Hasbro aims to jazz up Monopoly with new token

This image provided by Hasbro shows a possible new Monopoly game piece. / AP Photo/Hasbro

NEW YORK The gig is almost up for one of the eight Monopoly tokens. But which will it be? Iron? Thimble? Top Hat?

Or another of their board game buddies?

Hasbro is holding a Facebook contest to eliminate one of the eight tokens that identify the players and introduce a new one. Possible new tokens include a cat, diamond ring, guitar, toy robot and helicopter.

It's the latest effort by the toymaker to jazz up the game which debuted almost eight decades ago.

In recent years Hasbro introduced a version that replaces paper money with an electronic bank and another that incorporates an iPad. There is an app-only version of the game for smartphones and tablets.

Monopoly's tokens have actually changed quite a lot over the years. The original version also included a lantern, purse, cannon and a rocking horse. A horse and rider token was used in the 1950s. During World War II, metal tokens were replaced by wooden ones.

But this time, users have a say.

5 new possible tokens for the Monopoly game

/ Hasbro

So if you are tired of the iron token and would rather be represented by a robot, here's your chance to make those wishes known. Beginning Tuesday, Facebook fans of Monopoly can vote on which piece to eliminate and which one to add. The voting ends Feb. 5.

Up for elimination: all eight current tokens including a battleship, iron, racecar, Scottie dog, shoe, thimble, top hat and wheelbarrow. Most tokens were introduced with the first Parker Brothers iteration of the game in 1935, and the Scottie dog and wheelbarrow were added in the early 1950s.

Eric Nyman, global brand leader for Hasbro gaming, said the impetus for the contest came from chatter on Facebook, where Monopoly has more than  10 million fans.

"We're constantly interacting with those fans and we're always getting suggestions from fans about what tokens they would love to see," Nyman said. They took five of the top suggestions from Facebook for the contest.

A special $17.99 limited edition of the game called Golden Ticket will be available in Target stores beginning Feb. 15 with golden versions of both the old and new tokens. It will be the last time all of the classic tokens will be available with the game.

Versions of Monopoly with the new token will come out later this year.

Monopoly's iconic tokens originated when game creator Charles Darrow's niece suggested using charms from a charm bracelet for tokens.

What do you think? Cast your vote above and post a comment below.

[Alive_Soul]

Unlike the rest of you, I am going to answer the question.....

The Diamond Ring is the only logical choice here.

Guitars lie, Helicopters crash, robots malfunction, cats have only 9 lives, but DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER.

[travelers345]

Up, up high is where you set the bar,
to get it there, bring on the guitar.

[royalstar05]

The new token should be a pot leaf.

[estabwary]

Save the Scottie!

[baileycccc]

They are getting the publicity they wanted to bring back the sagging sales of board games. These games are being passed by, by the mighty computer games.

[Uneed2BWeened]

One of the best board games ever; every electronic version I have played cheats.
Greatness nonetheless. You can sit in jail and watch the rent checks come in. You can only buy a properties when you have the money or collateral to buy it.

[sincity_q]

They could add a new token without trashing the game. They are now on my shtlist.