Jones in the fast lane
“Jones in the Fast Lane” is a life simulation game compatible with MS-DOS systems, crafted and released by Sierra Entertainment in 1991. It incorporates a board game style, challenging players to achieve specified levels of wealth, happiness, career progress, and education, with these goals being set at the game’s start. Its title and objectives humorously riff on the phrase “keeping up with the Joneses.”
Gameplay Overview
The gameplay unfolds on a virtual board peppered with buildings, drawing inspiration from both Monopoly and Careers, designed for up to four participants. These players alternate turns, simulating a week in their characters’ lives, either competing against each other or, in solo play, against the eponymous “Jones.”
Participants are symbolized by colored marbles on the board and have the freedom to navigate in any direction, constrained only by their available time each turn. Time diminishes when players move or engage in activities such as work, education, or relaxation, with each turn embodying a week of life.
Weekends bring “Oh What a Weekend” events, affecting finances positively or negatively, often tied to the player’s actions or purchases during the preceding week. For example, spending the weekend in Las Vegas could lead to humorous financial outcomes. Absence of cash or banking all funds prevents weekend spending.
Victory is claimed by being the first to fully achieve the game’s four main objectives: accumulating wealth, achieving happiness, obtaining education, and advancing in a career. These goals are met through a combination of earning money, acquiring possessions, pursuing education, and career advancement.
However, players face various setbacks, including theft by the character Wild Willy or economic fluctuations affecting prices, wages, and rents. Certain buildings in the game also enhance interaction through live-action clerks, adding humor and engagement through lip-synced dialogues.