# Old Electronic Games **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 12, 2020, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830 "2020-10-12T22:02:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830/1 "2020-10-12T22:02:37Z")
Board games were always a thing with my family growing up. I remember when I got the board game _Risk_ for my birthday and, not knowing the obvious advantages of going for North America or Australia early, played for five hours until sets of cards were worth eighty armies. Ridiculous. Some of the board games tried to incorporate cutting edge technology. I remember _Touche_ which used magnets to flip over pieces and _Electronic Intercept_ which was like Battleship using lights. The best ones of all were handheld games. I remember a version of Space Invaders, _Electronic Quarterback_ (which dot is the receiver?), baseball and _Head To Head Hockey_. Just a few dots on a screen, but at the time it felt very vaguely like the future as promised by campy TV shows. Did anyone else waste countless hours playing these simple games? Any others you remember fondly? I _still_ think the _DS Lite_ was a brilliant piece of technology. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830/2 "2020-10-12T22:24:57Z")
I had a baseball game with only two buttons, “hit” and “run”. Whether you got a hit or not was (I think) down to timing, and then depending on where the hit went and what bases were occupied, you could try to stretch a single into a double or even triple by holding down the “run” button. The optimal rules for when to do so were very simple (for instance, a line drive with someone on second but nobody on first, you could always stretch into a triple), so it wasn’t much of a game. I played a lot of it mostly just because I didn’t have any other portable games. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830/3 "2020-10-12T23:41:58Z")
I recognize these as ones we had. [![](https://image.invaluable.com/housePhotos/onesourceauctions/37/628937/H4367-L149170716.JPG) ](https://image.invaluable.com/housePhotos/onesourceauctions/37/628937/H4367-L149170716.JPG) [https://www.handheldmuseum.com/Entex/Baseball3.htm](https://www.handheldmuseum.com/Entex/Baseball3.htm) [https://www.handheldmuseum.com/MB/CompIV.htm](https://www.handheldmuseum.com/MB/CompIV.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830/4 "2020-10-12T23:56:00Z")
Prior to Christmas of '79, we only had mechanical games. Like these. [https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images1/1/0614/24/vintage-tomy-pocket-games-lot-17\_1\_45672696d9fdd62d9c8f8e0171b6c40e.jpg](https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images1/1/0614/24/vintage-tomy-pocket-games-lot-17_1_45672696d9fdd62d9c8f8e0171b6c40e.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830/5 "2020-10-13T00:08:33Z")
I had the [Tiger handheld game](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Electronics) of Baseball in the early 90s. It made me forget that we were too poor for a Gameboy. I remember going to the store and drooling over all those Tiger games. I was never able to afford a second one. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830/6 "2020-10-13T00:09:54Z")
I had the 9 in one Merlin. (A few years ago I got Merlin the 10th quest). I had the pocket LCD Dungeons & Dragons game (still have it. still loads of fun). LCD pocket Burgertime. An LCD pocket game featuring Sprout, The Jolly Green Giant’s Son. I had Wildfire, a pinball game using red LEDs. I had Fire Away, a wonderful Space Invaders clone using a very complicated nixie tube. A few years ago, I bought the electronic board game Omega Virus. I still haven’t gotten around to playing it. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830/7 "2020-10-13T00:14:41Z")
Merlin: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/m-OkKHxH1xo/hqdefault.jpg "Merlin Electronic Game commercial 1978") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-OkKHxH1xo) ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830/8 "2020-10-13T00:28:39Z")
Why did I remember 9 games? My shame is great. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830/9 "2020-10-13T00:32:06Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Why did I remember 9 games? Probably because of the buttons numbered 1-9, although I suppose there could have been a later edition that did have 9 games. The Merlin I had had six, though; and the commercial I linked to is the one that got wedged in my memory in childhood. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830/10 "2020-10-13T00:33:53Z")
> **[Dungeons & Dragons Computer Fantasy Game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_%26_Dragons_Computer_Fantasy_Game)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > The Dungeons & Dragons Computer Fantasy Game is a handheld electronic game released by Mattel in 1981. > Mattel Electronics' handheld Dungeons & Dragons were inspired by a fledgling adventure text game from the 1970s.\[citation needed\] Designer Peter Oliphant claims that it was one of the more basic projects he worked on during his career. > Dungeons & Dragons (also known as D&D) is a role-playing game first established in 1974 by Gary Gygax and Dave... > **[Omega Virus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega_Virus)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > The Omega Virus is a talking electronic board game released by Milton Bradley in 1992. It involves collecting weapons and room keys to destroy the computer virus which has taken over a space station while either hurting or helping your fellow players. > Michael Gray designed The Omega Virus board game. He also created the boardgames Mall Madness, and Dream Phone. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830/11 "2020-10-13T01:03:31Z")
