All About Fun and Games

Milton Bradley’s Old 1910 Grandma’s Game of Riddles

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May 122012

The old 1910 Grandma’s Game of Riddles is part of a series of six games by Milton Bradley which taught players on a wide range of topics.

Milton Bradley in the early twentieth century brought out a series of six games. The title’s of which are as follows:

Grandma’s Game of Riddles
Grandma’s Geographical Game
Grandma’s New Testament Game
Grandma’s Old Testament Game
Grandma’s Arithmetical Game
Grandma’s Game of Useful Knowledge

The games were filled with questions pertaining to their titles and encouraged players to learn while having fun. Other game companies, like McLoughlin Bros., had produced their own trivia style games throughout the mid and late 1800’s. Similar in play, these games each share an interesting glance at the issues and subjects which people of the time valued.

The Game of Riddles is especially cherished. Teaching children and adults to reason and think in the past, the game still does the same even after over 100 years. Even though some of the riddles found within the game are well known today, many of them have been forgotten and are quite amusing to hear once again. Of all the things that have changed through the years, riddles still hold their charm.

The game consists of 119 cards and an answer booklet. To play, one player is considered the teacher and keeps the answer booklet. The cards are then dealt to players called scholars. Beginning with the player to the left of the Teacher, scholars take turns reading their cards and answering the riddle. If he is unable to answer, the next player gives it a try. Whoever answers the riddle correctly places the card in front of him and play moves to the following player. If no one is able to answer correctly, the card is passed to the Teacher who reads the answer and keeps the card.

Some of the entertaining questions are: (answers will be provided at the bottom)

1-Where is happiness always to be found?
2-Which is the smallest bridge in the world?
3-Why are A, E, and U the handsomest of the vowels?
4-Why is the letter L like a priceless gem?
5-Why is a worn-out shoe like ancient Greece?
6-Why is your nose and chin always at variance?
7-Why is the world like a piano?
8-Why do we look over a stone wall?
9-On which side of a church does the yew-tree grow?
10-What is it that everyone thinks of in telling a riddle, and every one thinks of on hearing it?

The simple game of riddles could be taken out at anytime and provide a bit of leisurely and relaxing fun. It was a game enjoyed by all.

(Answers-1-In the dictionary 2-the bridge of the nose 3-because you can’t have beauty without them 4-because it is in valuable 5-because it once had a Solon (sole on) 6-because words are constantly passing between them 7-because it is full of sharps and flats 8-we cannot look through it 9-outside- 10-the answer)

Serve Edible Sticks and Acorns for an Outdoor Themed or Camp Game Night Snack

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May 082012

A bowl full of edible Sticks and Acorns makes the perfect snack for an outdoor themed game night or for playing games at the campground.

Sticks and Acorns

Whether going camping for the weekend or if just planning on staying at home, playing some games with family or friends is a great way to have fun together. Rustling up a dish of Sticks and Acorns makes the ideal snack for whatever games will be played at camp. Whereas, if having a game night at home, why not theme the night with games about the outdoors and serve the correlating treat of Stick and Acorns. The connecting snack builds upon the enjoyable mood and ties in the fun and games for a wonderful outdoor time at home.

No matter where the games are being played, the charming bites will be welcomed. Sticks and Acorns are easy to make. They are only hard for players to grab just one of the tasty bits to eat.

The ingredients needed for Sticks and Acorns are pretzel sticks for the ‘Sticks’; Mini Vanilla Wafers, Hersey kisses, and cookie icing for the Acorns.

To start, unwrap the Hersey Kisses and dab the tops with cookie icing. Then apply the Mini Vanilla Wafers to these tops. Add an additional dab of cookie icing to the center of each Vanilla Wafer top for the stem of the acorn. After a few minutes the icing will set and the Acorn is secure and complete. The pretzel sticks can then be mixed up with the newly fashioned woodland morsels and served. Simple and quick as that! Place a bowl full of these on the game table and the fun begins.

Any game of cards is great for playing while camping. Small and compact, a deck of cards can easily be packed and multiple types of games can be played from a deck. Two player games like Speed or Spit or for 3 or more players, games like Rummy or Crazy Eights can be played. With additional decks and lots of players, Nertz is a lot of fun.

