skill - Anything In Particular

MB Games “Bed Bugs” – the motorised hopping, leaping, jumping game – complete (1985)

Jon Nix — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 19:43:10 +0000

A bit of a classic this one, if you're of a certain age. This is the 1985 MB Games "Bed Bugs" game, which unsuprisingly consists mostly of a "bed" and a load of "bugs". The aim of the game is to catch the coloured bugs in the bed which match your playing tweezers. The catch? (pun intended) The battery-powered motor underneath the bed sends those bugs leaping, hopping and jumping around, so grabbing them in your tweezers is no mean feat at all. It's a lot of fun. We've tested it to ensure that it meets the required standards of fun-ness (and we actually liked it so much we bought another one just to keep for ourselves!)

This one is in very good condition, complete (all bugs and tweezers), and in full working order. It takes two C-size batteries in the battery compartment, access to which is under the card insert of the bed.

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1980s “Air Blitz” toy by Mako – “Chutes Away” / “Air Rescue” style target game

Jon Nix — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 13:40:39 +0000

If you're familiar with Marx Toys' "Chutes Away" or Gabriel's "Air Rescue" (also its own variant "Night Rescue") then you'll immediately recognise this early 1980s target game made by Mako and called "Air Blitz" as a variant of the same. It has the same principle and is almost identical: a rotating board with an aeroplane guided by the player (via the eye piece) to drop pieces (parachutists, supplies, take your pick) onto targets on the aforementioned playing surface. It's deceptively difficult and very entertaining. No batteries, it's all wind-up power here!

This Mako version is in great cosmetic condition. Some of the stickers are as yet unapplied to the aeroplane and most importantly all of the playing pieces (the weighted parachutes) are present and correct and there's no damage to the aeroplane - both common defects. A couple of the stickers which have been applied are peeling away or are mislocated (perhaps that's why the rest didn't make it!), but that aside, it's in excellent shape. The box is somewhat tatty and over-exuberant use of tape at some point has caused some issues, but given the completeness and condition of the contents, this is a minor drawback.

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Vintage 1970s “Incllination” marble balance game by Wiggins Teape

Jon Nix — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 10:48:34 +0000

Inclination is a mixed game of chance and skill involving marbles and a tilting board which tests player's sense of balance. Made by Wiggins Teape and dating from the 1970s, the game is played by 2-4 players. There are game variations as detailed in the instructions on the underside of the box, but the goal of the game is to get your marbles from the centre of the board to their "home". This one is complete with all marbles (four in each of four colours), dice and the game board (which is in good condition). The box is in good condition but shows some signs of storage wear, particularly the underside which has "sunk" down and some denting to the side panels.

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Vintage 1974 Ideal Tip-It Balancing Game – The wackiest…

Jon Nix — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 00:05:28 +0000

The wackiest balancing game ever...! That's the claim of Ideal for "Tip-It" and who are we to disagree. It's certainly a lot of fun. The aim of this 1974 game is for each player in turn to try to remove a coloured disc from one of the pegs on the tripod using the "fork" without disturbing the balancing acrobat figure at the top of the pole. It's that simple. But it's also difficult... and entertaining. The merest nudge of the tripod sends the acrobat perilously towards oblivion, it's so finely balanced.

In complete order and working condition. The outer box has some wear and slight damage to the corners, some deformation, and a small puncture on the lid, but it's in reasonable condition overall given its age. The instructions are printed on the inside of the lid.

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Late 1970s-Early 1980s Tomy Water Wizard Game (aka Whoosher) – Robot

Jon Nix — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 21:34:20 +0000

If you're of a certain age, you'll certainly remember these water-powered dexterity games made by Tomy. Dating from the late 1970s and early 1980s, this one is the "Robot". Once filled with water, the aim of this "wizard water game" is to guide the pieces of the robot using the power of the water "whoosher" onto the structure inside the tank. It's simple enough to describe, but it takes a lot of skill and is rather tricky to do... the box promises "hours of fun".

In good condition with some superfical wear from use. The game comes complete with the original rubber seal (which attaches handily to the underside) and has no chips, cracks or anything else that would present a problem given that the game tank should stay filled with water! The box is a little bit battered, but it's nice to have it nonetheless.

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