Periscope

New York Game Factory's So Sue Me! board game has been a hit at Urban Outfitters stores since the Philadelphia-based chain sold out its first supply late last year. (The game's also offered on Web sites like toysrus.com and the lawyer gift site forcounsel.com.) Each player starts with $3 million and obtains property to earn the right to sue. Did you doze off near an office shredder and wake up with a haircut? Sue for up to $2.6 million. Invent the air guitar? Take 'em for up to $3.6 million.Peter McKay, 25, of Manhattan, plays with a group of friends about once a month. And though disputes can get heated (possibly because they consume a few drinks beforehand), McKay fancies himself the new Perry Mason. "I would say I win the most of my friends. I'm pretty darn good at it," he says. Besides its popularity among young urbanites, there's added resonance, says Gretchen Schaefer of the American Tort Reform Association. "It is a sad commentary on the frivolous lawsuits that are filed in the U.S. The civil-justice system is out of control." Creators Jeff Gross and Joel Rogers say they want players to laugh, and aren't trying to poke at those who sue for legitimate reasons. And as for strategy, Gross's tip is, don't underestimate your opponents. "I played the game with two 11-year-olds and a 12-year-old, and they kicked my butt."--Lisa HelemMuseums: Blast From the Past