Some suggestions on outdoorsy themed games, for either the camp game table at home or at the campground, would be Skunk or Bears. Both of these dice games offer quick entertaining fun. Easy to set up and exciting to play, the rolls of the dice bring laughs to the table.

For at home, the board game of Camp is ideal. Serving up Sticks and Acorns with this game will boost the woodland experience. Players follow footprints through the forest and strive to be the first player back to the campfire. During the game, outdoor trivia questions are asked to players. These unique trivia cards contain different leveled questions so all players can be challenged and learn about nature while having fun.

Blokus is a game which works well for camping. The plastic pieces are washable and durable. Since the game is recommended for ages 5 and up, it meshes with a family of various aged players. For little ones, Hisss can be played as an outdoorsy themed game. Building snakes, across the tent floor or at home, is the only way some players will want to see slithering snakes.

So whip up some Sticks and Acorns the next time a camp themed game night is planned or when a camping trip is near. The forestry type snack will boost the occasion and provide sweetness to the fun and games amusement.

Pressman’s 1992 Marvel Super Heroes Collectible Game

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May 062012

Since The Avengers premiered at theatres, the Pressman 1992 Marvel Super Heroes game is sought for as a collectible or just for a Super fun time once again.

Hitting theatres in May 2012, The Avengers movie surely caused a marvel for all things super heroes. For collectors or gamers, it is time to reach for the Marvel Super Heroes game and play it with the kids or search for one on sale at EBay. Taking on the role of Iron Man or the Hulk and fighting Loki always gives the sense of adventure.

The game includes 30 Super Hero cards. From characters like, Spiderman to Professor X to Silver Surfer, these cards are prepared to battle against the Super Villains. 30 Super Villain cards will try to escape from being placed inside the Super Lock-up Holders by the heroes.

30 Marvel cards and 1 Super Villain Power Card are part of the excitement too.

Players begin by choosing 6 Super Villain Cards and placing them on the Alert spaces of the board. They also choose 1 Super Hero card and a Lock-up holder which will be used for their captured villains. These items remain in front of each player. More Super Heroes can be added during the play of the game.

The objective is to be the first person to Lock-up four Super Villains.

The game takes a player around the board to recruit other Super Heroes, battle and capture Villains, and return to headquarters to lock the enemies up for good. Landing on Alert spaces will bring the fight for freedom and justice to play. Upon rolling the die and landing on these spaces, a player will immediately move the Super-Villain card to the battle board.

The villain card is placed on 1, 2, or 3 numbers of the Battle Board. The Battle Board is the row of six numbers (seen above) which will correspond to the roll of a die. A power for each villain is marked in the bottom right corner. For example, Sabertooth has a power of one, so he can be placed on any one number. Doctor Doom has a power of 2. His card is placed sideways to cover 2 numbers in the row. Loki, with the use of the Super Villain power card, covers 3 numbers. Loki’s card is placed sideways to cover 2 numbers and then the additional power card is placed beside.

After the Super Villain numbers are chosen, a player places his Super Hero’s on the Battle Board. Depending on their power, will determine how many numbers they cover. Either a power of 1, like Doctor Strange, or a 2 like She-Hulk will compete against the Villain. One or more Super Heroes can work together.

loki, captain america, hulk, iron man, thor, game cards

Sample Game Cards

Once all cards are placed on the Battle Board, a die is then rolled. If the number rolled is under any of the battling Super Heroes card (on the Battle Board), he wins. The player takes the Villain and puts the card beneath the Hero card to be placed back in front of him. It does not go into Lock-up until returning to headquarters.

If the number rolled is under the Villain’s card, he wins. Determined by another roll of die (if two or more Super Heroes were in combat against the Villain), a Super Hero is captured and will be placed beneath the Villain’s card and back on the Alert space of the board. This card can be later freed if the villain loses the next or following battles.

Filled with Marvel Super Heroes and Villains, the game brings the fight of good and evil to a board. The allure of portraying a favorite character and capturing a fierce enemy has players wanting to play the game again and again. Or if they want, they can play another game similar, like Captain America.

Surprise the Kids with a Travel Fun and Games Gift Basket

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Apr 292012

Getting in a car and exploring new locations can be more relaxing for parents if they surprise the kids with a traveling fun and games gift basket.

