The Free-To-Play Social Gaming Version of the World’s Favourite Family Game Brand Enables Players Around the World to “Pass Go” and Play with Hundreds to Thousands of their Friends
21 February 2011, Australia & New Zealand – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) has announced that MONOPOLY Millionaires, the first free-to-play social gaming version of the world’s favourite family game brand, is now available for play on Facebook.
Fans of MONOPOLY can connect with all their Facebook friends and family around the world to experience the never-ending fun of building the biggest and best boards and gathering millions in MONOPOLY money. Under license from Hasbro, MONOPOLY Millionaires can be played on Facebook at: http://apps.facebook.com/monopolymillionaires/.
The release of MONOPOLY Millionaires represents an entirely new and innovative approach to the digital MONOPOLY franchise. Electronic Arts’ considerable MONOPOLY development expertise has resulted in the integration of unique social gameplay features that take gaming on Facebook in a new direction.
“EA has enjoyed a very successful relationship with Hasbro over the last three years and we’re excited to introduce the beloved MONOPOLY brand to the Facebook community,” says Chip Lange, senior vice president and general manager of the Hasbro Division at Electronic Arts. “We strive to continually re-imagine Hasbro brands digitally in creative ways and MONOPOLY Millionaires is no exception. We’re bringing the world’s favourite game brand into the new era of social gaming, offering an accessible and enjoyable experience for Facebook users worldwide.”
“MONOPOLY has always been a social game that’s made better by the friends you play with,” said Katie Mitic, director of platform and mobile marketing at Facebook. “With MONOPOLY Millionaires, EA and Hasbro are bringing this global game brand to a growing online audience of people who play games with their friends on Facebook. MONOPOLY is a great example of the legacy that can be created when games are built to be social from day one.”
Fans of MONOPOLY will find several familiar features in MONOPOLY Millionaires, such as the classic MONOPOLY board, earning money by building houses and hotels, and rolling dice to move tokens around the board. However, MONOPOLY Millionaires has been designed specifically for the world of social gaming to encourage players to engage and play with their friends. The more friends a player has, and the more often they visit their friends’ boards, the more success they’re likely to have in the game. Additionally, players may roll the dice consecutively and don’t have to wait for their friends to finish their turns. Customisation is another highlight of MONOPOLY Millionaires, allowing players to creatively decorate their boards for a more personalised and expressive experience.
“MONOPOLY has entertained millions of families around the globe for decades,” said Mark Blecher, senior vice president and general manager of digital gaming and media at Hasbro. “With this first time addition of a social gaming version for Facebook, it’s great to know there will always be a friend or family member who’ll be ready to roll the dice any time of the day or night to experience the fun of MONOPOLY Millionaires.”
MONOPOLY for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS
The world of MONOPOLY has already come to life digitally with great success through the strategic licensing alliance between EA and Hasbro. To date, the franchise—which kicked off in 2008 with the launch of the original MONOPOLY—has sold through more than two million units worldwide across Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, PlayStation ® 2 and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, Nintendo DS, and the Wii. The 2010 launch of MONOPOLY Streets brought even more fun to the digital translation of the popular board game with newly added online play features and an immersive MONOPOLY city which transforms and expands as aspiring real estate moguls buy and develop their properties.
MONOPOLY for iOS, Amazon Kindle, Windows Phone 7 and Android
It’s “GO” time! With MONOPOLY for iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Amazon Kindle, Android and Windows Phone 7, players can take a ride on the Reading Railroad, buy Boardwalk or go directly to jail. The game jumps to life with animated features and intuitive gameplay as players buy, sell and trade Atlantic City’s famous properties. Adding to the fun is the ability to challenge friends with Pass ‘n Play and customize the difficulty, number of players and house rules. For those who aspire to go global, there is MONOPOLY Here & Now: The World Edition for iPhone and iPod touch. This popular app features all new properties and adds an international flair to the world’s favourite game brand digital experience. Players can own international cities, trade in a Race Car for a Sumo Wrestler and discover fun facts about exotic destinations with Chance, Community Chest and “Did You Know?” cards.
MONOPOLY for Pogo.com
At EA’s online gaming destination Pogo.com™, players can also become global real estate tycoons in MONOPOLY Here and Now: The World Edition by visiting www.pogo.com/games/monopoly to compete against three other opponents. Additionally, Pogo™ now offers the downloadable MONOPOLY City for the PC, the first true digital iteration of the hit board game in which players can build and watch their city fortune grow. MONOPOLY City is now available at www.pogo.com/downloads.