World’s favourite boardgame Monopoly launches ‘Empire’ version
Dream of being your own version of tech titan Bill Gates or Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg? Gone are days when millions mattered -- we're talking billions of dollars now baby.
Where once it was about owning one stretch of houses, we're now talking about owning entire empires. From global brands such as Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Samsung and Yahoo, you can now own it all. Splash your Monopoly cash to build your Empire tower as high as it can go. Introducing Monopoly's Empire version.
We caught up with game makers Hasbro to talk about their latest version of the world's favourite board game.
Q: How did you decide to come up with a Monopoly Empire version?
For generations, Monopoly has let fans dream big when it comes to building real estate empires. We know that brands resonate with/are popular with kids, so wanted to deliver a gaming experience where they could take these dreams to a whole new level.
We wanted kids and families to indulge that inner fantasy of what it would be like to own it their favorite brands. The brands found on the board are household names that will excite and inspire young fans as they imagine what it would be like to own their favorite brands.
Q: Describe the process behind how companies were chosen to be part of the game. What factors did you consider?
We were looking for brands that would excite and engage kids around the world. The game brings to life the fantasy of being a big time mogul and the idea of owning the brands that are aspirational for young fans worldwide. It lets them imagine what it would be like to be in charge of their favourite things, which is a dream for most kids.
Q: Specifically on Yahoo, how did the company come to be part of the game?
Yahoo was one of the brands we thought would excite and engage kids around the world, and we worked very closely with the team at Yahoo as we developed the game board and packaging.
Q: Kids these days are on their mobiles, tablets and gaming consoles. How does a traditional gameboard like Monopoly compete and remain relevant in today’s world?
Monopoly has been entertaining players since 1935 and is the world’s favorite family game brand. We’re very focused on keeping our players in mind when we introduce new ways to play. From face-to-face and mobile versions, to online and console games, fans can play the game whenever and wherever the mood strikes.
Last year, we held the global Save Your Token vote on the MONOPOLY Facebook page, which has over 11 million fans. Fans voted in a new token to replace one of the classic 8 playing pieces. The iron token was voted out and the cat token was voted in. We’re excited to welcome in the cat, which was chosen by fans.
With Monopoly Empire, we’re giving fans a chance to interact with their favourite brands, and experience the fantasy of what it would be like to own and control these famous brands that are already a relevant part of consumers’ lives.
Geared for anyone above the age of 8 and best played between 2-4 players, Monopoly Empire is on sale at all major toy and game board outlets.
