The Checkered Game of Life

Date: 1860

Publisher: Milton Bradley (the company)

Designer: Milton Bradley (the man)

Why It's Significant (in 25 words or less): The Checkered Game of Life was the first game published by Milton Bradley, a company which published hundreds of games through the years.

More About The Checkered Game of Life: The story is told this way at Hasbro's web site: "In 1860, Mr. Milton Bradley was a successful lithographer whose major product was a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. When Mr. Lincoln grew his trademark beard, Bradley's clean-shaven portrait was no longer popular. Out of desperation, Mr. Bradley printed up several copies of a game he'd invented called The Checkered Game of Life. Its immediate popularity put Milton Bradley in the game business."

In 1960, Milton Bradley commissioned a 100-year anniversary tribute game, simply titled The Game of Life. It was designed by Reuben Klamer along with a co-inventor. The Game of Life is still in print today.