway... As I was saying avoid this game unless you like boring things. If you do, go watch LifeTime.

@Mike_Fielden
[...]

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Teaches an Erroneous Lesson, August 3, 2011

By 

Scott A. Miller (Florissant, MO USA) - See all my reviews

= Durability:2.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: University Games Anti-Monopoly Board Game (Toy)

Unfortunately, this entire game is based upon a false premise and thus teaches an erroneous lesson. The game itself is a market. And a given market breaks down into one of 3 categories: Monopoly, Oligopoly(Limited Competition), or Panopoly(Full/Open-Competition). The original game itself actually starts as an oligopoly or panopoly, with price fixing(READ: Government subsidy or regulation), and the objective of becoming a monopoly.

You cannot have a monopoly faction competing against a competitive faction. If this games illustrates anything, it illustrates the detrimental effect of government regulation subsidizing one faction of a market, and forcing another faction to compete against them. Which in the real world and in the game, as the other reviews have also largely indicated, kills competition.