The Howard Hughes Game

In The Howard Hughes Game players move via die roll on a two-dimensional grid, drawing or trading cards when they land on the appropriate spaces. The goal is to get cards of the different types (Luck, Inheritance, and Corporate Know-How) for each of the eight phases of Hughes' life (as defined by the game) in turn. The phases are entered via "doors" on the board and the cards are turned in for money, which is tracked on a small board for each player. In true Hughes style, players may purchase injunctions to prevent movement through certain areas of the board. The object is to amass $2.5 billion dollars, the publisher's estimate of Hughes' fortune at the time. In addition to the rules, the "Study Guide" booklet contains 21 pages of material on the life and investments of Howard Hughes and an extensive bibliography. Although the name "Urban Systems" does not appear on the game, this is presumably the game in the case Rosemont Enterprises, Inc. v. Urban Systems, Inc. (72 Misc.2d 788, 789-90, 340 N.Y.S.2d 144, 145-46 [Sup.Ct.], modified, 42 App.Div.2d 544, 345 N.Y.S.2d 17 [App.Div.1973]). This case resulted in a judgement for Hughes against the game publisher, requiring them to withdraw the game from sale.