| Monopoly is arguably the most popular game of all | | | | hours. The reason the game is so slow to build is |
| time. It actually goes back to the 1930s during the | | | | because of the slow rate at which property values |
| height of the great depression. The game was | | | | increase.When buying a property, which is always |
| presented to executives at Parker Brothers in 1934 | | | | part of a 2 or 3 property lot, you can't build value to |
| by a Charles Darrow. Believe it or not, the game was | | | | the property until the entire lot is purchased. Then, |
| rejected by Parker Brothers for what they called 52 | | | | once the entire lot is purchased you may only build |
| design flaws. Darrow could have given up, but he | | | | one house on each lot at a time. In order to build |
| didn't, which is a good thing. One year later, in 1935, | | | | hotels on each lot you need to have four houses |
| Monopoly finally saw the light of day. It immediately | | | | accumulated first. Because of this, it takes a very |
| became the best selling game in America. In the 70 | | | | long time to reach the point where you are receiving |
| plus years since it is estimated that the game has | | | | a substantial rent for your property when somebody |
| been played by over 500 million people.The Monopoly | | | | lands on it.Aside from the board layout itself, |
| board is actually designed after the city of Atlantic | | | | Monopoly has many other trademarks which have |
| City in New Jersey. That design hasn't changed in all | | | | become classic to the game, starting with the original |
| the years since the game has come out. Yes, there | | | | pieces which were made out of die cast metal. The |
| have been collectible variations of the game replacing | | | | famous, hat, dog, car and other pieces of the game |
| the street names with characters and places from a | | | | have become as identifiable as the game itself. Aside |
| variety of TV shows and movies, but the original | | | | from the tokens, there are the famous properties |
| Monopoly game itself has stayed the same all these | | | | such as the railroads and utilities. There's the cards of |
| years.The object of the game is actually very simple. | | | | chance broken down into Chance and Community |
| As you go around the board by rolling the dice, you | | | | Chest cards, each with its various rewards and |
| buy property in an attempt to charge people rent | | | | penalties which have also become a staple of the |
| every time they land on your property. The game is | | | | game itself.In the history of games itself, there will |
| over when everyone has run out of money and can | | | | probably never be another game that has so |
| no longer pay the owner of the various | | | | captured the imagination of a country. And we owe |
| properties.Because of the slow build up of the game, | | | | that to a man by the name of Charles Darrow, who |
| Monopoly games can last for hours or even days. | | | | refused to accept the word no.We all owe him a |
| The longest Monopoly game on record lasted 70 | | | | debt that can never be repaid. |
| days. The average game usually lasts about 3 or 4 | | | | |