MONOPOLY:
BRITISH ARMY EDITI N
Campaigning for the game's release
to raise money for British Army charity
Last Updated: Wednesday 14 March 2018
Toy News Online (Toy industry magazine) article about Monopoly British Army
Dominic Sacco, Wednesday 27 June 2012
Army Monopoly creator calls for Hasbro support (< to article)...
Martin Underwood encouraging people to campaign to get board game in stores for charity.
The creator of Monopoly: British Army Edition is urging consumers to write to Hasbro to help get the board game in retailers.
Self-proclaimed ‘family man’ Martin Underwood has been working on the version of the classic board game since June 2010, and wants to donate money made from sales to charities such as The British Legion and Help For Heroes.
But he said that Monopoly licence owner Hasbro will not sign the board game off.
Underwood said on his website that Hasbro UK told him it would not sell, finance or distribute the game, but would allow its name to be included in the box if he met several conditions.
These include getting approval from the Ministry of Defence, raising £18,000 to buy a minimum of 1,000 games from producer Winning Moves, and ensuring the game is not sold alongside other versions of Monopoly on store shelves.
“I feel like they have dangled a distant carrot ahead of me only to chop my legs off to make sure I can’t reach it,” said Underwood. “The saddest thing to result from this is Help for Heroes or The British Legion will also suffer as a result.
The game will not be hitting the toy shops for Christmas this year, or any year, unless Hasbro was to make a 180-degree turn on their decision.
But if you could prove to Hasbro that it would sell, by showing your support here [on my website] and on Twitter, by following @BritishArmyGame or writing to @HasbroNews, it could make all the difference.”
Underwood says a US Army Edition of Monopoly has already been released in the States.
Game Evolvement
Martin Underwood, Friday 1 June 2012
The prototype version of the final game has pretty much remained the same since it’s creation in October 2010. However, from June 1 2012 it was decided that every regiment deserves to be included in the game. Thus the next prototype should be on a board comparable in size to Monopoly Mega Edition – if not bigger.
Other regiments to be considered for inclusion: Adjutant General’s Corps, Army physical Training Corps, Corps of Army Music, Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, Intelligence Corps, London Regiment, Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, Royal Army Chaplains’ Department, Royal Army Dental Corps, Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Army Veterinary Corps, Royal Logistics Corps and the Small Arms School Corps.
The next time I speak to either Peter Griffin of Winning Moves or anyone else within the development team I am going to put the suggestion to them.
World of Monopoly (News of all new versions) article about Monopoly British Army
World of Monopoly, Monday 16 July 2012
British Army Monopoly – Possibility of a new game!
After yesterday’s look at the expensive Military Editions, I have been told about a version called “British Army Monopoly”. A lot of work and time has gone into this version, but now needs some backing to be able to be printed and released helping make money for charity. Pop over to the site to learn more about this good idea and hope you can help.
Toy News Online writes follow-up aricle about Monopoly British Army Edition
Dominic Sacco, Wednesday 20 February 2013
Army Monopoly creator seeks retail support (< to article)…
Martin Underwood hopes to “convince Hasbro there’s a market for the game”.
The creator of Monopoly: British Army Edition has called on retailers to support the game.
Martin Underwood has been campaigning to get Army Monopoly manufactured to raise money for charities like The British Legion and Help For Heroes.
He says that Monopoly brand owner Hasbro and Winning Moves will not sign the board game off until he proves there is demand for it, and that retail partners will back it.
“Hasbro has claimed for some time that none of their usual outlets would sell Monopoly British Army Edition,” Underwood told ToyNews.
“I need to press the point home with Hasbro/Winning Moves that there really is a market for the game.”
Underwood previously told ToyNews that Tesco said it would back the game, however Tesco sent us the following statement: “We’re always listening to our customers about new games they’d like to see at Tesco, however at this stage we have no plans to offer this game.”
He has been working on Monopoly: British Army Edition since June 2010. The game now has a Facebook page, too.
Click on image for close-up of the box lid.
Click on image for close-up of the box lid.
Click on image for close-up of the box lid.
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Martin Underwood, Friday 18 May 2012
The past few days have been quite eventful – particularly on Twitter.
A few nights ago I was contacted by a serviceman who thinks the game will fly off the shelves. We spoke for nearly an hour in depth about many aspects of the game. He has connections with the British Legion and after talking to them he feels that they might be interested in backing the game.
Before he can do that I have to convince the Ministry of Defence: (1) that my game should be considered, (2) to grant me permission to use all the military material used in the game (3) to issue me a copyright licence (if the charity will purchase it).
I have emailed them and I’m currently awaiting a further reply from someone who deals with copyright matters.
The MOD’s initial response hasn’t given me any reason to be optimistic. They feel that applying for a copyright licence is difficult. On top of this they would want a percentage of the sales – money that would otherwise have gone to a good cause! But with support from people like you, with your messages and best wishes, who knows. It could persuade them to re-think their decision.
Finally, this evening I had a flood of people on Twitter who decided to follow me, re-tweet me and recommend the game to others – a few even said ‘how cool this is’ and ‘I want one’! If you are one of these people then thank you. I really appreciate your support.
