Boom or Bust? Parker Brothers board game reflects life
70- Game of Boom or Bust | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
"HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED: Players move around the Board according to the throw of Dice. Properties such as Beauty Parlor, Department Store, etc., are bought and sold at prices that rise and fall quite unexpectedly depending on whether the conditions a
Boom or Bust by Parker Brothers was a monopoly-type board game with three cycles: Boom, Normal, and Bust. It came on the American scene in 1951 and was all about strategy. Players worked hard to create wealth during the boom times and save these earnings during busts.
I loved this game. I got butterflies when the economic conditions changed and was always a bit disappointed when things settled down to "normal." Four players could play the game at once and each had a playing piece of blue, yellow, pale green or red. The pale green piece was not my color of choice, though it was the color of money. It always reminded me of someone being sick. I preferred a brighter color- usually yellow or red.
A roll of the dice moved these pieces around the board and there were 64 ownership markers- 16 cards divided by color into four groups. Of course there was play money, but unlike Monopoly, there were coins as well as bills.
It was a very clever board, set up like Monopoly, with businesses around the perimeter. But there was one major difference. In the middle of the board were two raised pegs. When economic conditions dictated a change, a reversable board was inserted onto these pegs that changed the playing field to BOOM or BUST!
Little did I know, this game was preparing me for married life with a wildcatter! The oil business I have often- unimaginatively- compared to a roller coaster ride. Some years we are up, some years we are down. And in between, during the plateau or normal periods, lies the stomach churning experience of uncertainty.
This tends to create a home environment fraught with stress and short tempers. An environment which Michael Aamodt, professor in the Psychology Department at Radford University, might flag for divorce- he wrote a study on the subject, inspiring this comment from Dai Williams, a chartered occupational psychologist and member of the British Psychological Society.
"This is a fascinating piece of research containing all sorts of surprises. It won't amaze anyone that relationships frequently break down under the pressure of jobs involving long hours and unpredictable working patterns."
But we remain together, working through challenges and supporting each other inspite of ourselves. I cannot say with any certainty that Boom or Bust trained me to survive this life.
But my delight in its cyclical nature certainly demonstrated my strange affinity with this life style!
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I've played this game in my younger years with family for hours and hours, much better than monoply. trouble is unable to find game anywhere.
Da, I have also had this experience with monopoly; the game never ends. But time spent together with friends or family is worthwhile. Maybe that is what I like the best. I agree about games reflecting life-- to me, games come out of life and express something of its challenges. Thanks for your comments!
I never heard of the game either but I liked monopoly. The big problem with monopoly is the games usually went on for a long time. I think games often reflect life.
Amanda, that would be very appropriate, considering these economic times! Nice to hear from you again.
Sounds like a good time to resurrect this vintage game! As a kid my siblings and I spent hours playing Monopoly. Even the grown-ups would join in. I never came across Boom or Bust, but I suspect we would have enjoyed it just as much, though whether it would have prepared us for life, I'm not so sure.
Storytellersrus Hub Author 5 months ago
forbermi, i couldn't afford the game in this BUST season, but there is one at eBay, if you look upper right of my heading.