We feel like we're in some kind of topsy-turvy bizarro dimension this morning. Not only did a couple of guys sue EA for having a monopoly on football games, but a U.S. District Court Judge in San Francisco has said the case can move forward, denying the company's request to dismiss it. In the process, the judge recognized that "interactive video football software" is a distinct enough market for antitrust consideration.

Next up on Joystiq: Valve reads anti-Left 4 Dead 2 petition, totally cancels it. At least the Madden guys have a fair argument, which GP lays out for you right here.

Just before the deluge of GDC 2009 news started this week, Travis Boatman, VP of worldwide studios at EA Mobile, confirmed the upcoming release of a veritable smörgåsbord of EA franchises coming to the iPhone. Today, we have confirmation from Meghan Rathman (representing EA) of the exact titles on the way to the iPhone/iTouch as well as a handful of screens from Tiger Woods PGA Tour. Unfortunately, according to Ms. Rathman, the rest of the games in development are "still too early" and don't have screens. Considering the turnaround time on iPhone/iTouch games though, we're willing to bet you'll see those shots by the end of the week pretty soon!

The full list of games we received from EA is as follows: Tiger Woods PGA Tour, The Sims 3, FIFA, Madden NFL Football, Spore Creatures, Mystery Mania, Wolfenstein RPG, American Idol, Connect Four, Battleship, Need for Speed, RISK, Monopoly and Clue. Differing from reports at the GDC Mobile event earlier this week, we're seeing the addition of The Sims 3 and Need for Speed. In turn, we're losing the first SSX in two years, Red Alert, NBA Live 10, American Idol, Star Trek. But hey, Tiger Woods!

The press release from EA on Tiger Woods PGA Tour tells us that the game is of the "touch" rather than of the "shake" variety, comes with achievements and offers a way to compare achievements with your friends. Of the key features listed, notably missing is "playing against friends wirelessly," though it does promise the ability to "affect your ball spin direction" using your finger. Those are comparable features, right? We'll keep on EA and let you know as soon as we find out more on their upcoming iPhone/iTouch assault.

People who love a nice, long bout of Monopoly but don't trust the dirty, sneaky banker not to cheat might be interested in EA's decision to bring the beloved board game to the Wii. The title will include multiple game boards to "pass Go" on, including the classic board and the new one from Monopoly Here & Now: The World Edition (see the semi-related Stephen Colbert skit posted after the break, just for fun).

There's also a new mode you can play called the "Riches Mode," which is a faster and more party-friendly way to get your Monopoly on. It starts out with a minigame (which, in the Wii version, will utilize motion controls -- think sawing yourself out of jail, for example). Whoever wins gets to choose how many pieces they'd like randomly dropped onto the board. If your piece lands on an unoccupied space, you come to own it. If you land on someone else's space, though, you have to pay them. There's no money involved, so you just end up giving them a property or something of the sort. Meanwhile, if your piece lands on a space like Chance, you have to do whatever the card tells you.

One downfall, however, is that the Wii version (like the PS2 game) will not have online play. You'll have to turn to the Xbox 360 version for online multiplayer.

Don't forget to check out why Monopoly is a threat (via Stephen Colbert) after the break.

Earlier this morning, EA and Hasbro announced that MONOPOLY would be headed to all gaming platforms including the Xbox 360, but probably not how we all expected.

MONOPOLY the video game, inspired by the MONOPOLY HERE & NOW World Edition board game, is set for release sometime this Fall and is one of those games that would be suited perfectly for the XBLA. But after reading the press release, we're under the impression that the game will in fact be a retail (and full priced) release. Boo! Boo! Boo! Also, per the release, it says that you'll be able to play MONOPOLY in "offline single or multi-player mode". No online multiplayer? Double boo to you EA! Go directly to jail, do not pass Go and do not collect our $59.99.

[Via NeoGAF]

When the power goes out on Joystiq's mid-Atlantic hoverbase, we often use Monopoly to pass the time, or at least we did until we realized that every game ended after four hours with the board being flipped and somebody (usually Chris) getting punched in the face. This morning, EA announced that we wouldn't have to wait for an outage to start throwing fists: The company will bring the real-estate game to Xbox 360, Wii and PS2 this fall.

This is apparently a sped-up version of the original game, with some new interactive minigames thrown in. We hope we can use waggle to hammer eviction notices to the doors of our slums. But that's just us. Oh, and just so we can cut this discussion off at the pass: No, there's no PS3 version announced. We trust PS3 owners can scrounge up $12.99, directions to their local Toys 'R' Us and a tabletop without our aid.

Gamers tired of being pushed around by game retail behemoth Gamestop can check out a potential ray of hope at this week's International Franchise Expo in Washington, D.C. There, game retailer Gamer Doc will be showing off new store prototypes that "will change the way the video game store is interpreted," according to a press release.

Strong words for a franchise that only has three outlets nationwide in development thus far [Updated with corrected wording on 4/11], but Gamer Doc seems eager to show off its new, FHA-designed stores, which it says will make customers "feel like they're walking into a video game, not a video game store." The three themed designs have been created to replicate "a first-person shooter battle zone, ... a futuristic "Borg Spaceship," [and] a carefree, cartoon-character atmosphere." Great news for anyone who's ever dreamed of buying video games from the Borg, we suppose ...

