Co-opoly
A MONOPOLY CONVERSION KIT
​
In a game jam held in the fall of 2018, we transformed Monopoly into "Co-opoly," a cooperative board game in which players protest land assemblages and halt the construction of luxury condos. Worked together, players bring activists to the city via public transport, then drive these activists (via car co-ops) to locations where they can build tiny homes.
​
The "conversion kit" includes stickers, tiles and rules that can be used to transform the original competitive game into a cooperative game. All you need is a Monopoly board, dice, and playing pieces.
​
Co-opoly was nominated for an award for "Best Adaptation" by Indicade 2019.
To learn the game, click on the YouTube link at right.​​​
DESIGNERS' STATEMENT
​
​Monopoly was created in 1903 by Elizabeth (Lizzie) Magie (aka Lizzie Phillips) as a statement against the consolidation of land in the hands of the wealthy. Stolen from its creator and sold to Parker Bros., the game became a competitive, player-elimination game that sold millions of copies.
​
In a game jam held in the fall of 2018, we transformedc Monopoly into "Notopoly" (later names "Co-opoloy") a cooperative board game in which players work to protest land assemblages and halt the contsruction of luxury condos. Working together, players bring activists to the city via public transport, then drive these activists (via car co-ops) to locations where they can build housing co-ops consisting of tiny homes. Our game is an attempt to return Monopoly (originally named "The Landlord's Game") to its anti-trust protest roots.
​
Designers who participated in the game jam to create the first iteration of the Co-Opoly Conversion Kit include Daniel Charlton, Peter Tupper, Adrian Estergaard, Lisa Smedman, and Maurice Greala.
​
A complete history of the game Monopoly can be found the book "The Monopolists: Obsession, Fury, and the Scandal Behind the World's Favorite Board Game," written by Mary Pilon.
