Rufus Leakin

Guru of Folklore

A popular Polish board game based on the hardships of communism now has international editions.

Poland’s National Remembrance Institute released the game — called “Kolejka” — last year. The goal was to teach youth about frustrations and shortages during the decades of communism, which Poland shed in 1989.

Although referred to as “Communist Monopoly” the game doesn’t let players collect rent or buy land. Instead, they often get frustrated because they can’t buy anything after waiting in long lines. “Kolejka” means line, or queue.

Game developer Karol Madaj said that word spread abroad, so the institute is launching versions in English, German, Spanish, Japanese and Russian.

The international edition will be sold via various websites for 30 zlotys ($10).

Source: Institute of National Remembrance 

http://www.ipn.gov.pl/portal/en/

I can’t make this stuff up, folks. This game actually exists, and according to the site, has even won awards. The educational game “Queue” published by IPN (Institute of National Remembrance), was chosen by industry experts as the “Game of the Year 2012”. The “Game of the Year” is awarded by a panel of experts and aims at awarding the best board games that popularize a form of intellectual entertainment.

For the first time in the history of the title, a game designed in Poland received the award. It is also unprecedented that an award of such caliber went to an educational game released by a state institution.

Personally, I never thought waiting in line at Wal-Mart was that entertaining, either.