Filed under: Gaming, Software, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, First Look
Original Monopoly now available from EA for the iPhone / iPod touch

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.


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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Adam Dempsey said 3:44AM on 11-23-2009
I wonder if they'll ever release a UK version?
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Michael Kaye said 6:18PM on 11-22-2009
Well the "original classic game" as far as I'm concerned would have places like "old kent road", "regents street", "Kings Cross" etc....oh yeh I'm from the UK. EA have got a way to go to please us all.
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Sam said 6:45PM on 11-22-2009
You want Monopoly (international) http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/monopoly-international/id337023709?mt=8 which has the original non-US names. That should please you.
Hawkman said 6:51PM on 11-22-2009
Odd -- that didn't show up in a search, but your link works great. Thanks, Sam, I've been wanting this! (And thanks to EA, too, even though it took a little while...)
vandil said 6:39PM on 11-22-2009
Monopoly... psh! Bejeweled 2 is where it's at for iPhone gaming.
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Steve said 6:41PM on 11-22-2009
A perennial stocking stuffer? What, did you lose it every year? How many Monopoly games do you need? :)
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Dr. Spaceman said 7:14PM on 11-22-2009
The multiplayer being limited to wifi and bluetooth is a deal breaker.
Would it have been that big of a deal for EA to run a server and let us play with our friends through the internet like Words With Friends?
Same goes for every board game they have, like Scrabble. I'd much rather play Scrabble with my friends than Word With Friends, but Scrabble's multiplayer doesn't work through the internet!
I will not be getting this.
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drewbles said 7:21PM on 11-22-2009
"Purchase of this item is not currently available.
This item is being modified. Please try again later."
For the International edition. Boo:(
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jnorton said 8:32PM on 11-22-2009
Will they be updating "The World Edition" to support bluetooth? The wifi play is buggy to the point of being unusable.
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Ryan said 8:22PM on 11-22-2009
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.
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Luigi193 said 9:57PM on 11-22-2009
I just got done kicking some butt in the good ol' board game version of Monopoly a few minutes ago… oh yeah.
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sviddle said 1:44AM on 11-23-2009
Dr. Spaceman, Scrabble works through the internet if you play through Facebook.
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Sparhawk said 1:48AM on 11-23-2009
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! :)
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spl237 said 7:26AM on 11-23-2009
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!
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Tracy said 11:33AM on 11-23-2009
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?
TC said 7:26PM on 1-15-2010
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!
Ben said 10:22AM on 11-23-2009
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.
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mat said 12:14PM on 11-23-2009
FYI - it doesn't support Bluetooth multiplayer on the original iphone. Only wi-fi.
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King Fysel said 12:57PM on 11-23-2009
Monopoly - what a dull, stupid game.
Now "The Settlers of Catan", that I would pay money for.
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Scott said 9:43AM on 11-24-2009
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.