HOW ABOUT 'STRIP' MONOPOLY? (Monopoly)

Member Name: snappy

Product:	Monopoly
Date:	27/03/01 (1849 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great game for all the family

Disadvantages: arguments can break out

MONOPOLY is one game that can lead to all out family warfare, but definately a board game that will not leave you BORED!

It is a game that can be played on several levels - by families, it can involve the younger members plus also be fun for Nan and Grandad too – by enthusiasts who take it very seriously (there is a World Championships held each year, more of that later) – and even as sexual foreplay, or have you never played ‘Strip Monopoly’?

I do not propose to go into the rules of how to play and infinite details of Monopoly. If you don’t know now – ‘phone a friend’ ! Rate me however you like, but I do not have a monopoly on opinions on this game (sorry, couldn’t resist) there are plenty of others and I thought I’d try and be different – ish.

So we all know how to play it - yes? Of course, but let's just go over the basics. The idea of the game is to buy Property, trade property and build up 'blocks' around the Board in which to initially catch your opponents landing on and charge them 'rent'. This gradually increases your 'cash' with which to invest more into the property, or buy 'houses' or 'hotels' on your property - which in turn raises the rent which you can charge.

Maybe I've not explained it too well - BUT bottom line - you are aiming to bankrupt your opponents, by wheeling and dealing and thus be crowned Champion of Monopoly.... and do a lap of the living room!

Anyway it is definitely a board game with a Universal appeal. Now I must say that I always associated the game with British company, John Waddington Ltd, but it was actually invented over 60 years ago in Philadelphia USA. Charles Darrow was the name of the man, and believe it or not, this board game ‘institution’ was turned down at first by executives of Parker Brothers toys! Now it has sold over 200 MILLION sets worldwide! <
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Back to the version we all now and love (or if we lose - to hate!). Originally based around London, utilising various London streets, Landmarks and utilities from the ‘Old Kent Road’ through ‘Kings Cross Station’ to the rarified atmosphere of the penthouses in Park Lane and Mayfair.

Well, I said ‘universal’ appeal, and probably due to the marketing expertise of Hasbro - the present day owners and distributors of the Monopoly brand - you can get all kinds of ‘themed’ sets. Visit New York and pick up your souvenir of that fine city with the NYC version with place names based on similar areas in the ‘Big Apple’. Same thing in the major European Cities and no doubt in Hong Kong and all points east. I can’t vouch for that, but I know that while I was in the US, I bought a ‘Vegas Monopoly’, saw them in San Francisco and L.A too. You can get a smaller version, of course, ‘Travel Monopoly’, plus version brought out now to coincide with blockbuster movies – Star Trek and Star Wars versions spring to mind readily.

Just like that other legendary board game, Scrabbble, there is a World Championships held each year and in fact even an official website – www.monopoly.com! It’s actually a very interesting and useful site too. Giving you details of tournaments taking place worldwide (I kid you not!), merchandise, a potted history of the game and a few tips and cheats. So who out there would not confess to having tucked the odd £100 note up your sleeve whilst playing? (oops, only me then?) I know some people that would never think of bending the rules – they play so straight they never even have to ‘go to jail’…..mmm you don’t believe me do you.

Anyway back to the plot, the last World Championships were held in Toronto, Canada in October 2000. National champions from over 50 countries did battle
for the coveted title over three days of competition. And when the final hotel had been built and the last rent collected the new World Monopoly Champion emerged as Yutaka Okada of Japan who was rewarded with a first prize of US $15,140 !!

So Ladies and Gentlemen and fellow Monopolizers (Good term, I’ve just invented it copyright KM 2001), dust down that old board, drag out the family and get practising – there’s REAL money to be won out there.

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