One More Chance
[EDIT 02.14.08] Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! I changed the banner of my site for this very special day. A credit is due to elevats for the photo of salt and pepper shakers. [/EDIT 02.14.08]
My most favorite board game is Monopoly. In this board game, one can have the chance to feel how to be rich and get bankrupt, own lots and railroads, build houses and hotels, collect and pay rents, receive salary and get jailed. The only bad thing is that it can be boring at times (especially during the first part when there are no buildings yet) and very time consuming.
Mr. Monopoly aka Rich Uncle Pennybags (the official mascot of Monopoly) was first introduced to me back in my seventh birthday. I received Monopoly Junior as a gift from my aunt. It was the only gift that I had an interest on. I didn’t care about the other toys and clothes that I received. It’s the simplified version of the original game intended for young children. Instead of Boardwalk and Tennessee Avenue it’s got Roller Coaster and Miniature Golf. Jail is replaced by restroom. The booths (houses and hotels in the original game) are color-coded so it’s easy to know who owns that particular amusement. Counting skills and luck are the only things that you need to win the game. What’s more is that the rules are easy to follow, clear, and very simple.
After few years later, I asked my parents to buy me a new Monopoly board, not the game for kids but the original one. And when I got it, I realized that everything was different. No more color-coded booths. All of the houses are green and the hotels red. The only way to know who owns the lot in question is through the title deeds. The board is bigger, and there are more properties that the player can buy. The cards are not only limited to “Chance” but also “Community Chest.” Roll doubles thrice and you go to the jail. And in this case, you don’t get $2.00 allowance but a salary of $200.00. The game play is very different and the rules are complicated and confusing.
It took me some time before I finally learned the rules. But non that I know how to play it a number of the equipments of the board that I own are already missing. The two dices are gone. I bet my sister used them and she didn’t bother to put them back on the case. One or two of the title deeds are missing. I improvised and created new title deeds out of used cardboard. The wheelbarrow playing piece is missing too. I guess, it’s under the humongous pile of toys my brother owns. Searching for it will be a very tedious task and a lot of time will be wasted.
I’m glad that there’s a version that can be installed and played in a computer. Currently, I have Monopoly: Here & Now Edition installed in my notebook. I love playing it. The rules are the same but there is a significant change in the board. The railways are replaced by airports, Water Works by Internet Services, Boardwalk by Time’s Square, New York. The only disadvantage that I’ve noticed is that the maximum number of players is four. Unlike in the original game, there can be as many as eight players in one game. And of course, the original one is more exciting than the computer game format.
And before I end this, did you know that you can vote for your favorite cities that you want to get in the upcoming Monopoly Here and Now: World Edition? Currently, Montreal, Canada tops the 68 pre-selected places. Too bad, Philippines is not represented. But it still has a chance to get into the board. It would be great to see Manila, Philippines in the board isn’t?
Monopoly is indeed a great game. Thank to Parker Brothers, because with this game, we can learn simple math and how to spend our money wisely while having fun.
