Game changer
Monopoly wants deck of ‘woker’ cards
After 85 years of cheap hospital bills, moderate stock earnings and maturing “Christmas funds” (whatever that means), Hasbro now plans to bring Monopoly into the increasingly “woke” 21st century.
The game-maker has decided to update its 16 Community Chest cards, which featured outdated prompts such as winning a “beauty contest,” actually receiving a “tax refund” or the now-rarely seen “bank error in your favor.”
In their place are more contemporary cards that evoke community service and social awareness. Swaps could include a reward for “shopping local all week,” rescuing a shelter pet or helping tend the community garden.
But Hasbro wants players to decide which to include via voting.
“Since Monopoly became a household name more than 85 years ago, the world has changed and embraced a new sense of community — particularly after the unprecedented year of 2020,” said Anne Leonhardi, a marketing director at Hasbro.
“With community being more important than ever before, this year is the perfect time to give fans across the country the chance to show what community means to them through voting on the new set of Community Chest cards,” Leonhardi said.
Other scenarios include rewards for visiting with an elderly neighbor, patronizing the school bake sale, organizing a group to clean up town walking paths or donating blood.
One may even be praised for being a good friend: Video chat them on a “tough day” and you could call on that friend later to “get out of jail free” — because, yes, Monopoly knows how that game is played.
Players may also be penalized for acting out of selfishness, such as finding a lost wallet and keeping it, or hosting a party but failing to recycle the waste.
Fans can cast their vote for the cards they’d like to see on MonopolyCommunityChest.com, through April 9, with plans to debut the update this fall.