A BRIEF WALK DOWN MADISON AVENUE-
In the mid-80’s Parker Brothers settled all potential legal disputes about the origin of the most popular board game in history and credited Charles Darrow with its creation. At that point the game was already fifty years old, having been patented in 1935. In 1936 our favorite bald, monocled uncle made his first appearance on the backs of Chance and Community Chest. Since then the game as been printed in over 100 different editions around the world. Some of these include The Marvel Superhero’s edition, The Chicago White Sox World Series Edition, the American Idol edition and an Inflatable Edition. There is even a Canadian Edition featuring Niagara Falls (the pretty side), a Beaver icon and a Mounted Police presence in the jail.
Likewise in 2000, F.A.O Schwarz sold a custom made version of the game for One Hundred Thousand Dollars (muahahAHAHAHAHA). The icons were eighteen karat gold, the street names were written in gold leaf, the Rosewood board was encrusted with emeralds (on Chance) sapphires (on Community Chest) and rubies (the tail lights of the Free Parking Car). The $15,140.00 normally included in the game was real American Currency

In 2005, PB dressed up the game in its very best clothes and threw a bash to celebrate turning 70.

GO TO JAIL! NO... DON'T SPEAK... JUST GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL-
What’s that? You don’t know how to play the most played board game since the dawn of existence? Wow... I’m not going to make fun of you or anything but my dog has picked up the basics, and he drinks out of the toilet. Well here, let me lift up that rock you’ve been living under and give you a small rundown. Before I start, go have a shower. You have dirt in your hair.
I’ll keep this brief for the people that will be bored. Some of you may want to skip the next few paragraphs.
The point of the game is to become the last man standing (and therefore the wealthiest player) by buying, renting and developing property.
-Each player chooses one of the small metal tokens provided. The tokens differ from version to version but the standards could include a Wheelbarrow, a Battleship, a Sack Of Cash, a Horse With Rider, a Car, a Train, a Cannon, a Thimble, a Top Hat, a Shoe, an Iron and a Scottish Terrier. I personally never saw the significance of the inclusion of the dog. My favorite was the Polo Player... he just seemed so aristocratic.
-Choose a banker. This person is in charge of giving out all money from the Bank, collecting all money owed to the bank and passing out any of the twenty eight Property Title Deeds (22 Streets, 4 Railroads and 2 Utilities).
-All Players are given a total of $1500.00 to start. They get two $500, $100 and $50 bills and five $20, $10, $5 and $1 bills.
-Taking turns, players start on the Go space, roll the two dice provided and move clockwise on the track provided. From here on in, every time you pass go you collect $200.00 (unless otherwise directed).
-If a player lands on Chance or Community Chest he pulls one of the cards provided and placed in the middle of the board and does what the card tells him too. I normally won second prize in the Beauty Contest. I was perplexed as to why the Contest sponsors were so cheap until I realized that there were probably only two contestants. Then he puts the card on the bottom of the pile.
– If a player lands on an unowned property he can buy it if he chooses and has the financial means. If he doesn't buy it, the Bank auctions it off to the highest bidder. Property values increase substantially the farther away you get from the ghettos of St. Charles Avenue. Likewise, if a player needs money he can mortgage his property and the bank will pay him about half what the property is worth until he can un-mortgage it.
– If a player lands on an owned, unmortgaged property he must pay the owner the appropriate rent. Rent charges will vary depending on the level of land development.
– If a player rolls doubles he is allowed to roll again but if a player rolls three doubles in a row he goes to jail. I also never understood why players were punished for being too lucky.
– Players can haggle out deals and trade properties at the beginning of their turns if they wish.
– If a player owns all the properties in a specific segment he can begin land development. Houses or hotels are bought from the bank and placed on the properties under development. Since there are only 32 Houses and 12 Hotels, you may want to get your orders in as quickly as possible. The only rule to this is that you have to develop your properties in a uniform fashion. You can't have a Hotel on one property and a House on a corresponding property. Just as you can mortgage properties, you can also sell houses and hotels back to the bank for approximately half of what you paid for them.

The game also offers a few options so that playing time is shortened considerably from the standard thee hours.

