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McDonald鈥檚 goes to the McWell one more time tomorrow, kicking off another round of its Monopoly game promotion. Actually, a Pre-Promotion Sweepstakes lasts for one week beginning September 23, with the full Monopoly game set to launch on September 30. Menus are not the only thing that McDonald鈥檚 is capable of over-complicating.

For the Pre-Promotion Sweepstakes, consumers are urged to Like McDonald鈥檚 on Facebook or follow it on Twitter because a special free Code will be given via those channels. Go from social media to聽PlayatMcD.com聽for a chance to win $10,000.

With full-tilt Monopoly, consumers can win $1,000,000 (payable as $50,000 per year over 20 years) or one of several new prizes, including a Dream Trip through Delta Vacations, a Beaches Resorts vacation, a Cessna Private Jet Trip (destination to be determined) and $2,500 with a smartphone equipped with Mobile Wallet. The Free Parking game piece could be worth $100,000.

There may never have been more pressure to succeed than this version of Monopoly carries. A year ago, U.S. same-store sales were up +0.7%聽thanks to Monopoly as well as the Mighty Wings launch. Since then the largest restaurant chain in the world has had difficulty posting positive quarterly reports for U.S. sales. For August, U.S. comp sales were聽-3.7%, the worst decline in more than a decade. McDonald鈥檚 would gladly take a 0.7% gain for September and/or October.

Last October, McDonald鈥檚 Corp. President-CEO Don Thompson lauded Monopoly as a way to focus attention on core classic menu items such as the Big Mac or Chicken McNuggets. Further,聽 it 鈥渄rives traffic and builds average check while also engaging customers in a fun and familiar game experience that鈥檚 only available at McDonald鈥檚,鈥� Thompson聽told聽analysts then. The company certainly is hoping that Monopoly can work that kind of business magic one more time.

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New Zealand鈥檚 Commercial Approvals Bureau has said, 鈥淣o, no, never, never鈥� to Carl鈥檚 Jr.鈥檚 suggestive TV commercial for its聽Texas BBQ Thickburger. The 鈥淚 Love Texas鈥� spot鈥攚ith model Hannah Ferguson wearing a black-leather sorta swimsuit and sudsing up a grimy truck in a barn plus a special cameo by Paris Hilton鈥攚on鈥檛 be seen on TV in New Zealand. Of course, every young Kiwi worth his Thickburger has already seen the spot on聽YouTube聽a few times and has been irrevocably corrupted.

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In February 2011, McDonald鈥檚 gained credence in France for its commitment to local food sourcing when it launched a snack-size burger made with local Charolais beef. Now the chain is back with not one but two more French cattle breeds.

As part of a 鈥淟es Viandes de Nos Regions鈥� (Our Regional Meats) campaign, McDonald鈥檚 has created a full-size Charolais burger and introduced another burger made with聽Normande聽beef from Normandy and a third with聽惭辞苍迟产茅濒颈补谤诲聽beef from the region of that name.

The 鈥淟e聽 Normand鈥� burger has French Emmental cheese, lettuce and mustard sauce and is served on a new cross-hatched bun. The 鈥淟e 惭辞苍迟产茅濒颈补谤诲鈥� has an onion sauce instead.

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Speaking of buns, McDonald鈥檚 continues to explore alternatives, at least overseas. In Denmark the chain introduced聽Big Ciabatta聽burgers (beef or chicken) on ciabatta rolls not seen here. These have bacon, Monterey Jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, red pepper, grilled onions and a peppery barbecue sauce.

In Spain it introduced聽鈥淟os Irresistibles鈥�: The double-patty聽Little Italy听补苍诲听Soho BBQ聽burgers on seeded buns. Marketing materials describe the latter burger as a 鈥渄elicious combination of flavors from one of the most cosmopolitan and creative neighborhoods: Soho.鈥� McDonald鈥檚 love for naming overseas menu items after New York City neighborhoods continues as well.