Monopoly

Created by: Charles Darrow

Contributors: Lizzie Maggie

Published by: Waddingtons, Parker Brothers, Hasbro, Funskool

Genre: Strategy, Board Game, Table-top

Number of Players: 2-8

Play time: 30-180 minutes

Keywords

Negotiation, profit maximization, price discrimination, price marker

Short Description

Monopoly is a strategy based game where the goal of the game is to be the last one standing. A player becomes the last one standing by purchasing properties that will cost the other players money. Players will have to navigate the board, doing their best to avoid taxes, being elected chairman of the board, and jail time in order to maximize the amount of money they can obtain. Monopoly is a family friendly board game that is a good practice of both negotiation and luck.

Theme

The central theme of Monopoly is to make as much money as possible, while doing everything you can to take the other players money.

Key  Components

• Gameboard
• 8 Tokens
• 28 Title Deed Cards
• 16 Chance Cards
• 16 Community Chest Cards
• 32 Houses
• 12 Hotels
• 2 Dice
• Money Pack
• Instructions

Annotated Bibliography

“Monopoly.” BoardGameGeek, boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1406/monopoly. Accessed 11 Nov. 2023.

This article is a very useful resource due to how much general information it provides. The author provides a strong overview of the basics of playing, but then goes far more in depth of the history of the game. this article points out how the Monopoly patent was filed in 1935 however was a variation of The Landlord’s Game which was released in 1904. The author also expands on how The Landlord’s Game actually had origins in the world of politics, particularly in how the United States government was conducting taxes. The creator, Elizabeth J. Magie intended for the players of the game to see how renting land only benefits the owner and how that isn’t beneficial for anyone other than the landowner. This article is very valuable for the comprehensive history it provides of both the influences that led to modern versions of Monopoly.

“How to Play Monopoly: Setup, Rules, and Gameplay.” wikiHow, wikiHow, www.wikihow.com/Play-Monopoly. Accessed 11 Nov. 2023.

This article provides the step-by-step process of a standard game of Monopoly. The author acknowledges the complexity of the rules compared to other board games and simplifies those rules as much as possible. the article starts by addressing many variables that will affect your experience. For example, number of players, player experience, and player age are all things to consider before starting the game. the author then goes on to give step by step instructions for the intent phases of the game, those being setup, gameplay, and ending the game. Also, as this article can be accessed online, there is a Q&A section where readers submit their questions and common errors they ran into when playing the game. Areas of these discussions range from assigning roles, to specific questions about how players can mortgage properties. This article is the most comprehensive overview of how the game traditionally played and what to expect when playing the game.

“Everything I Know about Business I Learned from Monopoly.” Harvard Business Review, 1 Aug. 2014, hbr.org/2002/03/everything-i-know-about-business-i-learned-from-monopoly.

In this article the author draws comparisons between monopoly and business, and how that understanding that comparison has benefited him in his occupation of game design. The author starts by establishing himself as a highly credible source. He uses stories and scenarios he ran into throughout his career, and the outcomes of those situations to provide a set of principles to follow, in the business of game design. The author keeps referencing concepts found in the game of monopoly as way of structuring the principles that are presented. This article is notable in that is makes the reader apply business related concepts into a common family board game. And it provides both information on both Monopoly strategies, but also a new way of teaching for students of game design.

Amlen, Deb. “How to Win at Monopoly.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 31 Aug. 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/08/31/crosswords/monopoly-how-to-win.html.

This article is an overview Monopoly strategy that many players have found success in. The author provides a multitude of physical tactics that can be performed on the board and many phycological tactics that will give you an advantage over the other players. The author starts by expanding on her personal experiences playing monopoly and what let her to discovering these strategies. This article provides the most value to anyone who wants to discover innovative and time-tested strategies to win games of Monopoly.

Hackett, Lisa J., and Jo Coghlan. “Why Monopoly Monopolises Popular Culture Board Games.” M/C Journal, journal.media-culture.org.au/index.php/mcjournal/article/view/2956. Accessed 11 Nov. 2023.

This article explores the impact that Monopoly and other board games have had on popular culture. The author expands on the “nesting trend”, the idea that since families have so much entertainment within their home, they no longer go on expensive nights out. The author then explores Monopoly’s role in society today. Since a lot of modern entertainment is very isolating to the consumer, board games like Monopoly provides a chance for group experiences and bonding. This article was written during the Covid-19 pandemic, so it provides insight from that time as many people were trying to find new ways to occupy their days during quarantine. This article is very valuable to someone studying the roles that board games play in modern society and how the roles of board games have changed over time.