Jones in the Fast Lane
Jones in the Fast Lane is a video game that consists of 0 releases
The goal of Jones in the Fast Lane is to become the most educated, happiest, and wealthiest person of the players in the game.
Introduction
Set your own goals
Set your own goals
A game of Jones in the Fast Lane can consist of up to four players, who take turns to play their round. Each player can set their goals individually, which means you can easily balance a game between a beginner and a seasoned player. The tone of the game is humorous, and each round starts with a description of how you spent the weekend.
Locations
Low-Cost Housing
Low-Cost Housing
Low-Cost Housing
This is the standard housing of the game. This is also where all players start each round.
At the start of the game, an apartment here costs $325. Rent can increase and decrease a lot between rounds, so make sure you keep an eye on the rent for a new apartment every time rent is due.
If you live in an apartment here, the risk of a break-in increases with every home appliance or electronic equipment you buy.
There are no jobs available at Low-Cost Housing.
Pawn Shop
Pawn Shop
Pawn Shop
If you’re ever in need of some fast cash, you can pawn things you bought at the Pawn Shop. It isn’t very common, however, that the Pawn Shop is visited during a game.
When you pawn something, you have two rounds to redeem it before other players can buy whatever you pawned.
There are no jobs available at the Pawn Shop.
Z-Mart Discount
Z-Mart Discount
Z-Mart Discount
If you’re looking for a good buy, Z-Mart Discount is the place to visit. Here you’ll find a wide array of different items, some of which are only available from Z-Mart Discount. Other items, such as clothes and electronics, can also be bought at the specialty stores. Exactly what’s for sale at Z-Mart varies between rounds.
Clothes bought at Z-Mart Discount don’t last as long as clothes bought at QT Clothing. Electronics and home appliances bought here tend to break and need repair more often than those bought at Socket City.
Jobs available at Z-Mart Discount are:
- Clerk (available from the start of the game)
- Assistant Manager
- Manager
Monolith Burger
Monolith Burger
Monolith Burger
Monolith Burger serves fast food. The name is taken from a fictitious fast food restaurant found in the Space Quest series.
The chicken nuggets served at Monolith Burger--Astro Chicken--got its name from a minigame found in Space Quest III.
Jobs available at Monolith Burger are:
- Cook (available from the start of the game)
- Clerk (available from the start of the game)
- Assistant Manager
- Manager
QT Clothing
QT Clothing
QT Clothing
QT Clothing is the place where all fashion aware people shop for clothes. The prices here are about twice as high as those at Z-Mart Discount, but they last a little longer.
Jobs available at QT Clothing are:
- Salesperson
- Assistant Manager
- Manager
Socket City
Socket City
Socket City
Socket City sells electronics and home appliances. The name is a spoof of Circuit City.
Items bought here don’t break down as often as those bought at Z-Mart Discount, but they do break occasionally.
Jobs available at Socket City are:
- Salesperson
- Electronics Repair
- Manager
Hi-Tech University
Hi-Tech University
Hi-Tech University
In order to get some of the better jobs in the game, you will need to study. Hi-Tech University is the place for that.
There are a total of eleven courses available, and they are:
- Trade School
- Electronics (requires Trade School)
- Pre Engineering (requires Trade School)
- Engineering (requires Pre Engineering)
- Junior College
- Business Administration (requires Junior College)
A diploma from Hi-Tech University - Academic (requires Junior College)
- Graduate School (requires Academic)
- Post Doctoral (requires Graduate School)
- Research (requires Post Doctoral)
- Publishing (requires Research)
To take one of the courses, you’ll have to pay the enrollment fee.
Jobs available at Hi-Tech University are:
- Janitor (available from the start of the game)
- Teacher
- Professor
Employment Office
Employment Office
Employment Office
The Employment Office is where you apply for the various jobs found in the game. This should be the very first place you visit when you start a new game.
Applying for a job consumes time, and as such it’s not recommended to apply for jobs you aren’t likely to get. If you do apply for a job that you do not qualify for, you will be told what you need to improve in order to get that specific job.
There are no jobs available at the Employment Office.
