Google team up with Hasbro for Monopoly Online
The uses of Google Maps is about to get even wider as Hasbro announces a partnership with Google to produce an online version of the ever popular board game, Monopoly
Players will be able to choose from streets across the planet in their attempts to dominate the property market on the internet. The online version is sure to be a hit and brings a whole new potential player-base to Hasbro. Is Monopoly about to be introduced to a new generation? It certainly looks that way.
Unlike the offline version, players start with enough money to start dreaming sooner rather than later - with three million dollars to blow from the start.
Unfortunately you'll not be able to cash in online. The main reason for the launch is to promote a new version offline - called 3D Monopoly City. Places you might be interesting in buying include Downing Street at a mere $231,000 - clearly a victim of the recession!
Monopoly City Streets launches globally on 9th September 2009.
Board or Bored?
We can see this being a big hit. However, using it to promote an offline game in which you build a '3D City' in the centre of the board is a novel approach to say the least.
It wouldn't surprise us if the take-up for Monopoly City Streets is so good that Hasbro and Google start to consider a more serious and revenue focused partnership. Imagine being able to build an online property portfolio if your investment was real - in the style of games such as World of Warcraft.
Google Street Maps could become an incredibly powerful gaming tool on a much wider basis too. If the Hasbro/Google game is a success then you can expect to see a host of other gaming providers take a very serious look at how Street Maps might power their next generation of games online.
