Jones in the Fast Lane
| Industry | Video games |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1980 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Jones in the Fast Lane is a social simulation game created and released by Sierra On-Line in 1991 for MS-DOS platforms. Adopting a board game style, players strive to reach predetermined benchmarks in wealth, happiness, social standing, and education. The title and gameplay draw inspiration from the idea of keeping up with the Joneses.
Gameplay
The environment is designed as a circular board game layout featuring various buildings, combining aspects reminiscent of Monopoly and Careers. Up to four participants alternate turns "living" through weekly cycles; single players face off against an AI competitor named "Jones". Each participant is symbolized by a colored marble that moves around the board, constrained only by the weekly time units spent traveling or engaging in activities such as employment, studying, or relaxation.
Weekends trigger special "Oh What a Weekend" events, which usually require spending money or can generate income if the player owns a computer. These occurrences often relate to previous purchases (like attending entertainment events) or happen randomly with typical Sierra humor. Players avoid weekend costs by depositing all cash in the bank or finishing the week without carrying money.
To win, players must reach full completion—100%—in four areas: financial assets (bank balance, stocks, cash on hand), happiness (achieved through accomplishments, possessions, and leisure), education (earning university degrees), and career progression (advancing to management roles). The specific targets are set by players before starting the game.
The game includes potential setbacks such as theft by "Wild Willy," who can steal money when leaving the bank or Black's Market and pilfer items from Low Cost Housing residents—though Security Apartments provide protection. Additional hazards include bank errors resulting in lost savings and job termination. The economic environment shifts with variable prices, rents, and salaries; players might experience pay reductions when changing jobs but can secure lower rents if prices decline.
Most locations feature live-action clerks delivering witty greetings with synchronized lip movements, enhancing player immersion.
Development
Initially titled Keeping Up with Jones, the game was thoroughly storyboarded prior to any artwork or programming. The "board game" interface was designed to simplify rules and make them approachable for younger or less experienced players. Its 256-color VGA graphics were cutting-edge for 1990, a time when most titles utilized 16-color EGA. The 1992 CD-ROM edition was among the earliest games compatible with Windows 3.1x.
Within the game, Monolith Burger—a fictional fast food chain—references a restaurant from Sierra's Space Quest series. Designer Bill Davis described the title as "the game you'll pull out when friends visit or when family members tire of Trivial Pursuit."
Reception
The MS-DOS version received an 88% rating from The One, which regarded it as an excellent example of successfully translating board game mechanics into a digital format. The review commended its visuals, soundtrack, digitized actors, and diverse location-based audio tracks, emphasizing its "first-rate presentation." The AI opponent was recognized as sufficiently challenging, while multiplayer mode was praised for fostering an engaging and competitive experience.
Brian Walker of Strategy Plus described the game as enjoyable and straightforward but felt it was overpriced given its simplicity, calling it "one of life's less essential purchases."
Contemporary critiques labeled it a "humorous journey through modern living," appreciating its graphical quality and clever writing while noting it essentially functioned as a computerized board game.
External links
Unofficial adaptations
- Jones - Life in the fast lane: