EA gets monopoly on Monopoly

by Alexander Sliwinski { Aug 10th 2007 at 10:35AM }

Electronic Arts knows a thing or two about having a "monopoly," now they own the rights to it. A partnership between EA and Hasbro gives both companies the rights to dabble in each other's pool. EA gains "exclusive worldwide rights" to create games based on Hasbro products like Monopoly, Scrabble, Nerf, Yahtzee and basically anything else you probably remember from childhood. Hasbro will be able to make toys based on EA properties -- darn, we might actually pay for Spore mix and match figures if they make them. The deal runs until the end of 2013, with an option for another four years.

The partnership is part of the newly formed EA Casual Entertainment strategy. A whole division of EA fully focused on bringing high-end casual games to the mass market. This partnership may be a good thing for EA. Actually, they're the perfect company to handle putting games that haven't changed in a half-century on consoles, they've practically been doing the same thing with the Madden franchise for years.

Tags: ea, hasbro, monopoly, partnership

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Stevo @ Aug 10th 2007 10:41AM

I'd love Monopoly on XBLA. Make it happen, EA. Hell, I'll even let you milk me to play as the dog piece.

chathampax @ Aug 10th 2007 10:46AM

@Stevo
Man I'm right there with you. Monopoly on XBLA with 4 person multiplayer would be the shit. I'm sure EA is already working on it and knows this would be easy money for them. Think about the special characters, cards, boards they could milk us for. Special hosues and hotels for download. It's a goldmine for them...

Stevo @ Aug 10th 2007 10:52AM

Haha-- seriously. It'd be tight if they packaged a couple of those games into one...like that recent checkers/chess game...but I'd even buy Monopoly alone. Let's hope it happens, Chathampax.

Grant @ Aug 10th 2007 12:34PM

i was just about to say the same thing,
the only problem with it is EA is publishing it.
which i have a serious problem with, because i hear they murder about 25 orphans and 30 kittens a day.

GRANTED @ Aug 10th 2007 10:50AM

i can't tell if that image is a new version, or a parody. either way it is very disturbing. establish a dependence on credit cards, at ages 8 and up.

i don't care about these games but i don't like seeing ea buying more licenses. when pro evo comes out it will kick fifa in the nuts and laugh in its face.

Almack64 @ Aug 10th 2007 11:12AM

Nope its a real new edition.

Check this article out.
http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/24/monopoly-ditches-cash-goes-plastic/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Monopoly-Here-Now-Electronic-Edition/dp/B000G6JY0U

daniel @ Aug 10th 2007 11:15AM

its real its the latest version- probably an attempt to be modern and cool etc

horngreen @ Aug 10th 2007 10:59AM

The problem is it probably won't be a $5 or $10 XBLA game. It will be a $60 disc game instead and that would blow. If EA makes a game based on NERF then I will truly know they have lost the battle with the almighty dollar. EA presents NBA NERF STYLE!

Stevo @ Aug 10th 2007 11:03AM

Nerf Gun > Wiimote

Word of the street. @ Aug 10th 2007 12:25PM

True Nerf gun>Wii mote.
A nerf gun for the wii would be a million times better than the crappy wii zapper.

hvnlysoldr @ Aug 10th 2007 11:04AM

Put it on the DS with built in touch calculators! And chance cards could get touch screen mini-games!

Almack64 @ Aug 10th 2007 11:07AM

I'm looking forward to bringing board games back to video gaming. Hopefully the way EA likes to spit games out they'll spit a whole bunch of them quickly.

I remember playing the Mononoply NES game with my dad all the time. There was computer player named "Maude" she was a true high roller. I just love idea of playing board games without the setup,cleaning, and organization needed.

Almack64 @ Aug 10th 2007 11:12AM

Almack64 @ Aug 10th 2007 11:14AM

Now that's an interesting double post, one went where it was supposed to and the other as a new comment. This new reply system is "whacky" sometimes.

thethirdmoose @ Aug 10th 2007 11:28AM

This is a sad commentary on society. Instead of playing monopoly, lets crowd around the frickin computer screen and play monopoly!

hvnlysoldr @ Aug 10th 2007 11:29AM

NO you gave me a horrible idea of combining this with the Eye Of Judgment!

