designer unknown; Psychology Today Games
(Communications/Research/ Machines), 1970.

Components: 15 Issue Cards, 12 Vote Cards, pack of play money, sand timer, rules folder;

Map: 34"x 11" abstract map of a city, on light cardboard; Scales: abstract.

Psychology Today magazine published several boxed games in the early 1970's on contemporary issues - this one was on urban renewal (another title in the series was Drug Attack). Four players, respectively representing Government, Business, Agitators, and Slum Dwellers, vote and negotiate on a number of issues for 10 turns, trying to build the consensus that will allow them all to reach the Future City (depicted optimistically on the map as a jolly purple geodesic dome on the horizon), or alternatively to end the game with the most money in their pocket. The game plays very much like a simple application of the Prisoner's Dilemma concept in game theory; for example, the Agitators and Slum Dwellers can vote for a Riot, which can be cancelled by a Government vote for a Police Action, but unnecessary Police Actions have consequences, and so on ...

I'm not sure how rare or valuable this item is, since I have never seen it on auction. I found my copy in a thrift store for a couple of dollars.

More Civil Wargames

Introduction

On Topic Titles

Up Against the Wall, Motherfucker!
The Cities Game
Chicago, Chicago!
Minuteman
LA Lawless
Civil Power

Peripheral Titles

The Creature That Ate Sheboygen
CityFight