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| Vote or the dog gets it: Monopoly maker sparks war of pieces | Vote or the dog gets it: Monopoly maker sparks war of pieces |
| (8 days later) | |
| After chasing its equally small and similarly anachronistic adversaries around metropolises and in and out of jail for almost 80 years, one of Monopoly's famous metal pieces is facing the final roll of the dice. | After chasing its equally small and similarly anachronistic adversaries around metropolises and in and out of jail for almost 80 years, one of Monopoly's famous metal pieces is facing the final roll of the dice. |
| Hasbro, the manufacturer of the board-game paean to boom-and-bust capitalism, has announced that one of eight playing pieces – the Scottie dog, the racing car, the top hat, the iron, the thimble, the shoe, the battleship and the wheelbarrow – is to be cast out and replaced with one that "reflects the interests of today's players". | Hasbro, the manufacturer of the board-game paean to boom-and-bust capitalism, has announced that one of eight playing pieces – the Scottie dog, the racing car, the top hat, the iron, the thimble, the shoe, the battleship and the wheelbarrow – is to be cast out and replaced with one that "reflects the interests of today's players". |
| Despite Hasbro's apparent lunge at modernity, however, fans of the game taking part in a worldwide vote will not be invited to choose a mobile phone, a popular tablet device or even a bucket-sized cup of takeaway coffee. The rather-less-than-cutting-edge list of possible replacements comprises a diamond ring, a guitar, a toy robot, a helicopter – and a cat. | Despite Hasbro's apparent lunge at modernity, however, fans of the game taking part in a worldwide vote will not be invited to choose a mobile phone, a popular tablet device or even a bucket-sized cup of takeaway coffee. The rather-less-than-cutting-edge list of possible replacements comprises a diamond ring, a guitar, a toy robot, a helicopter – and a cat. |
| "The tokens are one of the most iconic parts of the Monopoly game, and we know that people are emotionally tied to their favourite one," said Eric Nyman, a Hasbro spokesman. | "The tokens are one of the most iconic parts of the Monopoly game, and we know that people are emotionally tied to their favourite one," said Eric Nyman, a Hasbro spokesman. |
| "When we decided to replace one of the tokens in the game, we knew we had to involve our fans in the process. | "When we decided to replace one of the tokens in the game, we knew we had to involve our fans in the process. |
| "We can't wait to see which iconic piece will go to jail and which new token the fans will choose to become part of one of the world's most popular games." | "We can't wait to see which iconic piece will go to jail and which new token the fans will choose to become part of one of the world's most popular games." |
| Although the origins of the game can be traced back to the early 20th century, the tokens are said to have come about when the young niece of Monopoly pioneer Charles Darrow suggested he use the pendants from charm bracelets as pieces. | Although the origins of the game can be traced back to the early 20th century, the tokens are said to have come about when the young niece of Monopoly pioneer Charles Darrow suggested he use the pendants from charm bracelets as pieces. |
| Parker Brothers decided to include die-cast tokens in the game when they started manufacturing and selling it in 1935. | Parker Brothers decided to include die-cast tokens in the game when they started manufacturing and selling it in 1935. |
| The iron, racing car, thimble, shoe, top hat and battleship were among the original set of movers, while the Scottie dog and wheelbarrow were added in the early 1950s. | The iron, racing car, thimble, shoe, top hat and battleship were among the original set of movers, while the Scottie dog and wheelbarrow were added in the early 1950s. |
| The token with the fewest votes will be exiled from the game and replaced with the token that garners the most support. Games with the new token will arrive in stores later this year – presumably in time for Christmas. | The token with the fewest votes will be exiled from the game and replaced with the token that garners the most support. Games with the new token will arrive in stores later this year – presumably in time for Christmas. |
| By Wednesday afternoon, things were looking bleak for the wheelbarrow, with bookmakers Paddy Power making it the 4-5 odds-on favourite to disappear. Not far behind came the shoe, at 2-1, followed by the thimble and iron, both on 7-1. The company also predicted that the cat was likely to win the race to become the new token, installing it as the 13-8 favourite. | By Wednesday afternoon, things were looking bleak for the wheelbarrow, with bookmakers Paddy Power making it the 4-5 odds-on favourite to disappear. Not far behind came the shoe, at 2-1, followed by the thimble and iron, both on 7-1. The company also predicted that the cat was likely to win the race to become the new token, installing it as the 13-8 favourite. |
| As well as selling more than 275m games and provoking at least as many family rows, Monopoly has also served a more useful function. During the second world war, board-makers Waddington's teamed up with British military intelligence to produce silk, rayon and tissue escape maps that were smuggled into prisoner-of-war camps through invented charities. Special Monopoly boards – ostensibly sent to relieve boredom and raise morale — contained compasses and files as well as escape maps, which helped prisoners plan and execute their breakouts. | As well as selling more than 275m games and provoking at least as many family rows, Monopoly has also served a more useful function. During the second world war, board-makers Waddington's teamed up with British military intelligence to produce silk, rayon and tissue escape maps that were smuggled into prisoner-of-war camps through invented charities. Special Monopoly boards – ostensibly sent to relieve boredom and raise morale — contained compasses and files as well as escape maps, which helped prisoners plan and execute their breakouts. |
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