You can imagine the scene now. Monopoly: Streets. The car counter, with lowered suspension, go faster stripes, and horrible blue neon lights dangling loosely underneath. Mr. Monopoly with his trousers around his ankles, a strange swagger in his walk, and a pair of hipster shades replacing his usual monocle. Community chest replaced by community service.
We could go on, but luckily, we don't have to, as thankfully, EA's newly announced Monopoly Streets had decided to avoid going down the "gangsta" route, to be popular with the "yoof", but is instead looking like a brilliant digital recreation of one of the country's favourite board games.
You can see the amount of detail that's been poured into the city. Of course, it won't affect the gameplay - but it certainly makes it easier on the eyes.
And authenticity, it seems, is the key here, as Monopoly Streets seems to be set to stay pretty faithful to the original. Keeping the key gameplay intact, whilst making the most of the fact you're playing on a games console, rather than a piece of cardboard, EA have turned the board into a living, breathing city. Changing the viewpoint to a street level view, you'll be able to watch the areas transform as you take them over, admiring the housing as it gets constructed. In nice areas, you'll have flash, high tech batchelor pads adorning the streets, whereas in the cheaper, less desirable areas, the buildings will have a certain air of modesty instead.
With a host of customisable rules on offer, unique downloads for Xbox 360 owners, and a classic version of Monopoly launching on the DS alongside Monopoly Streets on its bigger cousins, there'll be plenty of streets, train stations, and get of jail free cards to go around.
And after seeing how well EA managed the digital adaptation of Trivial Pursuit, turning the classic board game into one of the best family puzzle games on the Xbox 360 and Wii, we think we're in safe hands.
Expect Monopoly Streets to be moving in this Christmas.
