Rest in pieces: Hasbro to replace a classic Monopoly game token

[Unknown Beatle]

In many families, Monopoly fights start long before the property is purchased. Inevitably, every player wants the same playing piece.

Well, it's time to stand up for your beloved old boot or Scottie dog or thimble, because Hasbro is aiming to get rid of it.

The company has announced plans to upgrade Monopoly, which will include replacing one of the game's iconic tokens with a fancy new figurine.

Even worse, Hasbro is making you decide which one will go. From now through Feb. 5, fans can vote to save their favorite token -- and which new one will take the place of the least popular piece.

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[Liberal_in_LA]

1. get rid of the iron or the wheel barrow

[Cleita]

3. My thoughts too. LOL. n/t

[Recursion]

7. You can have my scotty dog when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers... (nt)

[A HERETIC I AM]

9. NOOO!!! The iron is suitable for whacking the banker upside the head.....

and the wheelbarrow is then used to tote away the cash!

[Gormy Cuss]

73. Thinking like Mr. Moneybags, eh?

[A HERETIC I AM]

78. Only if you're the banker. n/t

[lapislzi]

23. NOT THE WHEELBARROW! Jamais!

It's the only one with a moving part!

[tridim]

76. It's pictured on the Chance cards too (I think)

I hope they don't update the car. It's fine as-is.

[BlueJazz]

81. Yep..I agree

[XemaSab]

83. You can put the hotels on the wheelbarrow

[Liberal_in_LA]

87. .

[vaberella]

88. OMG not the IRON! I was always the iron when I played. What are you saying?! n/t

[OnionPatch]

93. Mine never had a wheelbarrow.

Or maybe my sister ate it.

[2pooped2pop]

103. I don't even remember the wheel barrow

Has it always been there? We were a family of five kids so it's quite possible that we never had a complete set of anything.

Not remembering the wheelbarrow, I too vote for it or the iron to go. Iron, what is that thing?lol

[ellisonz]

2. Boooo!!!

[Enrique]

4. i vote the battleship off this island n/t

[DevonRex]

14. I will throw you overboard right now.

Can you swim? You can't take my ship. Nope. Unh uh. It is mine. The damn iron goes.

[hatrack]

84. The battleship? Nay, the Dreadnought? NEVER! Not Commonwealth! EMPAH!!!!!

[vaberella]

89. No. I think that's a yacht or cruise-ship.

It looks like a battleship but I think it's supposed to be like a cruise-ship or yacht.

[Recursion]

5. The flatiron

Nobody has had one of those for 60 years.

[KittyWampus]

25. sometimes when I'm ironing I think how great it is not to have to use flat irons

I can imagine how often women got burned by them and how freaking heavy they were.

Maybe I was a servant in a previous life who had to do a lot of ironing.

[kskiska]

52. Asheville, NC, has a huge flatiron

[Recursion]

53. Not to mention Madison Square

[Sissyk]

65. lol

Awesome!

[msanthrope]

6. They'd better keep the dog!!! nt

[tularetom]

8. Hey my monopoly set never had a battleship

I would have used it but I think my sister took it before she taught me how to play.

She and her friends would always stick me with the fucking thimble.

[DevonRex]

17. That is my favorite piece.

I get really tetchy if I don't get it.

[Rex]

10. So they want to punish us and rub salt in the wound?

Meh.

[JoePhilly]

11. Clearly the American people demand THIS!!!!

[HappyMe]

12. Dump the damn shoe/boot.

[JNelson6563]

21. But I love the damn shoe/boot!

[Butterbean]

101. Me too!!! I usually chose that or the dog. :(

[wendylaroux]

102. No,not the boot!

It is fun to navigate around the board,holding on to that bootstrap.

[hughee99]

13. I haven't played in a long time, but what ever happened to the guy on the horse?

That was always my favorite.

[randome]

15. And wasn't there a cannon? Did that disappear long ago or what?

[DevonRex]

22. Yes. My brother always got that one. nt

[JHB]

19. There have been a few replacments & special tokens over the years

Each player is represented by a small metal token that is moved around the edge of the board according to the roll of two dice. The twelve playing pieces used in the 2005 Deluxe Edition in the United States were:

Wheelbarrow (1937b edition)
Battleship
Sack of money (1999–2007 editions; won a contest over a piggy bank and biplane)
Man on horseback (no longer in classic edition)
Racecar
Locomotive (Deluxe Edition only)
Thimble
Howitzer, better known as a cannon (no longer in classic edition)
Old-style shoe (or boot)
Scottie dog
Iron
Top hat
Previous tokens retired in the 1950s (replaced by the dog, man on horseback, and wheelbarrow):

Lantern
Purse
Rocking horse

***
In 1998, a Hasbro advertising campaign asked the public to vote on a new playing piece to be added to the set, resulting in a "bag of money" token being added to the US edition.[15] This piece was retired in 2007. In 2013, a similar promotional campaign was launched encouraging the public to vote on one of several possible new tokens, to replace an existing one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopoly_(game)#Tokens

(on edit: the direct link is breaking after the underscore, and I can't fix it. Copy & past into a browser window to view)

[hughee99]

27. Interesting. I didn't realize they had made so many changes. n/t

[HappyMe]

20. Yeah.

I have had my Monopoly game for about 9 years. There isn't any dude on a horse in it.

