Monopoly

Monopoly Game at Starting Point

Monopoly Game Board

Monopoly Game: In Jail 

MONOPOLY

UNITED STATES

20TH CENTURY

Monopoly is one of the most popular family fun game in America, and it is a modern board game innovated from real estate elements. The board game consist of lots of economic aspects, at the same time the game pits the players against each other.

ORIGIN

There were many board games in the early 20th century that deals with land trading, in 1933 a precursor of Monopoly game came into existence and was refined. Around the 1970s the legend of American inventor, Charles Darrow, founding the game Monopoly is passed around. Monopoly was printed in the game's instruction manual for many years after. (1)

Disputes has formed in the last century regarding the exact origin of the design. One of these is "The Landlord's Game" conceived by actress Lizzie Maggie in 1906, inspired by Henry George's book "Progress and Poverty". Maggie's version of the game promotes cooperation between the players to share wealth. (2) While lawsuit issues continued into 1980s against Parker Brothers' claim, Hasbro has denied any other version of the game's origin until recently. Monopoly remains one of the most controversial game origins within the popular board game world.

TODAY

Many versions of monopoly have sprouted as players taste in the game changes, many new elements to the game were added, such as "Free Parking" and "Get out of Jail" add-on games. It is one of the most played game in America, and there are tournaments held annually from 1973. Monopoly is a great game for the holidays with family and groups.