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Original Monopoly now available from EA for the iPhone / iPod touch

If an angry, perspiring Steve Ballmer took over control of my iPhone and said I could only have one third-party app on it, I know which app I'd keep. EA's Monopoly Here and Now: The World Edition [US$4.99, iTunes Link] has been my favorite game on the iPhone since it first appeared. Just how much am I addicted to this game? I've played 272 games against three other AI players. At about 45 minutes per game, that's almost nine days of my life that I've spent enjoying Monopoly on my iPhone.

There was always one thing that bothered me about The World Edition: that it wasn't the game I remembered as a child. It uses cities from all over the world, from Gdynia to Montreal, transportation modes from rail to space instead of the four classic railroads, and had some other rule changes that were different.

EA just made my day, since they recently released Monopoly [US$4.99, iTunes Link], and this one is the original classic game. It uses all those streets in or around Atlantic City, N.J. like Baltic Avenue and Park Place, has the four original railroads, and seems to follow the original rules more closely.

Like The World Edition, you play against real or computerized opponents. For real opponents, Monopoly now provides Bluetooth play against up to two other players, or Wi-Fi play against up to three other players. My wife and I found the Wi-Fi play of the World Edition to be a huge battery hog; we'll be trying out the Bluetooth option soon.

The original Monopoly board game was a perennial stocking stuffer when I was a kid, and now the classic Monopoly for iPhone and iPod touch is sure to make a great gift for someone you love.

If an angry, perspiring Steve Ballmer took over control of my iPhone and said I could only have one third-party app on it, I know which...
 

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Raapl

Yea-- this game is ridiculously addicting; I'm trying to sneak in turns during work, at stoplights, in meetings, you name it. . .

November 24 2009 at 11:49 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeem

Monopoly - what a dull, stupid game.

Now "The Settlers of Catan", that I would pay money for.

November 23 2009 at 12:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jeem's comment
Scott

It's sad that people associate board games with Monopoly. Imagine if the marketing departments were bigger for all the much, much better games out there, and I don't mean hard to learn, lengthy games, I mean easy to learn family games like Settlers, etc.

November 24 2009 at 9:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mat

FYI - it doesn't support Bluetooth multiplayer on the original iphone. Only wi-fi.

November 23 2009 at 11:23 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ben

The game is fun but it is kinda easy since the AI is really stupid when it comes to trading property. They will allow monopolies to occur all the time.

November 23 2009 at 10:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
spl237

I bought the world edition last week, and 24 hours later the version with proper UK street names appeared. Interestingly, in the UK, the world edition is £2.99, while the UK version is only £1.79 - I know which one I'd rather have!

Not played it much yet, but my biggest criticism of this game is the completely unnecessary use of 3D and animations - they add nothing to the game itself, but mean that the iPhone battery takes an absolute hammering compared to a plain old 2D version. EA, if you're listening - I've already given you £4.78 for Monopoly, and I will gladly give you even more if you produce a version with a 2D board and no OpenGL engine sucking the battery dry!

November 23 2009 at 7:25 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to spl237's comment
Tracy

I totally agree about the 3D and graphics. Pointless and annoying.

I bought the World Edition a long time ago, but since it doesn't have my two favorite rules (no auctions, one trip around the board before you can buy) and the stupid animations make gameplay take FOREVER... I don't even have it on my phone anymore.

Anyone know if this 'classic' version is any better?

November 23 2009 at 11:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
TC

How do I find the UK version? I can only see the International and US versions in the App store on my iPhone. I downloaded the US version by mistake after seeing Euston Road in the graphics. Think I should ask for my money back!

January 15 2010 at 5:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sparhawk

No Dutch version yet, and I am fine with it. What I don't get about the international version, is that the AI is so broken. Trades that the computer will make with itself (ie other AI players) are just so flawed. Graphically and interface wise, really well done.
But the AI cheats... no fun.
So really, after all those games, you didn't encounter that Steve. Really curious about your answer! :)

November 23 2009 at 1:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sviddle

Dr. Spaceman, Scrabble works through the internet if you play through Facebook.

November 23 2009 at 1:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Luigi193

I just got done kicking some butt in the good ol' board game version of Monopoly a few minutes ago… oh yeah.

November 22 2009 at 9:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ryan

So how does the multiplayer work? Can you break out of the game to read an email/answer a call and come back to it? I would love to get a game going at work (we all have iPhones) on slow days but we still need our phones for the occasional work related issue.

November 22 2009 at 8:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
James Norton

Will they be updating "The World Edition" to support bluetooth? The wifi play is buggy to the point of being unusable.

November 22 2009 at 7:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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