Monopoly: The Next Generation

Coming this Fall to retail stores everywhere, Monopoly Live! Yes, Hasbro’s classic board game that everyone loves is getting a technology facelift!
The paper money, the Community Chest and Chance cards and the much-loved dice are no more.
Taking the place of these external elements is a tower with an infrared eye, centrally located to monitor all player movements and transactions and even talk to players.
Instead of cash players are given an ATM card.
Buying and selling properties will be done by holding a players hand over certain decals on the board.
The location of the properties has, to the relief of many, remained the same.
The need to keep pace with the growing technology-based game world in conjunction with the desire from players to become more social has fueled this game’s reformation.
"How do we give them the video game and the board game with the social experience? That's where Monopoly Live came in," says Jane Ritson-Parsons, global brand leader for Monopoly.
This new design seems to fit the scope and breadth of consumer demand.
Some have strong, negative opinions about classic game changes, such as Daisy Rainville, avid Monoploy player, who says “That just sounds stupid. It takes the whole point of Monopoly away. It’s a game with paper and dice. Not a stupid computer.”
Deborah Kludjian, mother of five, has a different perspective, “No money? My children learned the value of money, how to add, subtract, make change and the value of exchange with Monopoly money. I guess they want to teach the new generation how to use an ATM machine.”
Issues that may get players steamed is the inability to perform under-the-table transactions such as allowing people a free pass on their real estate for four or five moves provided an up-front fee is produced
A simple issue of collecting the “pot” on Free Parking – according game board rules Free Parking is just that, Free Parking; the only free and safe spot on the board.
Some perks that may be of interest to skeptics are random, mini-games like sudden property auctions and horse races.
This edition is planned and setup for faster and easier game play.
Monopoly has already been on game consoles for and computers for years. This is just another obvious step for game designers, breaking up the sometimes dragging monotony the game usually brings.
Monopoly Live will be selling for $50 at retail stores. Other games, like Battleship will soon get more technological advancements.