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Monopoly Star Wars

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Monopoly Star Wars
Developer(s)Artech Studios
Publisher(s)Hasbro Interactive
SeriesMonopoly
Star Wars
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
ReleaseOctober 21, 1997[1]
Genre(s)Strategy, board game

Monopoly Star Wars is the 1997 Monopoly franchise Star Wars video game based on the board game and set in the Star Wars fictional universe. It is one of many Monopoly video game adaptions. The game was developed by Artech Studios and published by Hasbro Interactive. It was released exclusively for Microsoft Windows computers. The game employs the same basic ruleset of traditional Monopoly gameplay, but the Star Wars theme includes famous characters and locales in place of the original game pieces and properties.

A PlayStation version of the game was announced at E3 1997, but was soon canceled for unknown reasons. This version would allow players to control characters freely.[2]

Gameplay

After a player rolls their turn, the camera angle changes to a side-view perspective. Once the character lands on the appropriate spot a FMV clip plays.
See also: Monopoly

The gameplay closely resembles that of the original source material.[3] Players begin by selecting a game piece, each modeled after famous Star Wars characters. Playable characters consist of Han Solo, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, Chewbacca, Darth Vader, Boba Fett and Stormtrooper. Whilst the game pieces appear to be cast metal during piece selection, during gameplay they are fully animated and are textured to look like their film counterparts. Players can choose up to four players, with up to three AI players if a person wishes to play solo. Several options allow players to customize the game to their preferences. C-3PO serves as narrator for the game, voiced by Anthony Daniels.[4]

After character selection, play begins with a perspective view of the board, with a starship representing each player flanking each side. These starships display player's current funds and properties available, and also have an identical character piece attached to the side of the ship. Traditional Monopoly properties are replaces with various Star Wars locales, whilst corner spaces such as Free Parking are kept the same. Instead of building houses and hotels, players accumulate starports.[5] Once a player rolls their turn, the camera shifts to a side-view perspective. This sequence contains animation and clips from the films, which play out when players land on their designated space.[6] Players also had the option to compete in multiplayer LAN games, and observe such games through Microsoft's Internet Gaming Zone,[4] through agreements with Microsoft and Sony Online Entertainment.[7] Zone Support for CD-ROM games ceased on Juny 19, 2006.[8] GameRanger has since enabled support for it, reviving its multiplayer functionality.[9]

Development

Previously, Hasbro had created a board game version of Star Wars Monopoly, which has sold very well; 1997 was the year of a Special Edition version of the Star Wars original trilogy, so it was decided to release a video game version for the Christmas season,[10] to build on the Monopoly franchise.[11] Programmer Alexander G. M. Smith was in charge of software design for the rules engine.[10] The 3D crew produced a sizzle reel to show Hasbro, and the project was approved.[10] Anthony Daniels, who portrays the droid C3PO in the Star Wars films, contributed his writing skills to the game.[12] During the development process, the "simple but effective dialog boxes and 2D board were replaced by fancy animations, sound effects, and speech".[10] Due to the rushed development toward the end, certain features such as a user interface for trading immunities and futures was left out, while a Japanese version of the title was postponed.[10] The game was officially finished on October 18, 1997.[10]

Upon the title's announcement, Jack Sorensen, president of LucasArts, explained "the Star Wars franchise will expand to a much broader audience who will now have an opportunity to experience two cultural icons in a whole new way."[13] Meanwhile, Hasbro Interactive President Tom Dusenberry commented that "both of these entertainment properties are so ingrained in our culture..together they create an even bigger, more thrilling entertainment experience".[14] The game was officially previewed at the 1997 Children's Interactive Expo.[15] Hasbro Interactive launched a companion website for the game in October–November 1997.[16]

Reception

Monopoly Star Wars received mixed reviews upon its release. It won the 1998 Software Publishers Association Award for "Best Use of Visual Arts in Multimedia".[22] It made Eurogamer's December 2016 list of notable Star Wars spinoffs.[23]

