There’s nothing like gathering the whole family around for a game of good ol’ Monopoly. After an hour of arguing about who wants what playing piece before starting; ructions over a corrupt banker, and all kinds of cheating while someone nips off for a toilet break, it really is brilliant… in its own way. There have been numerous videogame versions over the years, and now EA has announced the latest, which it has confirmed is heading to the Sony PlayStation 2 this autumn.

The new Monopoly title promises a fresh take on the age old board game classic, with accessible gameplay and simultaneous play for up to four gamers at a time. Based on the Here and Now Monopoly brand (which asks how the game and its famous locations and monetary issues might have changed should it have only just been invented - localisations for the US, France and Germany have already been made, featuring local landmarks and the use of debit cards instead of cash), the videogame version has its sights set on a worldwide approach.

To relieve the boredom of waiting for your turn, Electronic Arts explains that the gameplay will be faster, and that mini-games such as breaking out of jail and running away with loot will both feature.

“EA is taking MONOPOLY’S core gameplay and bringing it to life in a way never before imagined,” said Chip Lange, Vice President and General Manager of EA’s Casual Label. “With this dynamic take on Hasbro’s classic board game, we’ve accelerated the pace of play, added new interactive mini-game sequences and integrated multi-player moments designed to make MONOPOLY a non-stop party for the whole family.”

“It promises to be a very exciting fall for MONOPOLY fans worldwide,” said Mark Blecher, General Manager of Digital Media and Gaming at Hasbro. “EA has done a tremendous job of re-imagining the world’s most popular board game by remaining true to the traditional gameplay that millions of consumers have come to love while also creating new digital twists that can only be achieved in an interactive world. Rolling the dice and passing go will never be the same.”

Do you love Monopoly as much as Hasbro and EA? Let us know in the comments section below.