IT'S all go for board game lovers in Suffolk after a new Ipswich edition of Monopoly was launched.Traditional squares like Park Lane, Old Kent Road and Mayfair have been replaced with some well-known locations from around the town, including Portman Road, the Waterfront and the Cornhill.
IT'S all go for board game lovers in Suffolk after a new Ipswich edition of Monopoly was launched.
Traditional squares like Park Lane, Old Kent Road and Mayfair have been replaced with some well-known locations from around the town, including Portman Road, the Waterfront and the Cornhill.
Christchurch Mansion scooped the prestigious Mayfair spot, with the borough council's new Grafton House headquarters given the dubious honour of being the town's Old Kent Road - the cheapest slot on the board.
Speaking at yesterday's unveiling, at Debenhams in Ipswich, Monopoly promoter Graham Barnes claimed the selection reflected the council's money-conscious approach.
He said: “The most modest priced square is Grafton House. We were aware when putting the board game together that this was the subject of much heated debate when it was first built.
“We thought the best thing to do was to put it on the most moderately priced board because we know how mindful the council is of spending taxpayers' money.”
Although there are more than 20 versions of the game in existence, the Ipswich edition is the first to have three football-related squares - Portman Road is joined by the statues of Sir Bobby Robson and Sir Alf Ramsey.
Mr Barnes said each square was chosen after talks with local bodies and groups, as well as canvassing more than 2,000 people.
Mark Marriott, game creator, expects the game to become a big hit locally in the run up to Christmas.
He said: “These individual editions show it has become a local game for local people and it always does very well.
“The response we have had to the new game has been fantastic and the number of people who contacted us with suggestions for the places that should be included made it very easy to put together.”
FORMER Monopoly world champion Jason Bunn was in Ipswich yesterday to mark the launch of the new game.
The 46-year-old taxi driver from Leeds scooped the crown 20 years ago and remains the only Englishman to ever win the title, currently held by a game lover from Japan.
Mr Bunn has taken part in many world championships, held every four years, and revealed his preparation for the tournament involves playing the game each day.
He beat off competition in regional heats around the UK before jetting off to New York to take part in and win the finals in 1986.
His reward was the sum total of all the game's Monopoly money in real cash, which amounted to more than £8,000.
Yesterday, Mr Bunn welcomed the introduction of a new game for Ipswich - and he also offered enthusiasts a few tips to help them succeed.
He said: “It's all about the negotiating and knowing what is a good deal at a certain point of the game.
“There are various calculations going on throughout the game and knowing which squares give the best return is the key.
“The orange sites are mathematically proven to give you the best return on your business. This is because when people go to jail, which is quite often, they are very likely to throw a total of between six and nine, which would land you on the orange sites.
“You obviously need a bit of luck but it's a bit like a game of poker - you have to do the best with the cards you are dealt.
“It's also important to get as many sites as you can around the board so you are constantly picking up money.”
Christchurch Mansion £400
Portman Road £350
Martlesham Park and Ride £200
London Road Park and Ride £200
Bury Road Park and Ride £200
The Waterfront £320
University Campus Suffolk £300
Suffolk New College £300
Regent Theatre, St Helen's Street £280
Wolsey Theatre £260
Willis Building, Friars Street £260
Buttermarket £240
Buttermarket Shopping Centre £200
East Anglian Daily Times, Lower Brook Street £240
Cornhill £220
Tower Ramparts £180
Ip-City Centre, Bath Street £180
Sir Alf Ramsay Statue £160
Sir Bobby Robson Statue £140
Haven Marina £140
Ipswich Museum, High Street £120
King Street £100
St Stephen's Lane £100
Ipswich Station £200
Grafton House £60
Paper Mill Lane £60
Community Chest - Evening Star and ITV Anglia
Pay a fine - Ipswich Building Society
Chance - Radio Suffolk, Classic Amber Radio, SGR FM
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