Thursday, February 10, 2011

If there were ever any doubts...

...that Americans had too much money, were too lazy or just couldn't be trusted, Digital Monopoly should put them to rest once and for all:

In Monopoly Live ($50), you still land on Boardwalk and collect $200 for passing go. But the money flows electronically to your bankcard, and a computer manages such details as dice rolls and rent calculations, which can speed the pace of the game.

More interestingly, the game board watches your game piece, from a 10-inch tower that also announces turns and remembers how much money you have, down to the last dollar (no more slipping a $500 bill under the board).
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What’s missing? “The disputes,” said Hasbro’s Leif Askeland, one of the game’s designers. “The tower never makes a mistake.”

For those questioning the need for such computer intervention, or perhaps feeling nostalgic for the feel of pretend dollar bills between their fingers, Askeland responds: “You can still buy the original version for around $15.”

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