I swear that I was not a teenaged girl in the ’80s (Tiffany tapes aside…) and didn’t typically make a habit of playing with dolls or anything, but I used to really want a copy of Mall Madness.
Who knew they still *made* this?
There were so many great board games in the ’80s that are now long out of print–Fireball Island was my personal favorite, and I still play it somewhat regularly despite missing half of the pieces–that I’m kind of shocked that this bizarre ode to consumerism has managed to stick around for over twenty years. I always likened the Mall Madness mall to the layout of my favorite local mall, the Gruen-designed Rhode Island Mall, a sign that even then I was more interested in the architecture and social function of the center than to the “shopping” necessarily. Interestingly, this odd little game has actually managed to outlive a sizeable number of its real-life breathren, including the aforementioned Rhode Island Mall which sits around rotting nowadays. Looking at the user comments, it appears I wasn’t the only little dude who wanted this thing:
My family is probably way off the demographic map for this game. My 6 yr old son picked out this game much to my husband’s dissatisfaction (he wanted him to get a nerf target shooter). Well, we all had a total BLAST playing this game!!
If you’re still looking for a Christmas gift for a fellow mall lover, you might want to pick this one up. I’m ashamed to admit I wouldn’t mind playing around with it a little myself… for a few minutes, maybe…
I had no idea they made that either. The Mall Tycoon game series is going strong as well. … I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have actual executives from some of the mall companies sit down and play these games and see how they do.
There’s also a Hannah Montana version of this game.
http://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-40498-Madness-Hannah-Montana/dp/B000YA9HQY/ref=pd_sbs_t_1
There was a posting on Malls of America on this topic…long ago…
http://mallsofamerica.blogspot.com/2005/09/mall-madness-shopping-mall-boardgames.html
I’m also intrigued at
….http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6244
Mall Game. The brand-name shopping game. More retail than shopping, really.
First thing I thought of was the Hannah Montana version of this game (but someone beat me to it). It was on sale at Toys R Us recently. It’s very popular (as is anything with that marketing whore, Hannah Montana).
I also particularly enjoy the Mall Tycoon game. 🙂
Scott
It’s been a long time since I thought about this game (or played a board game for that matter). Looks like fun.
I wanted this board game too when I was younger.
I also have the Mall Tycoon series…..well the first two titles anyways. They’re a bit fun, if somewhat buggy and have flaws. ie: no ‘two-sided’ storefronts to fill out corner spaces….lots of jewelry stores and food tenants take up these slots, ‘food court’-sized spaces, and the ‘department stores’ work oddly..in both games.
Then again, they’re set in a virtual world….they’re not meant to resemble realism.
I have so many ideas for a ‘perfect’ simulation / game, but it’s all locked away in my mind, and I’d hate to spin this off topic.
I used to have a mini version of a mall board game. It was when they had a few different games that folded up into little cassette tapes. It had little magnetic peg pieces.It may have been called Mall Madness too but I don’t remember for sure.
I have not played this large version but I do have a young niece who I might get this for when she’s old enough to play board games.
I also have several of the Mall Tycoon type PC games. I wish they did a better job with making them but at least someone tried.
I have one of the earlier copies, with the pink and purple box. It’s so funny to see items like “cassette tape” listed on the shopping card. It’s a fun period piece from my childhood, and my friends and I drag it out every once in a while.
even with high-priced shipping, mall madness is a better deal on the hasbro site (also includes free batteries):
http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/ProductsByBrand.htm?ID=15191&BR=680
I have “The Mall Game” that was mentioned by Jonah.
Never played it, but it’s cool to have around for the graphics and long-lost stores.