Monopoly’s Dirty Secrets: Theft, Erasure and Capitalism | Extra Credits Gaming

Did you know that the board game Monopoly—yes, the iconic capitalism simulator—was originally designed to warn against capitalism? Ironically, the game we play today was shaped by the very forces it sought to critique. So how did an anti-capitalist teaching tool transform into a symbol of the system it opposed? From political parodies to endless reskins, Monopoly's journey is as twisted as a game of chance 🎥🕹️

Artist: David Hueso | Writer: Eddy Web | Showrunner & Narrator: Matthew Krol | Video Editor: Devon House Creative | Audio Editor: Clean Waves | Studio Director: Geoffry Zatkin | Social Media: Kat Rider | Music "Flow State" by Tiffany Roman

#ExtraCredits #Gaming #BoardGames

[thecuriositas]

I like to interpret the moment of every monopoly game where people get angry, quit/ mess up the board in frustration as a metaphor for 'Revolution'. Tho I know it wasn't intended for people to rage quit, it works well as a symbol of what happens when a system is so unfair & crushing that people can't 'make a living' in the game. People flip the table, knock over the pieces, scatter the money & assets all over the place & then the players try to rebuild & put it all back together. They make new rules, change the board, etc but more often than not just stop playing entirely. The rage quit aspect of the game is very metaphorical.

[beeaggro]

lol speaking of this, my great aunt was actually one of the people who pitched the idea of Sorry to the American creators and helped design the version seen today. Just she kind of got stricken out of the record due to being a Nicaraguan woman who lived in Massachusetts. She even had the letters and patents to prove it before she quietly passed from COVID a couple. years ago

[Codex_of_Wisdom]

How monopolistic and corporate Monopoly has become is one of the greatest ironies in history.

[McJolmar]

“Capital has the ability to subsume all critiques into itself. Even those who would critique capital end up reinforcing it instead"

[Sabarok]

I have Star Wars Monopoly. What's funny is the instruction manual says something like "Don't change the rules. The game is balanced and meant to only last 1-2 hours. Don't put money on parking"

[lotrloreman]

The irony of a Monopoly Go ad popping up before this video XD

[llSuperSnivyll]

So Monopoly would have never become what it is now without mods, we could say.

In my family, the house rule we use is that, when you land on Free Parking, you throw a dice. If you get evens, you draw a Chance card. If you get odds, you draw a Community Chest card.

[Big_Dai]

A modern game-designer.. that defend Monopoly's design??
No I HAVE to hear that take.

[Bardic_Knowledge]

My dad legit has an entire bookshelf in his game room (which contains over 1000 board games) that is nothing but variants of Monopoly (and some Trivial Pursuit).

[syaieya]

I love how every attempt people try to make the game easier, softer, more "friendly" just makes it so there's more chances for it to drag on and be crueler.

Like if the end goal is just who's got the most property when all are owned, that'd be one thing to keep cycling money. But monopoly with it's standard rules is a game of being absolute ruthless and that's the kindest thing you can do to your other players.

[CommissarMitch]

Having been an Extra History fan for years and years, it feels wierd that the main channel with all the gaming content is now Extra History; while the side channel is Extra Credits.

[blaster]

Straight from Extra History to this! I love this format delving into game history!!

[AndrewJohnson-oyoj]

Collecting $200 when you pass go is an example of Universal Basic Income. Yet no one playing monopoly thinks it will take away players' motivation or need for achievement.

[Ava_luvsu]

You either die as a hero or live long enough to become the villian.

[pseudopod]

Not only do I think free parking house rules make the game worse, I also think that is the single biggest reason so many people hate the game. It makes you feel better in the moment, but it also extended the game time, often by several hours.

[ccggenius]

THEY'RE MAKING A MONOPOLY MOVIE!?! God I hope Jim Carrey at least gets a cameo... "Thanks for the free parking..."

[Mx.muffin]

I find it funny how almost every household has a different way of playing monopoly now. Like, my family has something we call Mafia Monopoly where we could make deals with the other players for our own profits

[richardryley]

You missed the most important trivia of all, which is that Milburn Pennybags, or Mr. Monopoly as he is commonly known, does not and never has worn a monocle. 😂

[scarletletter]

Now I wanna play Maggie's Landlord Game

[faultysalty]

I've been clicking back and forth from the extracredits and the extrahistory video for a while now, when does it end?