ALL RIGHT... I LANDED ON TOADSUCK, ARKANSAS!!!
What's That? You don't remember ever landing on Toadsuck? That's because It Doesn't Exist. Here are a few other rules that don't exist.
1) $500 and all fines and taxes are placed in the middle of the board. The player who lands on Free Parking wins this Jackpot.
2) Players in Jail can't collect rent or develop their property... I mean come on...the Mob does it all the time.
3) There is no bonus if you land directly on Go. Likewise there is no bonus for rolling two 1's on the dice.
4) Rent Immunity for property trades don't exist... although it really does sweeten the pot.
5) YOU CAN NOT place multiple hotels on a property.
These are all examples of House Rules. While Parker Brothers is aware of these rules and even encourages people to get creative with them, they don't recognize them as actual rules.

Wow... that took longer than I thought. For all the people who already knew how to play, I apologize for those three folks from Kiritimati Island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

OPEN YOUR GIFTS UNCLE, WHAT DO YOU GIVE THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING?
So what was included in the anniversary addition that made it so special?
1) Let's start with The Box before we open it. A durable, brushed silver metal tin with a thick, multicolored (but mostly gold) plastic, slip cover. Ten inches square by three and a half inches deep. One of the biggest things that bothered me about monopoly was how cheap the box was that it came in. After a few years one of the sides inevitably split and it would leak houses, tokens and money. This is the main reason why monopoly had to start putting out Money Booster Packs. There is no chance this will happen here. I can toss this down the stairs and I might get a slight ting in the metal.
Let’s open the tin
2) If you are one of the lucky few, you will immediately see a card with a code on it. If the code matched the winning code of the Special Anniversary Contest you won $15,140.00 (“Who remembers the total amount of money included in the original version of Monopoly... yes, Susie... Why that is 100% correct. You get to lead the class through story time next week.”) I was not one of the lucky few.
3) The Board- Once you unwrap the gold foil wrapper and open up the board you will see a nice overhaul. The exterior squares are the same but the interior of the board is done in muted golds and silvers. A large picture of a different icon adorns each corner and the interior design has been modified to reflect a nostalgic, 1950’s feel. The Chance and Community Chest squares are reminiscent of Radio City Music Hall
4) The Rules- The large (10 inch by 10 inch) red covered rule book now adds a lot more. The fourteen page in depth description of the game now also includes a two page history that talks about Darrow, the game itself and certain milestones and trivia moments through out history. For instance a Braille version of the game was created in 1970
5) The Trays- Two cream velveteen trays are included that keep all pieces separate from each other… just in case you throw out the resealable zip-lock baggies that hold the individual items.
6) The Money- wow... they based the money logo on The Emerald City and have included an OZ like number 70 on the top of each bill
7) The Tokens- Each of the twelve tokens (see above) is an oversized, beefier, pewtered version of the original. Most have been slightly updated to give them a bit of a modern look while still keeping the old fashioned feel. The Scotty Dog has reared up on his back legs and is wearing a sweater. The Speed boat, while still appearing to be an old wooden topped model, is longer and seats more people.
8) The Title Deeds- Each of the title deeds have been yellowed and aged to give a retro, distressed look. The script is slightly more flowery while still remaining simplistic.
9) The Dice- The corners are slightly rounded, the dice are a transparent ivory and small flecks of green and blue dance from inside when the light hits them just right.
10) The Hotels and Houses- While some Hotels may appear similar, no two are completely alike. Each one is painted in a coppery red metallic to give the illusion that they are more substantial. The styles range from Mid-Town Prince Albert to White House-esq to looming sky scrapers. The houses are also painted in a metallic (distressed green) and are based on four separate designs. You have a bungalow for the people who can’t take stairs and then three, two story jobs.

Is there one thing missing?

Maybe... but I have to tell you, I'm being incredibly picky. If I'm playing and someone asks me to be banker I like to be organized to the point of retentive. I like all the money separated in to individual slots and all the Property Deeds separated and grouped by color. I want everything sitting up and facing me for easy access. I don't want to have to go hunting. While the trays provide separate slots for each dollar denomination, there isn't anywhere for me to place all the Title Deeds, so I have to spread them out on a small table beside me and hope a slight breeze doesn't catch them and mess them.... but like I said. I am being unbelievably picky.

Over all, this is the nicest version I have ever seen. I dropped the money for this with out even thinking twice. It will be in my family for decades and may get passed down through the generations.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Nice things, well made things, cost money. My great-uncle Pennybags taught me that.
“CUT THE CAKE UNCLE!!! I have a few friends that would like a piece. Then we'll all hit the fifty person jacuzzi or go to his private 6 lane bowling alley.

PARTY ON!!!”


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 79 CND
Type of Toy: Game
Age Range of Child: 9 Years or Older