10-30-2002, 02:10 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,060
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Review of Handmark's Monopoly
Like most of you, I use my Pocket PC for a lot of different things, and I especially like to play games with it. However, unlike most of you, my hand-eye coordination is so sub-standard that I usually have to bypass the typical shoot-em-up arcade games for the more �cerebral� strategy games. That is why I was so excited to see that Handmark launched a Pocket PC version of Monopoly, especially in light of the great job that they had done with their migration of Scrabble to the Pocket PC.
Still, I wasn�t sure how good a job anybody could do with squeezing the large Monopoly playboard down to fit the small Pocket PC screen.
Features
As soon as I launched Monopoly on my Pocket PC, I could see that Handmark had gone to great lengths to remain faithful to the old-fashioned version. There, crammed into the small screen, was the entire board layout, complete with all the familiar landmarks, like Community Chest, Free Parking, Boardwalk, and that ever-important �Go� icon. Handmark�s attention to detail didn�t stop there, either.
Setting up the game on the Pocket PC starts with the same age-old ritual that Monopoly players have performed since the game was born in 1933: selecting the player tokens. Up to four players can choose which traditional token shapes represent them on the board: iron, race car, battleship, terrier, shoe and hat.
And, just like when playing the original version, the Pocket PC version makes sure that no two players use the same token; so the other age-old ritual � arguing over who gets to use the race car � isn�t necessarily eliminated.
Game play is very faithful to the original version, too: you simply roll the electronic dice and move your token around the electronic board. I like the fact that the rules are automatically enforced, so there�s no question about how a player gets out of jail or when properties can be purchased. However, there are a few Rules options than can be configured, depending upon what �type� of game you want to play. For instance, you can configure whether un-owned properties have to be bought/auctioned when a player lands on them or whether a monetary bonus is earned when someone lands on �Free Parking". Even so, the computer thankfully takes care of all the parts of the game I like the least: making sure tokens are moved the right number of spaces (I can be a distrustful opponent), enforcing the rules (ditto) and keeping track of all the money and transactions (ditto, again).
Even though the playing area on the Pocket PC is a LOT smaller than with the original version, the graphics used make it very easy to progress through even the longest game. When considering whether or not to buy a piece of property, all of the important information is displayed, like the future rent potential of the purchase:
The screen also always shows the exact location of each player�s token, and the icons on the bottom of the screen give a great synopsis of which properties the active player owns.
And, a good comparison of all the players� holdings is only a quick screen tap away:
Even things like trading or selling properties to raise cash are made straightforward by the graphics:
It does take a little bit of time to learn how to complete some of the transactions, which are a bit more straightforward with the non-electronic version. But, once you learn the few simple steps needed to buy, sell and trade, the game moves very quickly.
Some of the other features include:
� Save and load games
� Beam games to other Pocket PC devices
� In-depth description of gameplay and strategies
� Complete listing of rules
Price
Like some of Handmark�s other games, Monopoly is priced a bit higher than many other Pocket PC games. At $29.99, all but the most devoted players may decide it�s just too expensive.
Availability
You can download both demo and final version of Monopoly from the Handango Web site.
Gotchas
I really have very few negative things to say about this game. As I pointed out, the price may be a bit much for some people. And, the tab used to launch the menu items is pretty small and was a tad difficult for me to accurately tap. To me, though, these are very small nitpicks.
Conclusions
I have to say that this is the most faithful incarnation of Monopoly that I�ve ever used. Everything -- the rules, graphics, options, setup � comes together to make this a great game. For me, it comes down to three important points. First, this game makes it possible for me to play Monopoly even when there are no able (or willing ) human opponents available. Second, Handmark has automated and simplified all the parts of the game that I don�t like, especially the book-keeping and scoring. Third, this electronic version makes it virtually impossible to cheat (and believe me, I tried).
So, if you really like to play Monopoly (or would like to learn), don�t be put off by the $29.99 price tag; this is one of a few games that I feel is definitely worth the price.
But, hey, want another opinion? Ryan at pocketpcBlast has written a review of Monopoly, too.
