Hasbro aims to jazz up Monopoly with new token
NEW YORK (AP) - The gig is almost up for one of the eight Monopoly tokens. But which will it be? Iron? Thimble? Top Hat?
Or another of their board game buddies?
Hasbro is holding a Facebook contest to eliminate one of the eight tokens that identify the players and introduce a new one. Possible new tokens include a cat, diamond ring, guitar, toy robot and helicopter
It's the latest effort by the toymaker to jazz up the game which debuted almost eight decades ago.
In recent years, Hasbro Inc. introduced a version that replaces paper money with an electronic bank and another that incorporates an iPad. There is an app-only version of the game for smartphones and tablets.
Monopoly's tokens have actually changed quite a lot over the years. The original version also included a lantern, purse, cannon and a rocking horse. A horse and rider token was used in the 1950s. During World War II, metal tokens were replaced by wooden ones.
But this time, users have a say.
So if you are tired of the iron token and would rather be represented by a robot, here's your chance to make those wishes known. Beginning Tuesday, Facebook fans of Monopoly can vote on which piece to eliminate and which one to add. The voting ends Feb. 5.
Up for elimination: all eight current tokens including a battleship, iron, racecar, Scottie dog, shoe, thimble, top hat and wheelbarrow. Most tokens were introduced with the first Parker Brothers iteration of the game in 1935, and the Scottie dog and wheelbarrow were added in the early 1950s.
Eric Nyman, global brand leader for Hasbro gaming, said the impetus for the contest came from chatter on Facebook, where Monopoly has over 10 million fans.
"We're constantly interacting with those fans and we're always getting suggestions from fans about what tokens they would love to see," Nyman said. They took five of the top suggestions from Facebook for the contest.
A special $17.99 limited edition of the game called Golden Ticket will be available in Target stores beginning Feb. 15 with golden versions of both the old and new tokens. It will be the last time all of the classic tokens will be available with the game.
Versions of Monopoly with the new token will come out later this year.
Monopoly's iconic tokens originated when game creator Charles Darrow's niece suggested using charms from a charm bracelet for tokens.
Shares in Hasbro, which is based in Pawtucket, R.I., ended Wednesday up 30 cents at $35.68.
Or another of their board game buddies?
Hasbro is holding a Facebook contest to eliminate one of the eight tokens that identify the players and introduce a new one. Possible new tokens include a cat, diamond ring, guitar, toy robot and helicopter
It's the latest effort by the toymaker to jazz up the game which debuted almost eight decades ago.
In recent years, Hasbro Inc. introduced a version that replaces paper money with an electronic bank and another that incorporates an iPad. There is an app-only version of the game for smartphones and tablets.
Monopoly's tokens have actually changed quite a lot over the years. The original version also included a lantern, purse, cannon and a rocking horse. A horse and rider token was used in the 1950s. During World War II, metal tokens were replaced by wooden ones.
But this time, users have a say.
So if you are tired of the iron token and would rather be represented by a robot, here's your chance to make those wishes known. Beginning Tuesday, Facebook fans of Monopoly can vote on which piece to eliminate and which one to add. The voting ends Feb. 5.
Up for elimination: all eight current tokens including a battleship, iron, racecar, Scottie dog, shoe, thimble, top hat and wheelbarrow. Most tokens were introduced with the first Parker Brothers iteration of the game in 1935, and the Scottie dog and wheelbarrow were added in the early 1950s.
Eric Nyman, global brand leader for Hasbro gaming, said the impetus for the contest came from chatter on Facebook, where Monopoly has over 10 million fans.
"We're constantly interacting with those fans and we're always getting suggestions from fans about what tokens they would love to see," Nyman said. They took five of the top suggestions from Facebook for the contest.
A special $17.99 limited edition of the game called Golden Ticket will be available in Target stores beginning Feb. 15 with golden versions of both the old and new tokens. It will be the last time all of the classic tokens will be available with the game.
Versions of Monopoly with the new token will come out later this year.
Monopoly's iconic tokens originated when game creator Charles Darrow's niece suggested using charms from a charm bracelet for tokens.
Shares in Hasbro, which is based in Pawtucket, R.I., ended Wednesday up 30 cents at $35.68.
I like to make sound effects as I move my token, so the robot would be great, the helicopter doesn't really look like a helicopter.Â
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They should ditch the iron and thimble, symbols of household drudgery.Â
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Of course, you don't have to use their tokens. My son used to substitute a micro-machine car or other small toy.Â
The scottie dog reminds me of my grandmother and playing Monopoly as a kid (she used to use it to guard her money from robbers [i.e. my little brother]). As someone who's never been a big fan of Monopoly it's fond memory, so I hope they keep the dog.Â
As far as which token to add, I'm partial to the robot. It's Moneybags in robot form. Clever if you ask me.Â
Maybe they should get rid of TWO of the old ones. I like the cat AND dog, the iron and thimble could go away and get replaced by the cat and guitar (lots of people either play guitar or like to listen to it although I agree it would have been better to have an electric guitar). The helicopter isn't done well.
I say bring in the cat and take away the iron.
I am caught between thimble and iron.
You can eliminate the iron but DON'T bring in the cat. I'm allergic to cats and I'm sure I'm not the only one. How about a laptop computer?
 @Mary Nasvik LOL It's not made from real cats! I like the laptop token idea though.
 @Mary Nasvik The world's all about you eh? :) Lots of people are NOT allergic to cats, more seem to be allergic to work so MANY of the existing tokens would be taken away by your logic ;>
 @Commenter87643 By your logic above, we should all either play or like to listen to the guitar. I don't play and really am not too interested in listening to a guitar being played and I know lots of people that don't. Kind of sounds like it all about you eh?
Get rid of the top hat and bring in a cat.
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 @Vickie Badger I say keep the top hat - it's absolutely an icon that says "Monopoly".  I don't have too many strong feelings about the four proposed new tokens shown, but it took me a while to figure out what the helicopter was, so definitely not that one.  If the guitar had been electric, I think it would have been better. Other than that, I'm only luke-warm about the new tokens.
I vote for getting rid of the iron. Although I iron a lot, I know that most younger people don't and many of them don't even own an iron so I say, out with the iron. In it's place, I vote for the cat. After all, if there's going to be a dog, it seems only fair that there is a cat as well!