In new Monopoly City Streets, there is no need to pass ‘go’

Ever wondered what it would be like to run Mount Pleasant?

With “Monopoly City Streets,” now you can.

The trademark board game from Parker Bros. can now be found online, but the stakes have grown.

The free online game touts the fact you can play Monopoly and “own any street across the world and play to become the richest property magnate ever.”

Using Google Maps, players can log on and purchase roads and streets anywhere in the world, including Mount Pleasant. Every day, rent is collected on every house built on the
roads. The object of the game is to be the one in the world with the most value in their property.

While the game is a great way to get through the day, the purpose of the game is slightly off-center.

Parker Bros. launched the online game at monopolycitystreets.com as a way to promote Monopoly City, a new board game in stores.

The game became so popular when it originally launched Sept. 9, it needed to be relaunched last Thursday to allow more people to play.

Although the game was made for promotion, it is a fun spin on the classic board game. The pure nature of the game adds a personal touch, being able to localize competition to your neighborhood.

Don’t want to play in your area? Play in New York City, Los Angeles or anywhere else in the world Google Maps recognizes.

The game has a clean interface, color-coding the streets by who owns them. There are several options to build on the streets, ranging from regular green houses to the expensive Monopoly Tower.

But the game-changers are the Chance cards. Randomly during play, a Chance card can either grant a player money, cost them money, allow them to buy special structures or
to sabotage another player’s property with a power plant or a prison so they cannot collect rent on that street.

The random factor keeps the game interesting and exciting. Building until you get a Chance card keeps the game interesting, and building a hazard on an opponents property
to block their rent is the most satisfying part of the game. You can even pull a Chance card to receive 10 percent off at the Hasbro toys store.

While the game is designed to be played a short period of time per day, it’s a great way to pass time. Logging on for just a few minutes a day will suffice in developing streets
and constructing buildings.

While the map may be confusing for some, the game is simple, a benefit for people whose lives are always on the go. Except there’s no collection of $200 to go with it.