McKinney’s online game Money Magic challenges students to win at budgeting

Money Magic teaches students the spectacularly unappealing task of creating, and keeping up with, a personal budget. And while they say, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” you have to get there first. And there lies the rub.

Players take on the role of road manager for Enzo the Magician, tasked with getting him to Vegas for his big break — and raising $50K along the way to pay for the venue once they get there. And it’s no mean feat: They have to juggle the costs of hyping shows as they make their way to land of neon and slots, along with paying upkeep on things like new tricks for Enzo and putting gas in the tank of his Magic Mobile. And they have to make sure the spirit of their star performer doesn’t sag, which isn’t easy when you’re managing a diva like Enzo.

Money Magic is the latest in the suite of online financial literacy games by Next Gen Personal Finance and McKinney.