A new version of the classic Monopoly board game based on the city of Auckland will feature too few housing pieces for more than two people to play a functional game, says its manufacturer, Winning Moves.
The game, unveiled yesterday, was put together with extensive public consultation, and took submissions from thousands of Aucklanders about what they believed would be appropriate inclusions.
“We wanted the in-game Auckland to represent as best as possible the real life Auckland that its residents know and love,” explained Winning Moves spokesperson Andrew Thompson. “And when we spoke to local leaders in the city, one of the things that they felt most defined the city at this juncture was a shortage of housing. We were already over budget, so this worked out pretty well for us.”
The unveiling of the game was welcomed by Auckland mayor Len Brown, who said that while he would purchase a set of his own, he did not expect to be playing it with his family “anytime soon.”
Others, such as Prime Minister John Key, were confused that anyone was talking about Monopoly at all in the year 2013.
“Do people still play that game?” he asked. “It’s mostly luck. Why don’t you just play Snakes and Ladders? It’s basically the same game, but takes a lot less time.”
“I like Snakes and Ladders,” he added, grinning.
Those who have actually played the new Auckland version of Monopoly have described it as “incomplete” and “frustrating.” A section of the board that was originally designed to simulate the hosting of the America’s Cup has now been blacked out, while lines of real grass between squares make it “dirty” and “hard to interpret.”
Additionally, a new rule that prevents players from passing one another – except on one small stretch of the board – is expected to create massive backlogs.
Player pieces will include intricate models of a pokie machine, a homeless person and a lawnmower.