CO-OPOLY
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. 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 tiny homes.
The result is a "conversion kit" of stickers, tiles and other game pieces that can be used to transform Monopoly into the co-oprative game of Co-opoly.
Co-opoly is available in two formats. Choose between the free "print it yourself" conversion kit (pdf downloads are below), or purchase a ready-made kit from Gamecrafters.com.
Co-opoly was nominated for an award for "Best Adaptation" by Indiecade 2019.
Click on the Youtube above to learn how to play the game.
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 transformed Monopoly into “Notopoly” (later renamed "Co-opoly") a cooperative board game in which players work to protest land assemblages and halt the construction 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.
Co-designers who participated in the game jam to create the first iteration of the
Co-opoly Conversion Kit include, from left: Daniel Charlton, Peter Tupper, and (far right) Adrian Estergaard, with his son, Mister, who helped playtest.
A complete history of the game of Monopoly can be found in the book "The Monopolists: Obsession, Fury and the Scandal Behind the World's Favorite Board Game," written by Mary Pilon.
