In an off-beat twist, the most popular board game in history, Monopoly, will introduce a version of the game without paper money.
As reported by Sky News, Parker Brothers plans to phase out the traditional currency in the new version of the real estate trading game. Instead, a mock visa debit card will be used to make purchases and financial transactions.
The new, electronic Monopoly will even include a faux ATM machine, also bearing the “Visa” logo.
This will seemingly double the price of the board game, according to Sky.
The original game was introduced in 1935 as a relief from Great Depression era angst. People could pretend to be moguls, trading and buying land, railroad and utilities.
An “electronic” version of the game already exists in Germany and France under the respective titles “Monopoly Banking,” and “Monopoly Electronique.” They are part of the “Here and Now” editions of the game. The American version, due for release in the fall, will replace the railroads with major American airports and will feature landmarks from several U.S. cities.
As of now, an American version of the “money-less” Monopoly is not planned, but anticipated as the product spreads through Europe this year.
In addition to news sources, the story was also picked up by Darren Murph from Engadget.
The original Atlantic City version of the board game has spun off into dozens of variants including popular sports teams, movies, parks and other cities.