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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.
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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 Monopoly Here & Now New Zealand Edition will have the chance to speed past "GO" in a trendy ute, race directly to "JAIL" in a pair of jandals, and jet off from the airport riding in a supersonic airplane.
The updated 'Kiwified' tokens will include:
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Jandals - Giving the old shoe the boot and allowing players to stride the board in a summer favourite, this global sandal was invented by the Japanese who have worn them for over two thousand years. The name, however, is unique to our fair New Zealand shores and has been a must have in the summer wardrobes since the 1930's. |
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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! |
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Mobile Phone - Our lives have been transformed since the first 'brick' mobile phone was introduced in the early 1980's and today over 80% of kiwis have one (if not two!). 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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Airplane - Overseas travel is increasing and with 750,000 kiwis going abroad in 2006, we are definitely a nation of travellers and adventurers. Given our geographical location, the airplane has become an important part of travel for both work and play. |
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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 Provider." |
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Sheep - Cities are growing and technology is expanding, but the agricultural sector is still a vital part of the economy and is where many key advances are being made. So despite a slight drop in numbers there are still around 10 sheep for every person in this country and lamb exports have been on the rise in the last decade making the humble sheep a natural choice for selection as a token in the latest game. |
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Surfboard - With wild west coast beaches and beautiful golden sands on the east, surfing has evolved and developed since the first national champs in 1963 into one of our country's most loved sports and pastimes. The surfboard is an iconic symbol of New Zealand culture and rightly takes its place as a token in the new game. |
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Ute - From first production in the 1930's and 1940's the "ute" has been a mainstay on farms, country roads and even towns around New Zealand. The multi-purpose use of this utility vehicle has earnt it inclusion in the NEW Monopoly Here and Now edition. |
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New Transport Sites
In the new MONOPOLY game we recognise the importance of different modes of transport with our new Transport Sites replacing
the old train stations
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Auckland International Airport - New Zealand's largest and busiest airport with over 11,000,000 passenger movements a year |
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Dunedin Railway Station - This beautifully constructed building was opened in 1906 and is regarded as one of the Southern Hemisphere's best examples of railroad architecture. |
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Port Tauranga - It's origins trace back to the 1860's when the first pilot, Captain T S Carmichael, fixed leading buoys and marks in position to define the navigable channel. |
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Picton Ferry - This picturesque waterfront town is the ferry gateway from the North to the South Island. |
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New Utilities:
Two new utilities pay homage to our reliance on communications and technology
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Mobile Phone Company |
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Internet Service Provider |
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