The Mad Magazine Game

The Mad Magazine Game, later reissued as Mad Magazine: The "What-Me Worry?" game, is a board game produced by Parker Brothers in 1979. Gameplay is similar, but the goals and directions often opposite, to that of Monopoly; the object is for players to lose all of their money. Play proceeds to the first player's right and the first player is determined by a left-handed roll for the lowest number. The game includes cards, money, dice, and tokens, and the game board features Alfred E. Neuman and illustrations from Mad magazine. By design, no conclusive strategy exists for the game, since even if a player is winning, several spaces and cards direct players to exchange money or chairs with others, causing advantages to be lost instantly.

Rules and gameplay[]

To begin the game, after placing all tokens on Start and determining the first player, one player is selected to be the Banker ("preferably someone honest"), who gives $10,000 to each person. The dice may only be rolled with the left hand (giving no instructions on how those who physically cannot may roll the dice); a player using his/her right hand is penalized by receiving $500 apiece from all other players. Also, tokens move counterclockwise around the outside track. If moving clockwise, the player is informed that he or she is a nerd person and may never play the game again. The board contains two "inside track" sections, which can only be entered by landing on one of the double-arrow spaces leading onto them. A player who does so immediately takes another turn by rolling one die; while on an inside track, players may only roll one die.

The cards and spaces bear a variety of bizarre directions, such as trading places or money with a particular opponent, winning or losing money based on what the other players are doing, or losing money by performing a comical stunt. If any disputes or ambiguities arise concerning the directions, they may be resolved by majority vote; in addition, if any questions come up concerning what constitutes a majority, the rules allow for them to be settled by majority vote. A player who lands on the "Tough Luck" space must take all the money that has accumulated there.

The winner is the first player to lose all of his or her money.

"Card cards"[]

The game includes 24 "Card cards"^[1] printed with various instructions. Examples:

• Change chairs with anyone.
• Change money with anyone.
• Flip this card in the air. If it lands with this side face up, you lose $1000. If not, go to 'Tough Luck'
• If you are good looking, stand up and imitate your favorite animal, and lose $2000.
• If you can jump up and stay airborne for 37 seconds, you can lose $5000. If not, jump up and lose $500.
• If you like this game, cross your legs, sit on your hands, cackle like a chicken and lose 1 egg; also $500.
• Plan ahead and move to any space on the board.
• Put this card on top of your head and walk around the table backwards. If it doesn't fall off before you sit down you lose $1000.
• Stand up and boo the person on your left. Also lose $1000.
• Take the next card, don't peek, and give it to anyone else.
• This card can only be played on Friday (no other instructions are given on the card).
• You are a rock. Act like one. If you're good, you lose $1000. If you're not so good, you win a rock.

Spaces[]

Instructions on the board's 60 spaces include:

• Start: Whenever you pass or land here, lose $500.
• If no one is standing you lose $1000. If someone is standing you win $2000.
• Must gamble everything you have. Roll dice: Odd - win twice as much; Even - lose everything, but collect $1500.
• Lose your turn or go ahead 27 (if your name is Alfred E. Neuman, forget it).
• If there is an opponent with elbows on the table lose $2000. If not, lose $4000.
• Tough Luck (If anything is under here, you gotta take it).
• Everyone moves one chair to the right.
• Everyone moves one chair to the left.
• Old Maid (Stay right here until someone rolls a one or seven).
• If someone is smiling go back 3 spaces. If no one is smiling go ahead three spaces.
• Wait right here for another player to pass you…and then move with him or her.
• Exchange money with the person on your right.
• Change money with the person on your left.
• Anywhere (Roll 7, collect $500 and go to start. if you don't; just go to start).
• 

  The $1,329,063 bill included in the game for the Alfred E. Neuman space
  If your name is Alfred E. Neuman collect $1,329,063. If not, lose a turn.
• Everyone else moves 1 space back and does what it says.
• Go to Toledo, Ohio. If the bus has already left, stay where you are and pay $500 for train tickets.
• If you are "magnificent" go to Anywhere.

Bills and Game Pieces[]

• 1 game board
• 4 player tokens (red, green, yellow, blue)
• 2 dice
• 24 cards
• 15 $500 Bills
• 20 $1000 Bills
• 10 $5000 Bills
• 1 $1,329,063.00 Bill

See also[]

External links[]

• The Mad Magazine Game at BoardGameGeek

References[]