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Based on the textbook example of financial scams, "Ponzi Scheme" is the term used to describe the technique Charles Ponzi employed in 1919 to operate one of the most notorious financial frauds in history.
In the game Ponzi Scheme, players are scammers trying to trick investors into funding fraudulent investments with the promise of extremely high returns. You need elaborate trading skills to keep your operation afloat as long as possible, and as time goes on the dividends you need to pay every turn will only pile higher and higher! But when someone declares bankruptcy, the remaining fraudster who forged the biggest shell corporation wins the game!
The goal of the game is simple: Don't be the first player to go bankrupt!
In more detail, on each turn, players must take one new Fund card from the Funding boards along with a corresponding Industry tile and cash as indicated on the card. You need to pay the "promised reward" of each Fund card in a number of rounds.
After all players have taken their Fund cards, they may choose to initiate an "inside trade" with one other player in order to buy the Industry you want with a price they can't refuse, or sell your own Industry to them with a good price.
At the end of the round, players rotate their Time Wheel 1 or 2 spaces, and pay the "promised reward" to the bank if any Fund card is due.
The game continues until at least one player cannot pay the "promised reward" due and goes bankrupt. That player is out of the game, and the remaining player who has the most VP on their Industry wins.
- Fascinating simulation perspective.
- Does a good job of modeling the Ponzi scheme mentality and the brain state associated with it.
- Relatively quick playtime (about an hour for five players).
- Highly recommended for those interested in game experiences and simulations.
- Host lost on a tiebreaker.
- Host doesn't feel like clamoring for a copy, though would play again.
- Felt like they 'happened into' a good score rather than strategically playing to win.
- Uncertainty about the game's late stage or potential winning scores due to limited plays.
- The concept of Ponzi schemes where new investments are used to pay off interest on previous investments, until it all comes tumbling down.
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- hand management — Players manage their acquired tiles and money to afford upcoming payments while trying to score points.
- Market Crash — If the number of bear market tiles on the board equals the player count, a market crash occurs, forcing players to discard a token of their most common type.
- Secret Bidding/Trading — Players can initiate clandestine trades by putting money in an envelope, with the other player deciding whether to accept the money and give the tile, or return the money and keep the tile. This is described as a price-setting mechanism where players state their selling and buying price.
- set collection — Players acquire funding tiles from different industries/indexes, and the number of a specific tile type they possess influences payouts and victory points.
- Timing/Clock — Hexagonal tiles have a timing clock, and once a certain number of rounds pass, players must pay a specified amount.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- The idea of Ponzi schemes is kind of fascinating as long as you don't get your finances ruined by it.
- So, I essentially use new investments to pay off the interest on my previous investments, and it's all great until it all comes tumbling down.
- It was fascinating from like a simulation perspective. It absolutely puts you into that mindset of um how do I juggle all of these debts? Well, I'll take on more debt, and then deal with that later.
- I think it does a very good job of modeling this kind of brain state, essentially, putting you into this brain state.
References (from this video)
- very stressful in a humorous way
- great social stress-testing game
- can be anxiety-inducing for some players
- debt, cash flow, and risk management
- financial market and investment scheme
- stressful, humorous, chaotic
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- auction/market/debt clock — players buy shares, manage cash, and face debt clock progression with increasing interest.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Starting off with the two-player game, Agent Avenue.
- It's a boatload of fun and it's another game which I've just brought out and it just never misses.
- This is another two-player abstract game that I can't stop playing and that's Zenith.
- Rival Cities takes Tug of War to another level.
- The production on Shackleton Base is through the roof.
- Ponzi scheme is one of the most stressful games you'll ever play and it's brilliant.