The Mad Magazine Game, also known as Mad Magazine: The "What-Me Worry?" game, is a board game produced by Parker Brothers in 1979. Gameplay is similar, but the goals and directions often opposite, to that of Monopoly; the object is for players to lose all of their money. Play proceeds to the first player's right and the first player is determined by a left-handed roll for the lowest number. The game includes cards, money, dice, and tokens, and the game board features Alfred E. Neuman and illustrations from Mad magazine. By design, no conclusive strategy exists for the game, since even if a player is winning, several spaces and cards direct players to exchange money or chairs with others, causing advantages to be lost instantly.
Rules and gameplay
To begin the game, after placing all tokens on Start and determining the first player, one player is selected to be the Banker, who gives $10,000 to each person. The dice may only be rolled with the left hand ; a player using his/her right hand is penalized by receiving $500 apiece from all other players. Also, tokens move counterclockwise around the outside track. If moving clockwise, the player is informed that he or she is a nerd person and may never play the game again. The board contains two "inside track" sections, which can only be entered by landing on one of the double-arrow spaces leading onto them. A player who does so immediately takes another turn by rolling one die; while on an inside track, players may only roll one die. The cards and spaces bear a variety of bizarre directions, such as trading places or money with a particular opponent, winning or losing money based on what the other players are doing, or losing money by performing a comical stunt. If any disputes or ambiguities arise concerning the directions, they may be resolved by majority vote; in addition, if any questions come up concerning what constitutes a majority, the rules allow for them to be settled by majority vote. A player who lands on the "Tough Luck" space must take all the money that has accumulated there. The winner is the first player to lose all of his or her money.
"Card cards"
The game includes 24 "Card cards" printed with various instructions. Examples:
Change chairs with anyone.
Change money with anyone.
Flip this card in the air. If it lands with this side face up, you lose $1000. If not, go to 'Tough Luck'
If you are good looking, stand up and imitate your favorite animal, and lose $2000.
If you can jump up and stay airborne for 37 seconds, you can lose $5000. If not, jump up and lose $500.
If you like this game, cross your legs, sit on your hands, cackle like a chicken and lose 1 egg; also $500.