[Chellee]

16. Huh... I've never even seen that ship before.

I have a man riding a horse instead.

[Historic NY]

18. I'd vote for replica Trillion Dollar coins tokens.

[randome]

24. This is like DC or Marvel 'rebooting' their respective Universes every few years.

Gins up some attention for the game.

[RomneyLies]

26. There have been all sorts of tokens over the years

http://www.worldofmonopoly.com/history/usa-tokens.php

These are from the latest Deluxe Edition:

[2naSalit]

66. So I used to play with my brother and older sister back in the early - late 60s

I remember all of the above except the horse thing, the wheelbarrow, cannon and whatever the hell that thing in the lower RH corner is, the money bag? Don't remember that one, we had eight pieces in our game.

[RomneyLies]

67. That's a picture of the '88-'89 Deluxe Edition set

The money bag was new, as was the train. this was the standard set from the '60s:



This was the set form the '50s:



In '75, they added back the cannon and the ship.

[2naSalit]

68. I think our set was from the 50s...

and maybe my mother took out the horse and cannon fearing my baby siblings might get hold of them and be harmed. I certainly remember the battleship, my brother's favorite, or the car. I was happy with the the others but didn't like the ship. He and his buddies always got to pick their pieces first and I ended up with whatever was left over being the youngest... and they never let me get ahead either! I was always the first one to go bankrupt.

[kentauros]

28. So, what's the replacement toekn going to be?

My guess is the ubiquitous cellphone.

[Aerows]

32. A cat, A robot, a diamond ring

a guitar, and something that I don't know what the hell it is.

[muriel_volestrangler]

36. Not just 'a robot' - Grovelbot!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018276484

[Aerows]

39. LOL

It is a Grovelbot!

[kentauros]

41. Grovelbot with a mustache!

[Chellee]

60. He's in disguise.

nt

[kentauros]

64. Makes sense.

He did ride off into the sunset, so he'd have to disguise himself to make a return.

Although, I think he should have a cane and a monocle, too

[hatrack]

85. And spats! Don't forget spats for those robotic feet!

If you're going to go full-on Scrooge McDuck, then do so!

[kentauros]

86. No, I was thinking of

Mr. Peanut. But, Scrooge McBot would be good, and appropriate!

[kentauros]

37. I didn't go to the link.

Are those the choices? I thought the vote was only which pieces to keep

[RomneyLies]

35. Five possibilities form the article

A robot, diamond ring, guitar, cat, or helicopter:

[Aerows]

38. Oh wow

I never would have guessed helicopter for the last one. I didn't know what the heck that was.

[KansDem]

55. Me, too...

I thought it was an aircraft carrier on a big wave or bubble.

[HappyMe]

42. I like the robot and the helicopter.

[kentauros]

44. The cat will probably win.

The rest look boring or goofy.

Thanks for the image

[HappyMe]

54. The cat is boring & goofy.

The robot is like a little Grovelbot!

[kentauros]

63. I'm just voicing the will of the masses

I like the robot, too

[2naSalit]

62. I like the

cat and the guitar! the battleship can go but I think it would be good to keep some of the "relics" of the past so people can actually wonder about them enough to find out what they are and ponder on the ideas. I must be thinking too hard on this!

[theKed]

94. Like the

"Luxury Tax" space...?

[2naSalit]

96. I know, Right?

[drm604]

108. Why does the robot have a mustache?

[RomneyLies]

109. It's the same mustache Mr. monopoly has

[Politicalboi]

29. I read that February 15th

They are going to sell a special edition of Monopoly with ALL the pieces. Might be worth buying, and never opening it.

[HappyMe]

47. Oh no!

What fun is that?

[RomneyLies]

48. Toy speculation is big money

especially for limited editions.

[HappyMe]

57. I guess.

I would get 2 sets then. One for fun, one for no-fun.

[RomneyLies]

61. The one for no-fun should be kept in the original shrink wrap, too. n/t

[Aerows]

30. I'd love the cat!

Do away with the iron.

[On the Road]

31. What Happened to the Lead Pipe?

I remember when it was actually made of lead. (Oh wait, that was Clue.)

[Graybeard]

105. It's in the study with Colonel Mustard.

And the Rope was real rope.