The peak of the traveling season is near. Parents can prepare for the trip by gathering together items which will surprise the kids and provide a little more leeway for the ride. Keep the fun array of fun and games for the ideal time.

Parents know the time. It’s after the umpteenth time they have asked, ‘Are we there yet?’ or when on every turn in the road a parent hears, ‘He touched me’ or just before the parent knows the question of ‘I’m bored. Is there anything to do?’ is going to surface. Any of these times will make the giving of a basket full of travel games and other small items the perfect occasion.

Although called a ‘gift basket’, the entertaining collection doesn’t have to be placed in a ‘basket.’ A small backpack or tote can be used. This container is then re-used over and over and keeps the objects all together.

Kids will love going through the bag and discovering the new nifty things gathered. All can be inexpensively obtained. Suggestions can be snacks, candies, word games, coloring book and crayons/colored pencils, brain teaser puzzles, magazines, and so one. Most important of all for a games gift basket is the games, though.

Other than a new deck or two of standard playing cards, there are many travel sized games to choose from. The commonly played board games at home like, Connect Four, Yahtzee, Trouble, or Sorry can be found especially made for being played in the car. The car is actually the best time for these games to be played. At home, other games can be enjoyed.

Some games are created just for trips, like Scavenger Hunt or License Plate Game.

Scavenger Hunt includes 54 cards which encourage kids to locate various objects while travelling in the car. It is a perfect game for getting the kids to look out the windows and enjoy the scenery. The game also has kids use other senses. They need to listen for certain sounds or feel a bump from a pothole. It is great for the whole gang to play.

The License Plate Game by Melissa and Doug provides an easy to flip method to keep track of all license plates seen. No pieces to be lost which makes this ideal! Children will enjoy looking for the state names as cars pass by. They will learn where those states are located on the map by then marking it on the board. Wonderful game to teach but yet excitingly fun. Depending on the length of the trip, a parent could offer a ‘small prize’ once 10, 15, 20, and so on are found. This keeps kids busy and gives incentive for them to keep looking.

Other games, like Zigity or Forbidden Island, make fantastic games to take along. Both are kept securely in tin boxes so nothing can get damaged. Although, not made for playing in a car, if a rainy day or just some down time arises during the vacation, they are excellent family games to have on hand.

Travelling with games will make a trip go more smoothly. It is true, time flies when having fun. A lengthy trip will no longer be frowned upon. The frowns will be turned upside down.

Old Milton Bradley Grandma’s Game of Useful Knowledge

1900-1950 Games, Collectible Games No Responses »

Apr 252012

In 1910, the Milton Bradley game company published their version of Grandma’s Game of Useful Knowledge.

One of the initial American game companies to publish a series of trivia style games was Mcloughlin Bros. in the 1860’s and 1870’s. Grandmama’s Game of Useful Knowledge and Grandmama’s Geographical game were the first of these games to circulate. Following soon after Grandmama’s Game of Riddles, Grandma’s Arithmetical game and Grandma’s New and Old Testament games appeared.

Each of these games contained numbered question cards and an answer booklet to entertain players. Game play was simple and offered a time to socialize while learning. One player would be chosen to hold the answer booklet and the other players would take turns trying to correctly answer the questions on the cards dealt to them. The winner of the game was the player who gave the most right answers.

Although Milton Bradley did not take control of the Mcloughlin Bros. Company until 1920, the version of Bradley’s series of Grandma’s games, published around the 1910’s, are extremely similar. Comparing the newer version (1910) of the Milton Bradley’s Grandma’s Game of Useful Knowledge to the older 1860 Mcloughlin Bros’ version reveals some interesting changes being made in America and glances into American thoughts.

One of the more humorous changes is realized with the answer to question 35. The question in both games is ‘What are gloves made of?’ The answer given in the 1910 version is ‘the skins of kids, lambs, does, and other animals.’ The answer found in the 1860 booklet is ‘the skins of kids, lambs, does, and sometimes rats.’ Although rat skinned gloves may have been common in 1860, by 1910 it would seem they had gone out of fashion.