I had a bunch of those electronic games. A football one a base ball one and even a boxing one. What I really wanted was those mini table top arcade cabinet games like Donkey Kong etc. I saw the, in many a Christmas Catalog but never in real life. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830/12 "2020-10-13T01:29:09Z")
I remember the Merlin commercial. _Where’s Merlin now? Daddy, come clean. In the kitchen with Mom, playing Music Machine_. Used to want one of those. But I’ll bet your Mom never played _Music Machine._ on it. I also wanted those mini-arcade games. And those chocolate alphabet initials. Didn’t even know there were portable RPGs but the tabletop dice game was better. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830/13 "2020-10-13T02:22:27Z")
I got one of the old Nintendo Donkey Kong table top games a few years ago. The battery compartment lid is missing. Some of the stickers are peeling off. It still works and is fun to play. NOTE- The following is just the first picture to come up and is NOT my E Bay listing [https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-1981-NINTENDO-DONKEY-KONG-COLOR-LCD-MINI-ARCADE-BY-COLECO-TESTED-WORKING/143775422777?hash=item2179aed939:g:G9MAAOSw9iNffdpQ](https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-1981-NINTENDO-DONKEY-KONG-COLOR-LCD-MINI-ARCADE-BY-COLECO-TESTED-WORKING/143775422777?hash=item2179aed939:g:G9MAAOSw9iNffdpQ) ETA I believe the description is wrong. The screen was again a nixie tube, not an LCD display. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830/14 "2020-10-13T03:12:04Z")
That game above is exactly what I was thinking of. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830/15 "2020-10-13T03:34:06Z")
Tomytronic Pac-Man I got this a few years ago at another yard sale. > **[Pac-Man (Tomy) : Tomy : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/hh_tmpacman)** > > Keys:Movement: Arrow KeysManual: \[archiveorg manuals-handheld-games-Tomy-PacMan width=100% height=480 frameborder=0 webkitallowfullscreen=true... ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830/16 "2020-10-13T03:36:28Z")
Holy crap! I found the Sprout game! Once again, not my Ebay listing. [https://www.ebay.com/itm/Go-Sprout-Tiger-Handheld-Vintage-Game-/363078907614?nma=true&si=ZbN3VSar9bUnXbbUoLDkF9Pupa4%253D&orig\_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&\_trksid=p2047675.l2557](https://www.ebay.com/itm/Go-Sprout-Tiger-Handheld-Vintage-Game-/363078907614?nma=true&si=ZbN3VSar9bUnXbbUoLDkF9Pupa4%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557) ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830/17 "2020-10-13T03:37:41Z")
What about electric games? My brothers and I loved playing [Electric Football](https://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/7584/electric-football) back in the late 1960s and early 1970s. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830/18 "2020-10-13T03:45:08Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > The screen was again a nixie tube, not an LCD display. Not a Nixie tube. Looks like a vacuum fluorescent display. ETA: Which you **should** know, given your username… ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830/19 "2020-10-13T03:46:19Z")
Star Wars Electronic Display [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Star\_Wars\_Electronic\_Battle\_Command,\_Made\_In\_Hong\_Kong,\_Copyright\_1979\_By\_CPG\_Products\_Corp.,\_Cat.\_No.\_40370\_(Electronic\_Game).jpg](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Star_Wars_Electronic_Battle_Command,_Made_In_Hong_Kong,_Copyright_1979_By_CPG_Products_Corp.,_Cat._No._40370_(Electronic_Game).jpg) Dr Strangelove- I mean this sincerely, please educate me on the difference. With my screen name, I should know this kinda thing. ETA OOps you made the same observation while I was typing. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830/20 "2020-10-13T03:48:24Z")
Sure, why not? I can’t say I’m very familiar with electric games, but all are welcome in this thread. What about mechanical games? Almost every male Canadian kid my age grew up with a tabletop game of hockey. Long rods were used to move the players within slots and make them spin around to pass and shoot the puck. Goalies just moved from side to side. None of my friends had the elaborate versions with electronic lights and scoreboard or plastic domes - which you did not exactly need. I have literally no idea if these games are still even a little popular, but in our digital era am guessing “nope”. You sometimes still see a high end version in pubs. It was basically similar to Subbuteo (a British tabletop football/soccer game using the same ideas). At a garage sale in the early 80s I bought a basketball version where you tried to get the ball into a hole in the paint and then catapult it into the basket. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-electronic-games/922830.md?page=2)