The 50th installment of the Japanese edition of "The Game of Life" board game series was released on March 29, toymaker Tomy said.
The theme of the latest "Jinsei Game Go! Go!" board game, as it is known in Japanese, is “going global," a buzzword that has attracted widespread attention in Japan in recent years. Players can visit various places across the globe as they experience different cultures.
The game starts at an international airport, and players can pick jobs from a pool of professions, including pro athletes, sushi chefs, chief executive officers and astronauts.
There are some intriguing squares on the board. One says, "Found strawberry rolls at a sushi bar," while another reads, "Imported rare anime T-shirts from Japan."
The latest version of the game also introduces a special challenge board, which allows players to score extra points by using a toy car-shaped playing piece.
The new board game is priced at 3,990 yen ($49), including tax, and is available at department stores, toy stores and elsewhere.
The Game of Life has won the hearts of children here since it was first released in Japan in 1968, based on the original U.S. edition that was released in 1960.
To play the game, players spin a small wheel to advance their pieces with the aim of becoming a millionaire. Along the way, they experience various life events, such as finding a job and getting married.
Under the catch line, "Life is full of ups and downs," about 13 million units have been sold in Japan.
As the series continued to grow with its various editions, events and themes unique to Japan were included.
The "Heisei Edition" reflected the latest trends in the early Heisei Era (1989-present), while the "Hanshin Edition" featured the Hanshin Tigers professional baseball team.
The game series has also collaborated with popular anime titles, such as "Doraemon" and "Pokemon."
Visit http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/jinsei/product/gogo/index.html.
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