The Factory
The Factory
The Factory
The Factory does not offer any goods or services; it’s only a place for work.
Naturally, the Factory offers more available positions than any other workplace in the game.
Jobs available are:
- Janitor
- Assembly Worker
- Secretary
- Machinist's Helper
- Executive Secretary
- Machinist
- Department Manager
- Engineer
- General Manager
The position as General Manager of the Factory is the best paid job in the game, and one of the hardest to get.
The Bank
The Bank
The Bank
At the Bank you can deposit money, which keeps them safe from Fast Willy, who is the thief of the game. You can also take out a loan, and invest in one of several different markets. Investing money when the economy is down can be a very wise move if the economy turns.
Markets available for investing are:
- T-bills
- Gold
- Silver
- Pork Bellies
- Blue Chip Stock
Available investment markets - Penny Stock
Jobs available at the Bank are:
- Janitor
- Teller
- Assistant Manager
- Manager
- Investment Broker
Black’s Market
Black's Market
Black's Market
At Black’s Market you can buy groceries, the paper and lottery tickets. Buying groceries means you don’t have to eat at Monolith Burger. Before buying groceries, however, you should make sure you have a fridge or the food will spoil. If you’re planning on buying four weeks worth of groceries, you also need a freezer. Food that spoils gives you an added expense in the form of a bill from the doctor’s.
Jobs available at Black’s Market are:
- Janitor
- Checker
- Butcher
- Assistant Manager
- Manager
Le Security
A nice apartment at Le Security
A nice apartment at Le Security
When you start making more money, or if rent goes down, you may want to live someplace a little nicer. Then Le Security is just what you’re looking for! Living at Le Security gives a substantial bonus compared to living at the Low-Cost Housing.
As the name implies, when you live at Le Security you don’t have to worry about Fast Willy breaking into your home and stealing your stuff.
There are no jobs available at Le Security.
Rent Office
The Rent Office
The Rent Office
The Rent Office is only open for business every fourth week. Except for working here, you can pay your rent, apply for an extension, or rent a new apartment.
Jobs available at the Rent Office are:
- Grounds keeper
- Apartment Manager
Strategy
The most efficient way to win a game of Jones in the Fast Lane depends on the goals set at the beginning of the game. A good strategy for the default settings is to take the job as clerk at Monolith Burger, work about four times each week, vary between eating fries and hamburger, and study the rest of the time. Every fourth week, when rent is due, work eight times, eat and then pay rent. Spend the last fraction of the round relaxing.
To get a decent job quickly, take Junior College and Business Administration at the university, then apply for the job as assistant manager at Monolith Burger. After working as assistant manager for a round, you can apply for the job as teller at the bank. After a few rounds there, you’re eligible for the position as manager of QT Clothing, and after spending some time there you can apply for the job as assistant manager of the bank. That job will pretty soon qualify you for the managing position.
After you have secured a decent job, move to Le Security and buy a fridge. You can now buy two weeks worth of groceries at Black’s Market, which will save you time. From here on out, you should focus on making money, and filling your apartment with stuff. Z-Mart Discount offers a few exclusive items, such as books. If you see the news headline between rounds that the economy is on the decline, invest in some markets at the bank. Also, make sure to deposit some money in case Fast Willy comes by and robs you.
Hints & Tips
- Keep an eye on the economy. Sometimes you can get the luxury apartment for almost the same price as the low-cost apartment. If you want to save money, which means you have to work less, get the luxury apartment and then switch back to the low-cost apartment at the lower rate.
- If you take the job at Monolith Burger, you can work and study up to nine times. This is just one less than the maximum ten events per round.
- The casual clothes at QT Clothing are almost twice as expensive as the ones sold at Z-Mart Discount, and they only last one round longer. However, they don't always have clothes in stock at Z-Mart.
- Walking between different locations consumes time, so make sure you walk as little as possible.
- Eating does not consume any time.
- You score more if you don't eat the same thing every round. Eating healthier gives a bonus over eating junk food.
- If you buy a lot of the home appliances when you live in the low-cost apartment, there's a big risk you'll lose it all in a break-in. The luxury apartments are never broken in to.
General Information
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