Almack64 @ Aug 10th 2007 11:34AM

People have been doing exactly that for years. The first computer version was released in 1985.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopoly_(video_game)

Word of the street. @ Aug 10th 2007 12:19PM

Is sad in the case of monopoly but is a fact nobody plays board games as much as they used to,I mean when was the last time you and your family and friends played a board game toghether?.

In the case of the eye of judgement I rather play it online.Believe me if I could play card games online I would be still playing yugioh and Magic.

Magic tournaments are eternal and yugioh players are like 22 to 34 years old with a bad actitude(maybe because they are losers...) or kids that like to abuse of the "F" word as if they own it.

Kye @ Aug 10th 2007 11:31AM

I'm getting that weird feeling again. The same one I get every time EA gets a new franchise.

p.s. This version of monopoly has been out in the UK for some time now.

Andy @ Aug 10th 2007 11:35AM

This really is perfect for EA. Same old games, over and over again.

This year, Monopoly '08, next year monopoly '09 with updated rosters...with a new thimble perhaps. Maybe a new iron piece for 80MS points.

Followed by the servers for Monopoly 08 being shut down a weeks later. Guess you have to buy the '09 "version" to play.

Kye @ Aug 10th 2007 12:06PM

Amen brother.
Preach on.

Word of the street. @ Aug 10th 2007 12:08PM

As Stevo said Monopoly and IMO Nerf would rock in the xbox live,it would be so cool to play Monopoly online maybe Operation one of my all time favorites.

It might be possible but the problem is that when it is a 60$ game,Jeez I rather buy the real thing.
For example Jenga for the wii is a totall rip off,Scene it well at lest it comes with 4 controllers so you get a lot of plastic for your money.

As DLG MB games are welcome but as retail games screw them.

JL @ Aug 10th 2007 12:12PM

How fitting

Trenchalicious @ Aug 10th 2007 12:12PM

Is there nothing left that remains holy?

What has this world come to?

Jonah Falcon @ Aug 10th 2007 12:15PM

Other games included in the deal are Risk, The Game of LIFE, Pay Day, etc.

A ton of people have been demanding Risk - EA will probably give it to them.

Cuja @ Aug 10th 2007 12:53PM

EA buying the rights to Tic-Tac-Toe is more inline with their direction.

blooh @ Aug 10th 2007 1:57PM

The only way to win is not to play.

Matt B @ Aug 10th 2007 1:19PM

My favorite board game was Axis and Allies.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=ah/prod/axis

Almack64 @ Aug 10th 2007 4:27PM

Axis and Allies is a pretty awesome game. It's sad it's been so long since I've it.

Odog4ever @ Aug 10th 2007 1:38PM

First of all Monopoly will be 800 points on XBLA. That is the precident that has been set for newly developed games (Retro ports stay at 400) I mean how many copies of that overpriced pool game and lumines have really sold?

Also you can buy a physical Monoply board for about $10 from Wal-Mart so it doesn't make sense for them to release this on a disc for $30-60. Then again it is EA.

I think EA is more interesed in overcharging you for downloadable content such as new boards, pieces, etc. That way if you buy all of the DLC it will cost more than if they bundled it all on a disk anyway.

Anyway's Monopoly had been available on PC for years now. I will plunk down the 800 pts for it. No more, no less.

DangerMouse @ Aug 10th 2007 2:21PM

give me 16 player xbox live hungry hungry hippo.

thx.

h8rain @ Aug 10th 2007 2:27PM

Anyone remember Star Wars Monopoly for PC? I really like that and it would be cool if they did Lego Star Wars Monopoly :)

h8rain @ Aug 10th 2007 2:28PM

OOOOOOHHHHHH or even better yet, a base monoploy game, and you can download theme packs!!!!

Adam @ Aug 10th 2007 2:55PM

Not the publisher i would have chosen, but i have been waiting for monopoly to come to xbla and i guess this is a step forward so i'm :)

Mase @ Aug 10th 2007 4:48PM

remember, Hasbro also equals Dungeons & Dragons.

This is a very interesting partnership indeed.

Jason Anderson @ Aug 10th 2007 5:05PM

No doubt, remember Hasbro used to operate as seperate companies-Mattel, Kenner, etc. They have held exclusive rights to properties like GI Joe, Barbie, Star Wars, Transformers, you might have heard of one of em. They should do well with the EA rights.