There’s an age-old saying that everything changes in life except for death and taxes. It may be overused, but it’s true. Everything changes over time, including board game designs.
Just look at the “Parker Brother’s Classic Detective Game,” Clue. It’s been around for decades and is highly renowned as the first murder mystery board game. Everyone has played Clue at some point in his or her life, trying to figure out which color-coded character (Colonel Custard is my favorite) killed someone else in what location and at what time. At the beginning of this game’s life, it was designed as a sort of “murder mystery parlor,” with the overall setting being a mansion and all of the characters designed as classy guests or servants. This game marketed itself to parents and little kids who wanted to “plan a family game night.”
Now flash forward to the 21st century, where the Clue we once knew has been transformed into a much more modern and action-packed game. With Clue: Secrets and Spies, the focus is to be a secret agent, much like James Bond, who finds the murderer of some big figure. It’s very technologically advanced for a board game, including a flashlight and the option to get special “spy message” sent to your cell phones throughout the game. This version of the game markets it to the new interests of the generation, focusing on action and adventure while maintaining the same essential Clue formula. The box cover art also includes a picture of a stereotypical secret agent (black suit and all) wearing sunglasses that reflect the image of a group of teenagers or kids. This implies that the agent is talking to the kids (or players) and that they are an essential part of the game, or mission.
Even board games have to change to match the times, and the days of old-fashioned fun have been moved over to welcome the times of “fast-paced” spy action. It’s also why there are countless versions of Monopoly, with a variation to match any given situation. Penn State-opoly, anyone?
Penn state -opoly? And all they're trying to do is keep an old classic contempory. Kinda like glee covers of oldies.
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