Distributor(s) Hasbro Interactive Initial release date 1997 Series Monopoly | Genre(s) Strategy, board game Publisher Hasbro Interactive Platform Microsoft Windows | |
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Developer Artech Digital Entertainment Similar Clue, Monopoly, Scrabble, Monopoly Plus, Hasbro Family Game Ni | ||
Monopoly Star Wars is a 1997 video game based on the board game of the same name. It is one of many video game adaptions of the board game Monopoly. The game was developed by Artech Digital Entertainment and published by Hasbro Interactive. It was released exclusively for Microsoft Windows. The game employs the same basic ruleset of traditional Monopoly gameplay, but adds a Star Wars theme which includes famous characters and locales in place of the original game pieces and properties.
Contents
Gameplay
The gameplay closely resembles that of the original source material. 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-3P0 servers as narrator for the game, voiced by Anthony Daniels.
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 peice 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. 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. Players also had the option to compete in multiplayer LAN games, and observe such games through Microsoft's Internet Gaming Zone, through agreements with Microsoft and Sony Online Entertainment.
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, to build on the Monopoly franchise. Programmer Alexander G. M. Smith was in charge of software design for the rules engine. The 3D crew produced a sizzle reel to show Hasbro, and the project was approved. Anthony Daniels, who portrays the droid C3PO in the Star Wars films, contributed his writing skills to the game. During the development process, the "simple but effective dialog boxes and 2D board were replaced by fancy animations, sound effects, and speech". 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. The game was officially finished on October 18, 1997.
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." 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". The game was officially previewed at the 1997 Children's Interactive Expo. Hasbro Interactive launched a companion website for the game in October–November 1997.
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". It made Eurogamer's December 2016 list of notable Star Wars spinoffs.
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. 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. Walter Morbeck of GameSpot thought the melding of the two properties was a good idea, but that the resulting game was "somewhat pointless". The Boston Globe's Kathy McCabe thought the endeavour "married tradition and pop culture". Robin Ray of The Boston Herald deemed the game "marvelous". The Cincinnati Post's Pam Gleichman said aspects of the game were "classic" and "stunning".