Another interesting comparison is with question 49; ‘What are the vowels in the alphabet?’ In the 1860’s the correct answer would be the same as today; A, E, I, O, and U and sometimes Y. However, in the 1910 game, the answer was A, E, I, O, and U and sometimes W and Y. With the surge of immigration to the United States in the late 1800’s and early 1900′s, the use of the letter W as a vowel became more widely known. It is a vowel in a few words borrowed from the Welsh. W was also considered a vowel in words like row, bow, or how. These thoughts are reflected in the game.

Other question and answers give a glimpse at the simplicity, yet intriguing beliefs, values and life of Americans of the time. The following would seem like easy questions for today, but during the period, games provided a means and another way for children and adults to learn. The question and answers are examples found in both games.

Q: What is wind? A: Air in motion
Q: What is ice? A: Frozen water
Q: How many letters in the alphabet? A: twenty six
Q: How many books are there in the New Testament? A: Twenty seven
Q: What is brass? A: An alloy of copper and zinc

Playing either of these games today would give a feel for a time long gone. They would be a blast from the past.

Make a Fun and Games Recipe and Take a Bite out of Fish Tank Jell-O

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Apr 192012

The game of Go Fish! will have some added amusement by making the fun and games recipe of Fish Tank Jell-O.

Almost everyone has played the game of Go Fish! Children love to play the quick and easy to learn game. But the next time Go Fish is played, surprise the kids by making Fish Tank Jell-O and they will love it even more. Serving the simple to make treat (and adding an additional Fish Tank Jell-O rule) will spruce up the ordinary card game of Go Fish. Parents might even end up enjoying the game of Go Fish more too!

Go Fish is played with a standard deck of cards. The game begins by dealing out seven cards to each player and placing the extra cards into a central grab area called the ocean. The object of the game is to attain the most matches.

Players take turns asking other players of their choice if they have a card which would match with one found in their own hand. If the asked player has the card, it must be given and the player can ask someone new or ask for another card. If the asked player does not have the card, he tells the player, “GO FISH!” That player then picks a card from the ocean and it is the next person’s turn. Once all cards are matched (4 of a kind), each player counts their own matches. The player with the most wins.

However, in a game which includes Fish Tank Jell-O, a bonus rule is added. For every time a player is told to ‘Go Fish’, they can take a bite out of their dish of yummy blue Jell-O, along with taking a card from the ocean. Players, who are extra hungry, may end up asking for cards they know the other players don’t have, just so they can take a bite of their snack. The added rule lessens the disappointment of asking for a card the other player doesn’t have. Being told to ‘Go Fish’ has never been so inviting.

Fish Tank Jell-O is simply berry blue Jell-O with gummy fish and/or sharks placed within or on top of the pan. Although super easy to make, the additional fun to the game makes it difficult to not want to play another round. Another snack which could be offered are the tiny Goldfish crackers. Instead of taking bites out of Jell-O, they can grab bites of the Goldfish.

Big Fish, Lil Fish is a card game which can also be played while serving the fish themed treat. Here the correlating game recipe is just enjoyed as a special snack. Decorating and creating foods especially for the games in play, helps generate an enthusiastic and entertaining surrounding. The time of games becomes more of an overall fun experience and not just about who wins or loses.

1887 McLoughlin Bros. Grandmama’s Sunday Game

1800-1900 Games No Responses »

Apr 132012

Part of a six set series, the 1887 McLoughlin Bros. Grandmama’s Game of Old Testament contains 100 Bible questions for players to answer.

1887 McLoughlin Bros. Game

During a time before television and video games, families would gather together and ask questions to each other. The Grandma’s series of games included six such trivia type games and taught players on a variety of subjects. The titles in the series were as follows:

Game of Riddles
Game of Geography
Game of Arithmetic
Game of Useful Knowledge
Game of Old Testament
Game of New Testament

Playing these games was a way for families to not only share knowledge in a fun manner, but also a way to spend a bit of leisure time together. The colorful cover suggests it was a ‘Sunday Game’; a game to play on the day of rest and for enjoyment.

Depicting Daniel and the Lion, the cover reveals the wonderful bright artwork the McLoughlin Bros. game company is known for. The beautiful game boxes, using the latest printing techniques for the time, are one of the reasons why McLoughlin Bros. games are highly collectible. Displayed in a game cabinet, the games provide an array of charming images.

