The Game of Life Now Takes Visa

Later this year, life will literally take Visa! Milton Bradley's the game of Life that is.

When it launches this summer, Hasbro, Inc.'s new The Game Of Life: Twists & Turns Edition will be the first major board game in America to replace cash with a Visa-branded card as the preferred form of currency. And as a matter of social responsibility, Visa is going to include information on money management and financial responsibility. Players are certain to read all pertinent info and take their credit cues from a board game.

Instead of getting money at the start of the game, players receive their "Visa" card. An electronic "LifePod" replaces the traditional spinning wheel. The "LifePod" acts like a personal assistant and serves as the electronic banking unit, storing each of the players' financial data and their status in the game.

The new version of Life offers some pretty neat updates. In the traditional version of the game, players must choose at the start of the game whether they want a college education and thus more money or a non-college career, which lowers a players earning power. Apparently all of this will be decided and tracked by the "LifePod."

The new version mirrors true life; Players will be able to move between the four life tracks (adventure, family, college or career) or stay in one area for the duration of the game. Rarely do American workers stay in any one job or field for their entire careers these days.

Additionally, players will determine the length of the game by selecting the number of 'years' (or turns) that will be included in the game. Past versions of the game were played until somebody retired as either a millionaire or a pauper. In this version, the winner is no longer the person who accumulates the most money, but rather earns the most "life points", which is a combination of wealth and life experiences.

In addition to incorporating a Visa-branded card as its official currency, The Game Of Life: Twists & Turns Edition will feature elements of Visa's Practical Money Skills for Life. For more information about Visa's commitment to financial literacy, Visa has set up a website players can visit.

The Game Of Life: Twists & Turns Edition will be available in August 2007. Currently, there is a Sponge Bob Square Pants, Pirates of the Caribbean and Simpson's version of Life in addition to the traditional version.

No word yet on whether or not MasterCard or American Express have any plans to enter the board game arena.