Hasbro to lock up classic Monopoly icon forever – worldwide online vote asks fans to decide which game piece will “Go to Jail” and which new token will “Pass Go!” (Photo: Business Wire)
PAWTUCKET, R.I. – Hasbro is planning to shake up its classic board game, Monopoly, by giving the boot to one of the eight tokens used to represent players. Through Feb. 5, players can go to Facebook.com/Monopoly and try to keep their favorite game piece from being sent “directly to jail without passing Go.”
AAA Mid-Atlantic is urging motorists to take action to save the Monopoly racecar player token.
“Without the racecar, how else are you going to get to the shore?” jokes Tracy Nobel, manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic, noting the game board is based on Atlantic City street names. “The race car is the only automotive token in the Monopoly game. Millions of motorists will be heartbroken if it disappears. Imagine playing the game and not getting to be the race car. It would be a crushing disappointment to everyone who dreams of getting behind the wheel as they race around Park Place.
The iron, racecar, thimble, shoe, top hat and battleship were among the original set of playing pieces introduced in the first version of the game in 1935. The Scottie dog and wheelbarrow were added in the early 1950s.
Players can also vote for the new token that will be added to the game to replace the one that is removed. Candidates include a diamond ring, guitar, toy robot, cat or helicopter.
Monopoly is a registered trademark of Hasbro, Inc.