However, the contents and game play of the McLoughlin games can be just as fantastic as their boxes. In the Game of Old Testament, there are 100 tiny question cards and one answer booklet. Glancing through the questions, a person realizes the information which can be learned by playing the game.

The game is a simple question/answer game. The directions instruct players to select one person to act as the ‘Preceptor’ and hold the book of answers. In the older 1860’s version of Grandmama’s Game of Useful Knowledge, the directions stated that the ‘oldest person’ held the answer booklet. Obviously, as McLoughlin learned, Grandmama got tired of holding the book all the time.

The cards of the game are then shuffled and dealt to any number of players, called Scholars. Starting on the left, a ‘Scholar’ picks one of his cards and reads the question aloud. If he is able to answer it correctly, he keeps the card and play continues to the next player. If he can’t provide a correct answer, the card passes to the next player and so on until the answer is known. Whoever answers it, keeps the card. If no one is able, the Preceptor will read the answer from the book.

The winner of the game is the Scholar with the most cards. He would be the player who answered correctly the most questions.

The questions of the Old Testament game ask about the many characters found in the Bible. Some examples are as follows:

Whose son did Elisha raise to life?
Who anointed Saul?
Who was the wisest man who ever lived?

Others ask, “What happened to the Prophet Jonah?” or “What judgment befell King Nebuchadnezzar?”

The old game played today would still provide and share knowledge in a fun manner. As a collectible, it provides a delightful game to appreciate and enjoy; both in playing or just sitting on a shelf.

Serve Jenga Cheese Towers with Crackers for a Game Night Snack

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Apr 072012

The suspenseful and popular game of Jenga makes a perfect idea for serving up the game night snack of Cheese Towers with Crackers.

Jenga is one of the most popular games in the world today. Swahili for ‘Build it,’ Jenga was first invented by Leslie Scott and includes 54 wooden blocks which form a balancing tower. The game initially emerged by playing with a simple set of blocks while growing up in Kenya, East Africa. Rules were intuitively decided upon in which players took turns removing any block of his choice from the stacked tower– until it collapsed.

Scott, once sharing and playing the game with others outside her immediate family, realized the game could be marketed. In 1982, after taking out a loan to produce 500 games, she optimistically took her game to the London Toy Show. Although sales were slow at first, they soon began to grow. According to the book, Timeless Toys by Tim Walsh, Jenga, at times, has ranked second in global sales over the years(Monopoly was first).

Because it is such a well known game, creating a game night snack, based off of the lofty pile of blocks, is ideal. Cheese Towers with Crackers will make a pleasant arrangement and can used as a center display for any game refreshment table. The platter will offer gamers a quick non-messy and tasty treat.

And what is wonderful about the array, it is simple to create!

Cracker Barrel cheese sticks work great to produce the desired size of blocks. Building towers out of different types of cheese also provides a variety of tastes for gamers to pick from. Extra sharp, Marbled, White Cheddar, or any other kind of cheese stick can be sliced to form the Jenga cheese blocks.

With a cheese slicer, cut the Cracker Barrel stick into thirds. These can then be sliced again into thirds. And once more. 27 building blocks can be crafted from each Cracker Barrel stick. Depending on how many players, will help decide whether one or more sticks need to be sliced.

Take the small sticks and start stacking. The Cheese Tower quickly takes form and it is up to the guests to choose which piece they want to take out first. Do they go for a top one or will they try and play Jenga and take one from the middle?

Placed on a plate and surrounded by Harvest Wheat and Buttercrisp crackers, the game night snack is completed. Adding this treat to the game table will amuse all players and begin the night off with an elevated delight.

The Good Old Game of Proverbs by Parker Brothers

1800-1900 Games No Responses »

Apr 032012

Named ‘The Good Old Game of Proverbs’ in 1893, this game by Parker Brothers could now be called the ‘good OLDER game of Proverbs’ today.

Each of the 96 cards, housed within the small game box of Proverbs, includes a well known saying for the time period. Some are still widely remembered and used today; such as, “The early bird catches the worm” or “Better later then never”. Others, like, “What is written remains” or “Love laughs at locksmiths”, have lost their popularity . Players of the game (or actually winners of the game) would have needed to know and been able to recite the many Proverbs of their time.

