Business Wars Business Battles | Monopoly: Winner Takes All | 2
May 13, 2020
In 1902, Lizzie Magie dreams of a board game to promote her land-value tax idea, but her vision faces fierce competition. Fast forward to 1935, Charles Darrow negotiates to sell a game called Monopoly, raising questions of authorship and integrity. The podcast unearths the surprising history behind Monopoly, revealing its transformation from a political tool into a pop culture phenomenon. Betrayal permeates the story as Darrow co-opts Magie's original concept, highlighting the complexities of intellectual property and ambition in the board game industry.
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Lizzie McGee's Landlord's Game
- Lizzie McGee, a political campaigner, struggled to gain support for land-value tax.
- To spread her message, she created a board game called The Landlord's Game.
Landlord's Game Mechanics
- The Landlord's Game had players buy properties, charge rent, and aim to become the wealthiest.
- It included elements like "Go to Jail" and the "Poorhouse", reflecting real-world issues.
The Spread and Evolution of Monopoly
- McGee's game was rejected by Parker Brothers and initially failed to gain popularity.
- However, it spread through universities, evolving through student modifications and renaming.
