An online monopoly game was launched today to advertise the revamped board game. For a month until midnight on 18th July, people all over the UK can compete against each other playing Monopoly Live on a life-size playing board - the streets of London.
The idea behind the online game is to get people more aware of the changes to the original board game, which has looked the same since it was created 70 years ago. Amongst the changes, the new board game gives players £2 million when they pass go, and the train stations have been replaced by airports.
Players register free for the interactive game at www.monopolylive.com. Just like on the new board game, they are given a £15 million capital to spend on properties including as Gatwick Airport and Nottinghill Gate. Players then pick their playing piece (including a mobile phone or bus) which is assigned to one of the 18 cabbies taking part in the game. The computer then pits each player against 5 other people, and it's game on.
The taxis are fitted with a GPS transmitter, so their locations are always known. They drive around London as normal, picking up and dropping off passengers. Players pay out rent as their taxi passes properties they don't own, and receive rent in turn when other cabs pass areas that they do. However there is no passing Go for £2 million in this game because the players are at the mercy of the taxi passengers, so they don't go around the board as in a normal game.
To give yourself extra help you can also get can sign up to receive Community Chest and Chance bonuses via SMS. The Sun newspaper will also publish bonuses. Updates are emailed to players every 15 minutes on how much money they are making or losing.
Each game lasts 24 hours and winners are notified by email. Players can participate in the next day's game either by sending an SMS, email or logging on to the site again. They can also choose to keep their cabbie and properties or sell and buy new ones on the board.
There are daily and weekly prizes to play for, and the grand prize winner will get their mortgage or rent paid for a year up to £10,000.
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