| As one of the most popular games eve, | | | | 1935, they purchased the full rights of |
| Monopoly has its own legend. Some say that it | | | | production and distribution for a |
| was invented by an engineer from German town, | | | | confidential sum. |
| Pennsylvania - Charles Darrow. The story | | | | |
| tells that he designed the game by drawing a | | | | A thing that not many of us know is that |
| sketch of the board game on a dirty textile | | | | Monopoly resembles a lot with another |
| piece, while making plans for a wealthy life | | | | society-game - "The Landlord's Game", created |
| and successful business. | | | | and owned by Elizabeth J. Maggie, from |
| | | | Virginia, in 1904. She created this society |
| In 1934, he tried to present his idea to the | | | | game based on her conception that it was |
| Parker Brothers, but they rejected it by | | | | necessary a single tax, and every person was |
| considering that there were many design | | | | supposed to pay this tax according to their |
| mistakes and the game just being too | | | | personal properties and assets. So she |
| complicated and long to play. Now the name, | | | | created the game as a practical |
| Parker Brothers is known to all toy lovers by | | | | exemplification of her idea. |
| their original creations or the ones with a | | | | |
| license. But who were they? George Parker was | | | | The game had, as Monopoly, 40 squares, 4 |
| the youngest child from the three children | | | | railroads, 2 squares with utilities, 22 |
| that the Parkers had. Though he wanted to | | | | spaces for rent and special squares such as |
| become a journalist Parker was passionate | | | | Jail, Go to Jail, Luxury tax and Parking. The |
| about games and toys. As an adolescent he | | | | game gradually became successful and the |
| created his first game - "Banking",. In time, | | | | rules were transmitted from one player to |
| he founded a company and his brothers joined | | | | another, often changed, and the board game |
| him, under the name of "Parker Brothers" and | | | | and the pieces were made by passionate |
| made history by creating cards games, puzzle | | | | players. |
| games and board games. | | | | |
| | | | Even if we do not know in what measure Darrow |
| But, returning to our story, disappointed, | | | | has inspired himself in creating Monopoly, a |
| Darrow still believes in his idea and begins | | | | thing is clear: the game had and still has a |
| selling the game, though it had a lower | | | | huge success, especially after the Toys Fair |
| quality design than the games produced in | | | | (1935), where it was first presented. It |
| factories. The game began to gain popularity, | | | | became a real phenomenon, being adapted and |
| and the Parker brothers saw now the | | | | translated in no more than 26 languages, |
| opportunity they missed the first time. In | | | | including Braille. |