Monopoly Board Game

Monopoly is a board game that revolves around buying and selling properties. Due to the success of the Monopoly board game, it is offered in a large variety of themes and versions, including Monopoly Jr and collectors editions for numerous shows and movies, including Star Wars and The Simpsons.

The game is published by Parker Brothers, a subsidiary of Hasbro. The game is named after the economics concept of monopoly, the domination of a market by a single entity.http://richard_wilding.tripod.com/monorules.htm

Monopoly is the most commercially-successful board game in United States history, with 485 million players worldwide. "The object of the game is to become the wealthiest player through buying, renting and selling property."www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/monins.pdf

The Monopoly board is set up with 28 properties to purchase, three Chance spaces, three Community Chest spaces, a Luxury Tax space, an Income Tax space, and the four corner squares: GO, Jail, Free Parking, and Go to Jail. Players take turns rolling the dice and moving around the board. If you land on a Chance or Community Chest space, you must take a card and do whatever it says. If you land on a property space that is owned by someone else, you must pay them rent. If the property space is not owned by anyone, you have the chance to purchase it yourself. The object of the game is to have more money than other players, which can be accomplished by owning the highest rent properties or owning numerous properties.

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At the beginning of the game, each player receives Monopoly Money, a specific amount. "Each player is given $1500 divided as follows: 2 each of $500’s, $100’s and $50’s; 6 $20’s; 5 each of $10’s, $5’s and $1’s. All remaining money and other equipment go to the Monopoly Bank." One player is selected as the banker.www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/monins.pdf

Part of Monopoly's allure is acquisition of real estate, money and power. As players roll the dice, they may land on a property square. If the property landed on is available, the player has the option to buy it, if he or she has enough funds. There are usually 3 properties grouped together, with the exceptions of Baltic Avenue and Mediterranean Avenue, which are low-end properties and Boardwalk and Park Place which are high-end properties. Other squares are "Chance" squares or a "Community Chest" squares. Other squares provide the opportunity to buy railroads and utilities. However, there are also squares that require the player to pay taxes or go to jail.www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/monins.pdf

If a player winds up with all the properties in a group, he or she has a "Monopoly" and may then begin investing in real estate - houses and hotels - which make the player a landlord. If a player lands on a property that has someone else's house or hotel on it, that player must pay rent.

Each time a player rounds the board, they pass the initial "Go!" square and collect $200.00. A familiar catch-phrase in American idioms comes from the ill-fated player who lands on a Chance square, pulls a card and it reads, "Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.00." However, the Chance and Community Chess cards often read more favorably. "The bank has made an error in your favor. Collect $100.00"

In November of 2008, Hasbro, the current owners of the Monopoly brand, and Universal Studios, announced that they would be co-producing a feature film based on the Monopoly game, to be produced and directed by Ridley Scott. The film will be a family comedy, which Scott hopes to give a "futuristic sheen", reminiscent of his classic sci-fi film Blade Runner.Hollywood Reporter: Monopoly has Electric Company (November 12, 2008)

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