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A fast game's a good game!
When a player lands on an unowned property and decides not to buy it, the property goes to auction.
For sixty years, over 480 million players from around the globe have played this extraordinary game. But it takes more than just playing an occasional round to keep up on all the facts that surround the world's most popular game.
Did you know that:
- Mr. Monopoly is the name of the MONOPOLY® man. The character locked behind the bars is called Jake the Jailbird. Officer Edgar Mallory sent him to jail.
- George Parker issued a memo in 1936 that was to halt the productions of the MONOPOLY® game. He later withdrew the instruction and the rest is history!
- Parker Brothers rejected the MONOPOLY® game when it was first presented to them in 1933, citing 52 fundamental playing flaws.
- Charles Darrow invented the game in 1933 and since Waddingtons put Monopoly into production in the UK in 1935, London has been a feature of the classic board. The original locations were chosen by Victor Watson from Waddingtons and his secretary, Marjory Phillips.
- Over 5,120,000,000 little green houses have been "constructed" since the MONOPOLY® game was introduced in 1935.
- World records are maintained for the longest game in a treehouse (286) hours, underground (100 hours), in a bathtub (99 hours) and upside-down (36 hours).
- The longest MONOPOLY® game ever played was 1,680 hours long, that is 70 straight days!
- Escape maps, compasses and files were inserted into MONOPOLY® game boards smuggled into POW camps inside Germany during World War II. Real money for escapees was slipped into the packs of MONOPOLY® money.
- Over 200 million sets of the MONOPOLY® game have been sold worldwide.
- The total amount of money in a standard MONOPOLY® game is $15,140.
- The MONOPOLY® game is published in 27 languages, including Croatian and sold in 81 countries.
- The three most-landed-on properties are Marlborough St, "GO" and Kings Cross Station.
- When a player lands on an unowned property and decides not to buy it, the property goes to auction.
- In the 1970's, a Braille edition of the MONOPOLY® game was created for the visually impaired.
- At the 1959 American National Exhibition in Moscow, all six sets of the MONOPOLY® game that were on display mysteriously disappeared.
- Over 20 tokens have been cast since the MONOPOLY® game was introduced in 1935 such as the horse, dog, car, elephant, purse and lantern.
- A set made by Alfred Dunhill that included gold and silver houses and hotels, sold for USD$25,000.
- In Cuba, the game had a strong following until Fidel Castro took power and ordered all known sets destroyed.
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MONOPOLY tokens (aka movers) have come a long way since game designer Charles Darrow initially used buttons and pennies and items from his wife's charm bracelet to move around the board. During the past 71 years, players have plotted their course along the world's most popular game using die-cast terriers, wheelbarrows, race cars, and even a top hat.
MONOPOLY fans playing the new Australian Monopoly Here & Now Edition will have the chance to speed past "GO" in a trendy ute, race directly to "JAIL" in a pair of thongs, and jet off to the game board's nearest airport (which replaces the railroads) riding in a supersonic airplane.
"These updated tokens are extremely relevant in the 21st century and provide an additional layer of fun and authenticity for players as they enjoy our new contemporary edition", said Amanda Blackhall, Senior Brand Manager at Hasbro Games.
The updated 'Australianised' tokens will include:
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Surfboard - ever since Duke Kahanamoku first graced Australian waves in 1915 on his carved timber surfboard, surfing has evolved and developed into one of our country's most loved sports and pasttimes. The surfboard is an iconic symbol of Australian culture and rightly takes its place as a token in the New Australian Monopoly Here & Now Edition. |
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Pair of Thongs - the Australian Monopoly Here & Now Edition is giving the old shoe the boot and allowing players to take strides around the board with an Aussie footwear favourite - the traditional pair of 'thongs' - you won't find an Australian household without a few pairs of these wonderfully comfortable and versatile outdoor shoes lying around somewhere! |
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Ute - The story of the utility truck or coupé utility- the ute - began in 1932, when a letter was received by Ford Australia's plant at Geelong, Victoria. It was written by a farmer's wife who'd had enough of riding to church in the farm truck and arriving in saturated clothing; 'Why don't you build people like us a vehicle to go to church in on a Sunday, and which can carry our pigs to market on Mondays?' The rest is history, and now this popular style of vehicle is spotted all around the world, including in the new Australian Monopoly Here & Now edition. |
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Koala - This cute and cuddly marsupial native to Australia is perennially recognised from people all around the world as an important and classic icon of our country. The Koala even featured as one of the three key mascots for the Sydney 2000 Olympic games, and deserves its place in the Australian Monopoly Here & Now Edition. |
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Labradoodle - The Scottish Terrier, once a popular pet and coveted MONOPOLY token, has been replaced by a new breed that is a mix between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle, brilliantly called a Labradoodle. Known for their extreme cleverness and curly coat, these dogs have become a "must have" addition to families - and MONOPOLY game players, too! We have been informed that the first 'Labradoodle' was actually created right here in Australia! |
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Mobile Phone - Our lives have been trasnformed since the first 'brick' mobile phone was introduced in the early 1980's. Today there are over 16 million mobile phones in Australia and around 80% of people have one. The mobile phone can now be used for a number of different purposes other than just calling people, and if you ask most people, it is an accessory they simply 'cannot live without'. |
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Laptop Computer - Laptops allow the 'Millennial' generation the chance to conduct business, talk long distance, and surf the web anytime, anywhere. Because computers play such an important role in modern life, one of the two utilities on the game board has even been changed to "Internet Service." |
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