My dad often uses the phrase “Monopoly money” when he is referring to various currencies including the Indonesian Rupiah and Hong Kong Dollar (based on their aesthetics, and in the IDR case, value…or lack thereof). However, according to recent reports, soon he will no longer be able to use this phrase since, well, Monopoly money will cease to exist.
In an effort to keep up with the changing times, where the average person carries around less cash and more plastic, Parker Brothers are revamping their popular board game and replacing the cash with plastic debit cards. Now, I don’t know about you, but I particularly enjoy the cash aspect of the game. Being the banker, doling out the cash to everyone. Any tax/fine/get out of jail free payment going into the middle and then whoever lands on Free Parking gets it all. Making people pay obnoxiously large amounts to get out of jail.
Many a long night has been spent playing Monopoly, discussing the various intricacies and rule changes that people have made, trying to come up with rules that will best suit you right now. I mean, come on…how many times have people made shady deals in an attempt to screw another played by trading Boardwalk and Baltic Avenue for Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky? It is the best part, changing the rules around, trying to amass as much of the colorful money as possible while trying to force your competition into bankruptcy. I feel that with the new debit card system, this will change. You will no longer be able to make the monster trades, housing exceptions, and collect on free parking. Everything will be more…strict.
While attempting to keep the game up to date as far as the real world, I think that Monopoly should stick by their money. It is an essential part of what makes the game great: kids can learn about properly sorting their money, experienced players can continue to think up crazy rules to improve their current situations, and my dad can keep his phrase (perhaps the most important! 
) I personally am going to continue to use my Monopoly set that I have owned since who knows when.
Oh, and just for the record, I have not lost a game of Monopoly in over 9 years, so if anyone is down to play, tell me place and time and I’ll be there. 
Cheers,
Taps
