Monopoly research.

I have been given a brief which involves creating a monopoly board based on a game, some essential research is needed first.

According to Hasbro (current producers of monopoly) the following is true: In 1934, Charles Darrow invented the game of monopoly and in an uphill struggle, after initial rejection and toiling by hand to make the game he finally managed to get Parker brothers to take on monopoly.
http://www.hasbro.com/monopoly/en_US/discover/history.cfm
However other sources(http://www.worldofmonopoly.com/history/) which give a much more detailed account (and refrain from using the sweeping term 'the rest is histoy') suggest that the Darrow's version of monoploy was based on an existing game called Landlord, created by Elizabeth Maggie in 1903. The interesting thing is that Landlord was not especially popular until its second patent was issued, the rules altered and renamed; action monopoly. The reasons for the changes are said to be inspired by the people who played the game and changed it as they saw fit, altering rules and changing the names of the properties to places local to them.

The leads me to my own monopoly production: The idea of local or personalised monopoly seems quite a novel and innovative idea but in actual fact, this is how monopoly cam about, instinctively and immediately people loved the game but wanted to make it more personal and play it in a slightly different way. The game itself inspires a creativity and independence which makes my project not unique but somewhat hackneyed. Although thoroughly enjoyable there is nothing new about what I am doing.
 The game should be changed to be more relevant and enjoyable to the player, it was borne of this thinking and it should continue this way. Companies will build you a monopoly set with you choice of its appearance. The rule book suggests different ways of playing the game, when playing M with new people its not uncommon to fall out over rules which each person holds in firm belief as either correct or an improvement to the rules. For instance Free parking: Originally intended as a square that meant nothing whatsoever, just a square without a fine or rent to pay, I personally have never played a game in which money from tax and other fines were not pooled into the centre or lipped under the free parking, for the lucky individual who lands on the square to claim.With regards to monopoly this statement is more relevant then ever: Rules are meant to be broken.

I love monopoly and this project has allowed me to rediscover my love of the game and gain a better understanding in what contributes to the making or a truly great game.  
                                                                                                                     JW