There are different methods of play included in the directions for the game.

The first method requires one person to leave the room while all other players remain. A proverb from the box is then picked and one word is given to each player in order. If there are more words in the proverb than players, a player may be given more than one word.

Upon the return to the room of the player who left, he is informed of who has the first word of the proverb and who has the last. It is then up to the player to choose a person to read his word and try to guess the proverb with as little hints(words) as possible. The final person of whom the player guessed the proverb by is then the person who leaves the room for the next round of play.

1893 The Good Old Game of Proverbs Cards

The second method has all cards dealt one at a time to all players. Before the game begins players must decide whether only the first word or first and last words of the proverb will be read. Whichever is chosen by players, the person to the left of the dealer reads his word(s) of one of his cards first.

If the player to his left is able to say the proverb, he receives the card and it is then his turn. If he cannot, the next player tries to give the correct proverb. Moving around the player’s circle, whoever is able to correctly provide the proverb takes the card and then reads one of his cards. If no one is able to identify the proverb, then the starting player keeps the card and reads another.

When all cards are read, the player with the most cards wins.

There are other methods of play also.

Shouting Proverbs has all players shout at once the word in which he is given in the proverb. A player then tries to repeat the proverb. The directions say the strategy for this method of play is for a player to only listen to one person and try to guess it that way.
Acting Proverbs has players choose sides and then they act the ‘proverb’ together. If the other side can guess it, they receive a point.
Parallels is another team playing variety of Proverbs. Instead of acting out, players tell a story which would relate the proverb to the other team of players.

The final method of play described in the directions is Split Proverbs. Sitting in a circle, the first player says only the first half of a proverb and then throws a handkerchief to another player. This player must then say the last half of a different proverb. The humor found by creating ridiculous proverbs allows all players to win in this method of game play.

Collecting old games is a great way to understand and learn the simple enjoyment found in times past.

Easter Fun and Games Gift Basket for a Family

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Mar 282012

Assembling an Easter Fun and Games gift basket makes an ideal present for a family and one which gives them enjoyment all year round.

Gift baskets can be especially made for a whole range of different circumstances and suit varying age groups. They show a personal and thoughtful touch. Creating and giving a Fun and Games gift basket for a family on Easter can be appreciated all through the year. The following are some ideas on what items to include in the arrangement and some suggestions on games to make it the perfect gift for both children and adults.

A sturdy cloth or decorative woven basket (for the family to use later for storage), will start the ensemble off. Place some Easter grass into the bottom of the container and then begin to add a mixture of assorted spring and Easter type items.

These may include a chocolate Easter bunny, bags of candy, the recipients favorite candy bars (if known), a small potted flower, spring scented candle, bubbles, fruits, stickers, spring notepads, pens, frisbee, a bottle of sparkling grape juice, or crackers and other snacks to munch on while playing the game which will be included.

The main item in an Easter Fun and Games gift basket is, of course, the game. Many families have the popular games like Life, Sorry, or Clue. So what is another game to place in a Fun and Games gift basket? One of the most popular games right now is Forbidden Island and works great for families.

Forbidden Island is a co-operative game which has all players working together to gather four sacred treasures and escape the island before it sinks into the abyss. Since younger and older players are all striving towards the same goal, they plan and scheme together. The adventure filled game has no one person feeling like he alone is losing. Either they all are, or they are all winning! The game is recommended for ages 10 and up and for 2-4 players.

Zooloretto is another family favorite. This game is recommended for ages 8 and up and for 2-5 players. Each player is in charge of managing their own zoo and must take care in planning and filling the zoo. Children and adults enjoy the theme of animals in this game and it makes for wild and crazy game night.

Ticket to Ride is also recommended for ages 8 and up and for 2-5 players. However, in this game players are striving to create not a zoo, but connect pathways across the United States. Different versions of the game are available too. Players can now choose to travel across Asia, Europe, and other countries. Travelling around the world couldn’t be easier or more fun.

Other fun family games are the dice game of Bears!, Carcassonne, or lost cities (for two players). For families with preschool children, Blokus or Go Away Monster! may be added. Including games into a basket with spring filled items makes for a great Easter Fun and Games gift basket. A family will for sure have fun playing the games any time during the year.

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