Nick Smith of AllGame liked that the game did more than simply slap the Star Wars name on a Monopoly game; rather the design authentically incorporate aspects of the Star Wars universe.[3] Similarly, The Adrenaline Vault's Jim Brambaugh noted the game's "authenticity", noting the potential for a quick cash-in through the merging of the popular Star Wars and Monopoly franchises.[18] Walter Morbeck of GameSpot thought the melding of the two properties was a good idea, but that the resulting game was "somewhat pointless".[17] The Boston Globe's Kathy McCabe thought the endeavour "married tradition and pop culture".[24] Robin Ray of The Boston Herald deemed the game "marvelous".[25] The Cincinnati Post's Pam Gleichman said aspects of the game were "classic" and "stunning".[26]

References

  1. ^ Jebens, Harley (October 15, 1997). "Old Voice Graces New Game". GameSpot. Archived from the original on March 2, 1999. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  2. ^ "E3: Do Not Pass Alderon". 19 June 1997.
  3. ^ a b c Smith, Nick. "Monopoly Star Wars - Review". Allgame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Windows Magazine. Vol. 9. CMP Publications, Incorporated. 1998. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  5. ^ Algeo-Krizman, Karen (December 18, 1997). "CLASSIC BYTES AGELESS TOYS AND GAMES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY NOW ON CD-ROM.(Entertainment/Weekend/Spotlight)(Review)". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on November 20, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  6. ^ Computer Gaming World. Vol. 168. Golden Empire Publications. 1998. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  7. ^ McCabe, Kathy (June 2, 1999). "Video game wars Hasbro Interactive fights for share in crowded market". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 12, 2017.[dead link‍]
  8. ^ "Beyond the Zone – MSN Games Looks to the Future". MSN Games. Archived from the original on February 28, 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  9. ^ "GameRanger - Supported Games". GameRanger. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Smith, Alexander G. M. "About Alexander G. M. Smith (agmsmith, @AGMS00, etc)". web.ncf.ca. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  11. ^ Olsen, Katherine Applefeld (August 23, 1997). Holiday Product Showcase: For kids, a multimedia of learning, 3-D Morphing and virtual Barbie. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
  12. ^ "Biography - Anthony Daniels". professional website of Anthony Daniels. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  13. ^ "The Most Popular Game Meets The Greatest Movie of All Time... Monopoly Star Wars CD-ROM Game Makes History This Fall! - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. June 19, 1997. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  14. ^ "Original Star Wars Cast Member Anthony Daniels Stars As His Beloved C-3PO Character In Monopoly Star Wars CD-ROM Game - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. September 29, 1997. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  15. ^ "Leading All-Family Games Publisher Hasbro Interactive To Showcase Premier Line-Up Of CD-Roms At The Children's Interactive Expo - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. October 14, 1997. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  16. ^ Snyder, Beth (November 3, 1997). "INTERACTIVE: HASBRO LAUNCHES WEB SITES FOR FIVE INTERACTIVE GAMES: MONOPOLY STAR WARS, PICTIONARY AND OTHER TITLES AVAILABLE ONLINE". Advertising Age. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  17. ^ a b Morbeck, Walter (December 16, 1997). "Monopoly Star Wars Review". GameSpot. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  18. ^ a b Brambaugh, Jim (December 12, 1997). "Monopoly Star Wars PC review". The Adrenaline Vault. Archived from the original on June 3, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  19. ^ Royal, Tim. "Star Wars Monopoly: The Emperor's Foreclosure". Computer Games Magazine. Archived from the original on October 8, 2001. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  20. ^ "Star Wars Monopoly Review". Computer Gaming World. April 1998. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  21. ^ "Computer Gaming World Issue 165". April 1998.
  22. ^ "SW Monopoly". Artech Studios. Archived from the original on March 10, 2001. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  23. ^ Mason, Graeme (December 18, 2018). "A Force aside: Eight notable Star Wars spinoffs". Eurogamer. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  24. ^ McCabe, Kathy (December 14, 1997). "Area toy firms bet on Patton, games". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on September 25, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  25. ^ Ray, Robin (August 12, 2001). "Casino game hits Monopoly jackpot.(Arts and Lifestyle)". The Boston Herald. Archived from the original on September 25, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  26. ^ Gleichman, Pam (December 10, 1997). "TOP SOFTWARE PICKS MAKE DANDY STOCKING STUFFERS.(LIVING)". The Cincinnati Post. Archived from the original on September 25, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2017. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

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