Nessie to star on new Monopoly: Highland board

Issued by gb publicity 6 Star PR on behalf of Winning Moves UK Ltd.

Pass GO, Collect – and Elect!

With a General Election on the horizon, Highland residents are getting an early opportunity to use their voting privileges - as the world’s favourite family board game lands in the region.

On Thursday (11th March 2010) MONOPOLY announced that the Highlands – including, of course Inverness - is to get its very own customised and official MONOPOLY game.

The regional public will now be asked to cast its vote over the next few weeks and nominate Inverness and Highland landmarks and institutions to replace the celebrated London MONOPOLY streets.

So ‘Whitehall’ - one of the original MONOPOLY addresses - is guaranteed at least one change in the coming months!

And it means ‘Nessie’ is surely very likely to find a brand new home – maybe even on the top exclusive location normally occupied by ‘Mayfair’ on the original MONOPOLY board !

The new game will see more than 30 Highland and Inverness landmarks swapping places with the likes of ‘Mayfair’, ‘Old Kent Road’ and ‘Whitehall’.

The spirit and shape of the board will remain the same as with the traditional MONOPOLY - including the prices. It will be mainly the streets which change and take on a regional flavour and feel. It may also appear in both English and Gaelic languages. 

The new game is being tipped to be a massive tourism boost for the region.

Provost of Inverness, Highland Councillor Jimmy Gray, says: “This is fantastic news for the city of Inverness and the Highlands too.”

“I am certain the Monopoly Highland Edition will be a great hit and with Nessie set to appear very prominently – as we assured by the makers – then it really will have international appeal.”

Voting will get underway at 10am on Thursday. Polls will close at 10am on Friday 2nd April 2010.

Formally announcing the news on Thursday will be Mark Marriott, Commercial Director of Winning Moves UK - a leading London games company with an official license from MONOPOLY owners Hasbro to produce regional variations of the world's most famous board game, which is 75-years-old this year.

Mark says:  "The race to Whitehall - and Mayfair - starts on Thursday. We are very excited and are looking forward to public input for the game in general and the top ‘Mayfair’ slot in particular.”

To vote, just email : monopoly@winningmoves.co.uk  For further details on voting visit: www.winningmoves.co.uk

The MONOPOLY: Highlands Edition will hit High Street and virtual shop shelves later this year (October / early November 2010), in time for Christmas.

For media inquiries please contact: Graham Barnes on 07841 930268

11 Mar 2010