While we're a little skeptical that gimmicky store themes are really enough to drive a wedge into Gamestop's 5,000+ store dominance, we definitely support anyone trying to bring real competition to the game retail space. Godspeed, Gamer Doc.

360Sync.com noticed some interesting language from an EA press release earlier today, specifically the line:

"EA also is developing new Monopoly and Scrabble ®(in North America) titles for multiple platforms, as well as other titles that will be announced later this year."

Wait a second, could that mean that EA will be bringing Monopoly and Scrabble to XBLA? While no one is talking, we think it would be an amazing idea. Seriously people, Monopoly on Live is teh hotness.

[Thanks, xenocidic]

For those of you who find themselves enjoying board games, but would like considerable less board in there, know that EA has announced that several Hasbro properties will be turned into games by the publishing powerhouse. No longer will your games of Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit be confined to the Monday night get-together at your neighbor's house, as you'll soon be able to enjoy these games without your "friends."

The titles currently in the works are:

• Littlest Pet Shop (DS, Wii, PC) - fall
• NERF "N-Strike" (Wii, DS) - fall

Looking over the rest of the list for titles releasing on mobile phones and to EA's online POGO portal, we're wondering why the DS is getting the shaft. Monopoly, Yahtzee and Scrabble are all releasing on mobile phones and via POGO, but where's the DS love? All we get are these two games? We hope this changes ...

[Via Joystiq]

Electronic Arts has sewn up the rights to deliver games based on numerous Hasbro properties, though before you get too excited in hopes that you'll soon be revisiting your past and playing games based on G.I. Joe, we should note that of this "initial slate" of brands singled out by the companies not one packs a 'kung fu grip.' EA calls these games "new ways for families to build relationships through digital entertainment," which of course means we'll be seeing at least some of these games crop up on the Wii.

Atari got lucky by jumping on Jenga when they did! As part of their new casual games initiative, EA has partnered with Hasbro to create games "based upon a huge array of Hasbro's intellectual properties, including Monopoly, Scrabble, Yahtzee, Nerf, Tonka and Littlest Pet Shop, to name a few."

We desperately want to make fun of the idea of Hasbro toys on Wii, but we've already got Nerf stuff, and board games actually seem to work out nicely on Xbox Live. Maybe more board games would be a good idea! The big deal for us would be online play, and we hope EA realizes that.

Littlest Pet Shop may not need to make the transition to video games, however. We can do without that one. We got a little creeped out just looking at those droopy-eyed characters.

[Via Joystiq]

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.

This panel brought together Robert Nashak, GM of Yahoo Games, Chris Charla, director of business development for Foundation 9, Charles Merrin from Real Networks, and Brian Ring, the GM of Interactive Content for Scope Seven. The purpose was to discuss the top five trends in 2007 in the realm of gaming and entertainment.

When games meet entertainment brands, it's traditionally meant a game based on a movie that comes out a few weeks (or months) after the film has hit theaters. However, for the past few years games have started to be released concurrently with the films, or even before the movies come out. Hollywood studios now include video game development in the earliest stages of pre-production, and even involve game companies in the writing process.

Games + Entertainment Brands also encompasses traditional board games, like Scrabble and Monopoly, being licensed for video games, and toys like Bratz and Barbie as well. We break down the top five trends that will be hitting games + entertainment brands in 2007 after the jump.

It seems one classic video game enthusiast has taken his free time and focused his efforts to creating the ultimate Monopoly for the nostalgic gamer. The complete makeover of the entire board is there with games such as Doom and Pong taking their respective places in substitution for the classic city streets. The creator has also transformed the cards, pieces and money that come along with the game.

It's a mighty fine effort and we applaud the dedication needed to make something like this happen. The only things that seem to be lacking in terms of quality to us are the cheapo looking player pieces and house and hotel pieces. Also, spelling "joystick" without a "q" is just plain wrong. Otherwise, bravo.

But we've got to know one thing from Joystiq Nation: Anyone got any beef with the importance of some of the games on the board compared to their price?

[Thanks, Stephen Q. Burwell]

This one is for all the Nintendorks out there. When you're not playing Nintendo's video games, you're probably doing one of three things: cosplaying as famous Nintendo characters, quilting yourself a blanket featuring your favorite Nintendo characters, or wondering why those same Nintendo characters don't permeate every other facet of your life.

Courtesy of Rich Uncle Pennybags and the good folks at USAopoly comes Monopoly: Nintendo Collector's Edition. Yup, we're talking about an actual physical copy of Monopoly, not a video game version. The promotional shots they sent us don't show off the board very well (although we can tell that Mario is Boardwalk, natch), but they do show off all the little pewter figurines. They are: Mario's hat, Koopa shell, NES controller, Donkey Kong barrel, Link's boots (of the iron variety we assume), and Link's shield (of the Hylian variety).

Alright, we love Zelda as much as the next cosplaying Link fan, but two Zelda tokens and not a single Metroid one? Samus ain't gonna be happy. Expect to find it in stores in July for an suggested  retail price of $35.95. That's like one DS game, right? Plenty o' pics after the break.