Hasbro launches FIFA World Cup game online

US-based toy giant Hasbro is rolling out an online version of its FIFA World Cup 2006 Monopoly board game.

The online game will be played in real-time. As players sign up to the action, they become part of a massive multi-player online game, which is influenced by “real life” factors and events as they take place during the World Cup 2006 action.

The game goes live this week and is part of a raft of special-edition games launches for the company set around the World Cup 2006.

As part of the game, players travel from one footballing country to another, buying teams and building terraces and stadiums as their fortune grows. Then as the action unfolds on the pitch in Germany they pick up cash and properties.

For instance, if a football player or team that the online gamer has bought scores a hat-trick, he will be rewarded with more Monopoly money. Likewise, if they’re booked, sent off or lose points, their value (and the Monopoly bank balance) falls.

Other games in Hasbro’s World Cup portfolio include a FIFA World Cup Monopoly board game, Subbuteo Dream Team game – based on the classic table-top game – and Trivial Pursuit Bite-Size Football Edition, which is played with a coloured dice to select questions, rather than moving around a board.

Last year, Hasbro rolled out Monopoly Live online, which used real-life London taxis as the pieces.