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10-30-2002, 02:29 AM
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10-30-2002, 02:31 AM
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Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
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I have missed many nights sleep playing Monopoly with friends and family over the years. It is a very cool game.
I think the next version should be Bluetooth. So far I haven't really checked this PPC version out other than playing against the computer for a few minutes. I can see it being a bit awkward using IRDA, but I could live with it if to have the chance to drive a few more people into bankruptcy. 
Dave
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10-30-2002, 02:37 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,060
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Paragon
...I can see it being a bit awkward using IRDA...
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Yes, Bluetooth would be nice, so each player could view and play the game on his/her own device. On the other hand, it's also very playable on one device, with the Pocket PC getting passed from player to player.
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10-30-2002, 03:47 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 338
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I have been waiting for this for some time.
I used to play a version of Monopoly, from Hasbro, on my old Philips Nino, and not surprisingly, the graphics looked nearly identical to the ones in the review... (same thing with a version of Scrabble I had for my old Windows CE 1.0 device.)
That's why I'm a bit put off by the $29.99 price... the development costs could not have been that high since they were using some code that was previously used... and I feel like it's a bit of price gouging and really is unnecessary. That's my personal opinion, of course...
(Now.. on to handango to order it!!!)
P.S. Bluetooth for games is a MUST!!! Developers... do it!!
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10-30-2002, 04:05 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 73
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One think I didn't like was that it does not show any houses/hotels on the main board... and I'm not asking for icons or anything, simple colored dots or just a number would be enough. Also, the AI for the trades sucks. Other than that, it's great game and pretty easy to play on the pocketpc... oh, and the price is too high 
[b]
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10-30-2002, 04:07 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 416
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Monopoly game worthwhile, I was just playing, and winning, till both my battery and external battery pack died on my Maestro. No data loss when the screen faded out but it did show the hard reset screen when I tried to turn it off and it went off the second time I hit the button.
Took a little while to figure out what was going on in auctions and trades. Couldn't get the computer players to trade with me for no amount of money.
Edward
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10-30-2002, 04:47 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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The IRDA beaming doesn't work like you'd think - it only beams saved games back and forth. It doesn't allow two Pocket PCs to play head to head. I think a Bluetooth version would be cool, but until many more Pocket PCs ship with Bluetooth it probably won't happen.
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10-30-2002, 04:48 AM
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Sage
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 667
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I think it's nice that they give you 10 full games as a demo. That way you can really experience how the game plays. If I had any compaints, it would be in a few nitpicky things about the AI and your relationship to the computer players. Here are some of the things that seem strange to me.
1. There often seems to be one player who doesn't buy (almost) any property, but auctions it all off. Now in real games, I've seen people turn down a premium property when they were short of money, but never when they had $1,000+ in their hands. Of course that's always the first player to go, but I'd much prefer that each player played to win.
2. Real people can be unpredictable too, so I just consider this one to be part of the game... but sometimes you just can't figure what logic rules the computer players are following. In one game I started playing around with trades, offering hugely unreasonable amounts for a property that didn't complete a set for me (like three premium properties and $500) and got turned down, then watched the player sell the same property to another player for about $120 a few turns later. At other times, I've watched someone sell a property for about 1/2 of what they paid for it when they aren't short of money. It's just weird sometimes... (but then again, who can figure out why my wife won't make perfefctly reasonable trades when she plays?! :? )
3. It seems unfair that the computer players always 'know' the cheapest option on income tax early in the game while I have to guess like in the real game. Computer players should get it wrong sometimes just to even things out.
All that said, I think they've done an excellent job with this game. I've just used up my 10 games and am buying it today. Like Brad, I'm not much on the shoot-em-ups, but a game like this will amuse me endlessly. If you like monopoly, you'll want to get this (even if the computer players do treat you unfairly :lol: ).
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10-30-2002, 04:49 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,060
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Bob Anderson
That's why I'm a bit put off by the $29.99 price... the development costs could not have been that high since they were using some code that was previously used...
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I'm just guessing here, but I wonder if Hasbro requires significant license fees from each game. That could be part of the reason the price is high. I don't spend this kind of money on games very often at all, but this one is really well done, IMHO.
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Linear Mode