[JHB]

33. Propose: a Swiss army knife, a Palm tree (from the Cayman islands)...

...and other Caribbean tax havens...

How about a pirate ship, a cutlass, or a skull & bones hat, for these financial pirate's coves?

A big screw.

[narnian60]

34. What is wrong with me???

I played a lot of Monopoly in the late 50s & early 60s, and I don't recognize ANY of these pieces!

[Aerows]

49. The dog, the shoe and the iron

have been there as long as I've played, and that's since I played with my sister in the late 70's.

[narnian60]

56. I think I remember the dog-but that's it.

[madamesilverspurs]

40. One of their possible replacements...

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/81T8hH8HstdW5W2kIuh8fg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/

Grovelbot, is that you?


-

[ellie]

43. But I like all the pieces!

Maybe get rid of the hat or the car.

[marions ghost]

45. let the robot replace the ship

[Brother Buzz]

46. I had a deprived childhood. Our game board has wooden tokens

[RomneyLies]

71. You didn't have a deprived childhood, you played with a collector's item

The wooden tokens were in the sets produced during World War II due to the metal shortage.

[Brother Buzz]

72. Santa dealt in military surplus?

Our board arrived in the mid fifties.

And if he did deal in military surplus, how come I never got that Tommy-gun I asked for?

[RomneyLies]

74. Would have still been produced in the war.

Immediately after the war they started back with the metal tokens.

The Junior set had these wooden tokens until 1956, though:



They had produced so many during the war that they had a junior and a deluxe set until they sold out of the wooden tokens.

[Brother Buzz]

75. This is the set I remember

Sans the cylinder piece (upper left). The tall natural colored maple piece (lower right) was the one to have. I guess we had a junior set.

[RomneyLies]

80. That would be it.

Not many of those around any more.

[Blue_In_AK]

50. My piece was always the little Scotty dog. :)

[liberal N proud]

51. My set never had the wheelbarrow

[SoCalDem]

59. We still have a Monopoly set with wooden houses/hotels

It was my mother-in-law's set..

and I still have my own first set bought for $2.50 at Ft Clayton PX....in 1955..

price tag is still on the battered, taped & re-taped old box.

[TDale313]

58. Just voted...

To save the doggie and add the kitteh, but actually like quite a few of the new options (the robot and ring are cool)

[Warren DeMontague]

69. The boot was always the one I wanted to be.

I protest.

[aristocles]

70. This, my friends, is how the Roman Empire ended

Last edited Fri Jan 11, 2013, 06:27 PM - Edit history (1)

...not with a bang, but a whimper.

O tempora! O mores!

[Agnosticsherbet]

77. After I first saw Star Trek, I turned the wheelbarrow upside down and called it

Enterprise.

Dn't get rid of the Enterprise.

The thimble has to go.

[Skip Intro]

79. Bye iron, Hello Kitty! nt

[vaberella]

90. I loved the iron. It represents the woman worker.

Why is everyone bashing the iron. The Wheelbarrow can't even stand upright.

[Skip Intro]

92. It was between the iron and the wheelbarrow, but the iron is just

boring to look at - that's why I picked it. Didn't really think about the symbolism, it just doesn't have any character, visually.

The wheelbarrow, though, symbolically, could be something a Monopoly tycoon could use to carry around his massive wealth.

What would you ditch if you couldn't ditch the iron or the wheelbarrow?

[vaberella]

98. Most of the pieces represent something...I guess it would be Toto.

I get the point of the dog. Paris Hilton in her heyday showed the rich and their love for living accessories. However, the dog was unnecessary.

[trishtrash]

82. The thimble has to go. Nobody ever picks it.

[TheManInTheMac]

97. I don't remember anybody wanting the thimble either. Everybody wanted the car, though.

[vaberella]

100. My sister always chose the thimble, I was the iron, my two cousins were the man on the horse & dog.

n/t

[vaberella]

99. My sister's favorite piece is the thimble. She was glad no one was talking about it here.

I think you will actually get her to sign up to the sign to repond.

[tavalon]

91. Wow, like Sophie's Choice, only not.

[cherish44]

95. Everyone wanted the dog at my house

That's the only good token they have.

[Brainstormy]

104. For its historical value,

the iron should stay. It's the only place my own children have ever seen one.

[Graybeard]

106. Good-bye ship, Hello diamond ring.

The diamond ring for those who think they will own all of the hotels (but it will be a reminder to watch out for 'Luxury Tax'.)

[Kali]

107. I get the HORSE I get the HORSE I get the HORSE!!! MMMOOOOOOOOmmmmm!!!!! She took the horse!!

hey! where is the horse?

[L0oniX]

110. Replace the battleship with a drone. n/t

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defence
than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." Martin Luther King, Jr.