A Red House and A Potato Field - Monopoly of Finnish Dreams is a game based on Monopoly. The game focuses on societal issues of wellbeing. Main purpose is to point out the realities of life and how your state of income affects your quality of life. Basic rules and the board work the same way, but the player categories are divided into three income groups, that determine the set up and how each player proceeds throughout the game.

The game itself is not an answer to any problem, but a wakeup call to show us that even a “wellbeing society” like Finland is not equal to all its citizens. By doing research and examining Finnish statistics, we wanted offer as realistic gaming experience as possible. Through the scenarios in the “Community Treasure” and “Chance” cards, every player can either rise further in terms of life quality or end up losing everything regardless of income group. There are no clear winners or losers. 

“Rautio reckons that by selling her curtains and candle holders, she might earn 100 euros. It might bring a moment’s relief but it wouldn’t change the overall situation. They bring me tremendous joy, but does a poor person have a right to own something like that?” (Translated from the article.)

Köngäs, P. (2019). Minna Rautiolla on koira, auto ja Marimekon verhot – vuonna 2019 tavara ei kuitenkaan tarkoita, että olisi rahaa ruokaan. Retrieved October 10, 2019 https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10970761. 

Group members: 
Joel Levander, Maria Punkkinen, Vertti Virasjoki, Liisa Karbin-Kosonen, and Eerika Yli-Rahko