Monopoly Revolution Pros and Cons for Christmas Gift Giving

Monopoly Revolution is predicted to be a Christmas bestseller by the Toy Retailers Association. For your Christmas gift giving, should you join the revolution or stick with tradition? These are the pros and cons of the new Monopoly game.

Monopoly Revolution Major Changes: The new Monopoly Game from Hasbro has made some major changes. The board is round, it makes noises, and the playing pieces are plastic. Paper money has been replaced by an ATM card. Instead of a human player serving as banker, there's an electronic Game Unit that manages everyone's balance. Inflation has been factored in. You start the game with $15 million and property prices have soared. You'll also need to buy 3 AAA batteries.

Pros for Monopoly Revolution Christmas Gift Giving: It's faster. That's about it. Actually, the $40 list price isn't so bad and there are discounts around. The new zones (Walking Zone, Cycle Zone, Car Zone, and Rocket Zone) are a nice innovation that combines the old Chance and Community Trust Cards. Property auctions are another fun addition that speed ups playing because they're timed. The sound effects are initially amusing including a door that slams when you "Go To Jail" and tunes that plays every time you pass "Go." The Game Unit is easier than counting money, but then again children won't get those counting lessons from this new Monopoly game.

Cons for Monopoly Revolution Christmas Gift Giving: That tinny music gets annoying very fast. That said, there is an option for turning off the sound. More importantly, the batteries are hardly a green revolution and you need a screwdriver to get them in and out. Plus, if you don't play the game for a while, you're going to have to take the batteries out and find them again. It's literally not your parents' Monopoly game. Old people can't see the numbers on the low-contrast frosted dice and Game Unit. Then again, any self-respecting senior is going to blow you off when you try to pass off those ugly plastic slabs with crappy imprints instead of the pretty old iron figures. I'm not listening to Kool and the Gang over and over without my iron Scottie dog. Actually, I'm not going to listen to Kool and the Gang even with the Scottie dog.

Monopoly Revolution is a whole new Monopoly Game. For environmentalists and aesthetes, stick to tradition with your Christmas gift giving although many people like Monopoly Revolution.