Careers (board game)

Infobox Game
title = Careers
image_link =
image_caption = Box cover and game layout, Winning Moves edition
designer =
illustrator =
publisher = Winning Moves
Parker Brothers
Pressman Toy Corporation
players = 2 to 4
ages = 8 and up
setup_time = 5-10 minutes
playing_time = 45-90 minutes
random_chance = Medium
skills = Roll-and-Move
Win Condition Choice
Money Management
footnotes =
bggid = 1475
bggxrefs =

"Careers" is a board game first manufactured by Parker Brothers in 1955, which has been reprinted from time to time up to the present day. It was devised by the sociologist James Cooke Brown. Victory conditions (a secret "Success Formula") consist of a minimum amount of fame, happiness and money that the player must gain. Players (from two to six) set their own victory conditions before the game begins, the total of which must be sixty (or one hundred, recommended when only two are playing).

The board consists of a square with an outer track and several minor loops (called occupation paths), each of which starts and ends at a space on the outer track. Originally there were eight loops, but that was later simplified to six. Some fame, happiness and money ("victory points") can be obtained on the outer track. These victory points can be obtained more quickly on the occupation paths. Each occupation path has more opportunities for certain types of victory points than others (e.g., in Hollywood there are many opportunities to get fame points). Each occupation also has certain minimum entry requirements.

Game Appeal

Unlike Monopoly "Careers" ends when the first player completes their Success Formula, making for a faster game (40-60 minutes for four experienced players). Often the endgame can be very close, so more exciting. The great number of possible formulae allows for many different strategies, so play can be quite different from game to game. While the Success Formulae are kept secret, players' accumulating victory points are not; as players' points approach or even exceed 60 the game tension mounts (excess points in a category are worthless; e.g., a player's Success Formula specifies 20 fame victory points but they accumulate more than 20 during play).

Changes through the years

The "careers" available to players of the game have changed over 50 years of new editions, reflecting changes in popular perceptions. For example, "Farming" became "Ecology", "Sea" became "Teaching" and "Uranium Prospecting" became "Sports". In 1990 Parker released a new version "Careers for Girls", featuring careers such as "School Teacher", "Fashion Designer" and "Super Mom". The strategy aspects of the game were also greatly simplified. This is discussed in the BoardGameGeek discussion thread," [http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/33357 most condescending game ever] ".

External links

*bgg|1475|"Careers"|12929|"Careers for Girls"