Hasbro, the producers of the world’s most famous board game, Monopoly, have removed jail from the toy so that it will appeal to kids.
Hasbro have looked to make the game shorter by creating a new edition, Monopoly Empire. It is for ages 8 and up, and they hope that by creating this format, children with less time to play will find the time to enjoy the 80 year-old game.
Jail is one of the four corner spaces on the board, and once the player is incarcerated they have to wait to roll a double or pay $50 to get out and continue on their quest.
Jonathan Berkowitz, the vice president of marketing at Hasbro, told the Wall Street Journal , “Parents and children tell us they want a quick in and out frictionless gaming experience. That’s the snackable component.”
Various toy manufacturers now produce “snack toys” that are more appealing to children. Previously, the likes of Scrabble and Boggle have been adapted so that more children will be enticed to play them.
Monopoly Empire also differ because it now offers those playing the chance to own recognisable brands rather than properties. Gamers can purchase X-Box, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Samsung, and the “fast, fun gameplay” can be enjoyed by only two to four players, according to Hasbro’s website.
Eric Levin, the president of Techno Source, also told the Journal that they now print the lengths of its games on the front of every package to prove that they don’t last for hours. Levin remarked, “That information is now as important to tell players as how many players are required and the game’s age range.”
However, Monopoly aficionados have reacted furiously to the revelation that jail has been removed, as these purists believe that it is against the spirit of the game.
How do you feel about Monopoly removing jail?
