Monopoly has been a great game for many, many years. The classic game has been reintroduced and now incorporates technology to enhance the gameplay. Hasbro has unveiled the next generation Monopoly board game, called Monopoly zAPPed ($29.99) which now includes debit cards that can be “scanned” using iOS devices (iPad, iPad 2, iPhone or iPod touch) to transfer monopoly dollars. All you have to do is down load the free APP in the itunes APP Store, then place your device on the center of the game board. The mechanics of the original game are still intact but the design of the game and the use of your device makes it a whole new experience.
What is the same?
You play the monopoly game like you usually do – roll the dice and move your game piece around the board to buy properties, houses and hotels. Be the player with the most assets (money, property, houses and hotels) when your opponent goes bankrupt and you win the game.
What’s new?
The APP is your banker. It keeps and calculates all the money for you.
Touch your bank card on your device’s screen to make transactions.
Some on-screen Chance and Community Chest cards open up mini games that bring classes Monopoly spaces to life.
You can do more than one action on your turn and also do actions even if it is not your turn, and when you are in jail.
Contents: Monopoly game board, rubber pads (to keep your device from sliding around the board), 6 player pieces, 28 property cards, 32 green houses, 12 red hotels, 2 dice and 4 monopoly touch-banking cards.
The APP guides you through the game. Every player starts with 15M (15 million monopoly dollars). Examples of property amounts can be 600K or 4M. Here’s what the numbers means: 600K=600 thousand monopoly dollars; 4M= 4 million monopoly dollars.
The game is suited for ages 8+ and 2-4 players can play. I introduced this game to my 6 ½ year old daughter and 5 ½ year old son and they thought it was so cool to have their own debit card to scan. They understand that you can buy or auction off the property that you land on, and that if it is owned by a player that they have to pay rent. They do not understand buying houses/hotels, or paying income tax. They enjoyed playing the Chance and Community Chest games (some of which are difficult). They have even taken it out, set it up by themselves and continued the saved game on the iPad or started a totally new game .
Kids 8+ might have an understanding of debit cards, but my children (because of their ages) didn’t understand that money was getting taken from their cards. I still like dealing out the money and making my children count it out and physically pay for things. They like getting the rent money and sorting it by colors and denominations. I do not think that using the debit card is a learning experience for my kids, because they don’t see the money right in front of them and can’t touch it. My college aged babysitter was a little taken back and confused about how to play because she is used to having the money in her hands as well.
Verdict: So, while we liked the game, it may be better for older kids.
Monopoly zAPPed Edition is a new challenge and experience for those of us who are acclimated to the classic game, but it is still fun to play and incorporates technology in a unique way.
I was supplied 1 Monopoly zAPPed edition game to sample for this review.
