Monopoly is getting a modern-day makeover.
Monopoly, invented in 1935, is getting with the times.
I don’t care.
The game’s updated Here and Now edition, which is due out this fall, will replace Atlantic City landmarks with legendary streets, neighborhoods and national monuments.
I hate the game.
Until May 12, fans can vote on www.monopoly.com for their favorite landmarks from 22 cities — including New York’s Times Square, Chicago’s Wrigley Field, Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach, Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive and San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.
I always lose in Monopoly. My brother Dave always beat me. Always.
Among other changes, the railroads will be replaced by New York’s JFK airport, Chicago’s O’Hare, Los Angeles’ LAX and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson.
When I babysat for Sarah’s kids, Nate and Jake kicked my ass in Monopoly, Jr. After Sarah pulled herself up off the floor, where she had fallen because she couldn’t stop laughing when I told her her sons had beaten me, she pointed out that there is no strategy to Monopoly, Jr. There is only luck.
And still, I lost.
Property values will rise, money will be in higher denominations and “Community Chest” and “Chance” cards will reflect more modern scenarios.
When I was a kid, my brother would beg me to play Monopoly. I never wanted to play. I always lost. I knew he would win. So I made him a standard offer: I would play Monopoly only on the condition that afterwards, he would play “Careers” with me. That was a game that I always won. Always.
I’m sure a psychiatrist could have a lot of fun figuring out the whys and wherefores of this story, but may I just say:
I hate Monopoly. I don’t care if you you allow me to purchase Times Square, because I will never play the updated game, and I don’t own the classic game, and, well — I hate Monopoly.
All of this publicity for the “Here and Now Edition” of Monopoly is really bugging me. The articles (ie., the press release) are written as though the layout of the Monopoly board were sancrosanct.
There are dozens of Monopoly editons, from America’s National Parks to Marvel Super Heroes Monopoly. (Hulk Smash Boardwalk!)
The standard Atlantic City edition will remain the standard edition. It’s not going away.
Careers — wow! Cary, Scooter and I used to play in my family’s basement after Hebrew school. We played for blood — 90 points to win instead of 60, with bumping as a frequent stratey move. We prized the Golden Opportunity cards more for their ability to bump someone on any entry square on the board than for the opportunity itself. (Gimme $5,000 and your Special Opportunity to Go to the Moon, or go to Park Bench!)
Scooter usually came up with oddball formulas with a lot of happiness points, a little bit of money and no fame points. It worked for him, too.
I bought a copy when I was in law school, but the updated version just wasn’t the same; all the careers had changed. I traded with my kid brothers for my old broken down set. Two years ago I introduced the game to my wife’s kids, and then this year to our son-in-law, and they love it too.
Thanks for bringing back memories.
(PS- my success rate at Monopoly isn’t much better than yours.)
Well, I used to do pretty well at Careers. I always emphasized love points. Too bad life didn’t work out that like that. I never got to go to the Moon, either.
–shameless plug–
My buddy, Lance, hates Monopoly too. So he invented his own board game which he called Gladiators Of The Arena. I wrote the software to put it online at
.
Now, tell us, Meryl just what do you think of Monopoly! ROFL!!!!
Careers?! Hey, I thought my family was the only one who played that game. Money, Fame, and Happiness -and each persons formula was a little different. I liked the moon shot, but I was just a kid back then. ;)
My favorite version of Monopoly was Ghettopoly, but that version was infringing on copy-writes. Some people just do not know how to have fun. Oh well…