  Board Games   August 20, 2012 By ALLIE VUGRINCIC - JFK High
School ( , Tribune Chronicle |  It has been said the game of
life is hard to play, but in this particular case one might have
to disagree.  "The Game of Life" first entered American homes as
a parlor game in 1860 under the title "The Checkered Game of
Life." Today it is more commonly known simply as "LIFE."  Who
would have ever guessed that a board game based off a simple
reality, day to day life, would ever be so popular? The game,
which traditionally accommodates two to six players, begins at
college and moves through life to marriage, buying a home, and
retirement. Variables in the games are controlled by cards, such
as what job a person will have and what their salary will be.
There are even twists that mirror real life; bankruptcies,
lotteries, children, and lawsuits all contribute to the outcome
of the game. The winner of the game is the one who retires with
the most money, which might say something about American ideals.
Over the 150 years