The Game of Playing Department Store (1898)

The Game of Playing Department Store

The Game of Playing Department Store was created by McLoughlin Bros., Inc. in 1898. It was one of the first board games to reflect the shift in American gaming away from morality and towards capitalism. The game was set in a vast downtown department store modeled after the many “palaces of consumption” that were built in urban centers across the country in the late 1800s. Players were transported to this imaginary store and had to spend money wisely in order to collect more goods than their opponents.

Why is The Game of Playing Department Store Popular?

The Game of Playing Department Store was significant because it reflected the changing shopping habits of Americans in the late 1800s. Instead of a simple general store, players had a cornucopia of luxury products to choose from, all neatly divided into different departments like “dry goods” and “hosiery”. The game was also one of the first to reflect the shift in American gaming towards capitalism.

Game Components of The Game of Playing Department Store

Game boardCards showing an amount of money to spend and a product to buy

Game Setup of The Game of Playing Department Store

Players choose their playing pieces and place them on the starting space on the board.

Gameplay Mechanics of The Game of Playing Department Store

Players take turns drawing cards that show an amount of money to spend and a product to buy. They then move their playing piece to the corresponding department on the board and purchase the product.

Game Objective of The Game of Playing Department Store

The objective of the game is to spend money wisely in order to collect more goods than your opponents.

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