Bop It

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Bop It toys are a line of audio games based on concepts originally patented by Dan Klitsner.[1][2] Bop It was licensed to Hasbro[3][4], and further developed there by a number of designers including Bob Welch.[1] Bop It games test a player's mental skill by inducing the player to follow directions at a faster and faster pace. Gameplay consists of the player following series of commands issued by the toy from speakers. The toys have multiple inputs including pull-handles, twistable cranks, spinable wheels, toggle-switches, and all versions feature a centrally-located large round button that may be depressed to start the game. The games have been identified as some of the more popular childrens games on the market[5], and toy and game development researchers have pointed to the natural interactions between player and toy[6], and the ability of players to use the toy to revert computer gaming processes back into those that resemble non-mediated object play.[7]. Other studies have shown that it is the Bop It's ability to perform in such a way as to mimic engagement in social behavior that has led to the toys' commercial successes.[5]

Contents

Models

Original Bop It

The original Bop It

In 1996, the instructions to a handheld voice game called the Bop It were copyrighted.[8] This game was the first of what was later to become a series of Bop It games relying on the same set of basic patents. The original game, called simply Bop It, features three inputs — The "Bop it!" (a depressable button), the "Twist it!" (a twistable lever) and the "Pull it!" (a pullable handle)[9] — and three game modes: Solo Bop, Vox Bop and Beat Bop. Gameplay is predicated upon a player's efforts to match the commands issued by the Bop It in a timely manner by performing the task that is commanded. Thus if the Bop It is to call out "Bop It!" then the player must quickly depress the "Bop It!" button, if the Bop It is to call out "Twist it!" then the player must quickly turn the "Twist it!" crank, and if the Bop It is to call out "Pull it!" then the player must quickly pull the "Pull It!" knob.[1][3] Players' scores are announced at the end of gameplay with a cypher in which different tones represent different point values and the maximum possible score is 100.[3] This style of score-reporting would later recur in the Bop It Extreme model, and the Zing It spin off[10][11][12] (see below).

Re-release Version

In July 2000, the first patent for the Bop It was issued.[1] This patent covers all subsequent Bop It models, and was cited in the instructions for the re-release of the original Bop It (instructions copyrighted in 2000). This new version of the original toy increased its maximum score to 200.[13]

Bop It Extreme

The Bop It Extreme

In 1998, Hasbro copyrighted its instructions for the Bop It Extreme, describing the underlying patents as "pending." This game included the additional commands "Flick it!" and "Spin it!" along with the original three from Bop It. The maximum score was 250, and the game featured 4 games modes (Vox Bop, Beat Bop, Vox Bop Solo and Beat Bop Solo).[11][12]

In 2003, this paitent was one of the top games in the markert.[14]

Bop It Extreme 2

The Bop It Extreme 2

Partially reliant on the original Bop It's 2000 patent, the Bop It Extreme 2 also relied on the newly issued 2001 patent descibing the layout changes that had been adopted for use in the Bop It Extreme.[2] With its instructions copyrighted in 2002, the layout of Hasbro's Bop It Extreme 2 was shown to be altered from that of the Bop It Extreme. The shapes of several inputs were also altered. Volume controls were added, and the method of score reporting was changed to using plain English. In addition to the 4 modes featured in Bop It Extreme, a "One on One" mode was added. [15] Bop It extreme 2 was the best selling toy in 2005.[16]

Bop It Extreme 2 was also made in black, white and pink variants.

Bratz Bop It

As described in its instruction manual (copyright 2004), Hasbro's Bratz-themed Bop It game is entitled Bratz Bop It and its layout resembles that of the earlier (3-input) Bop It format. The maximum score in Bratz Bop It has also been increased to 200 points.[17]

Bop It Blast

In 2005 Hasbro copyrighted the instructions to the Bop It Blast describing it as covered under the original (3-input) Bop It patent and referencing other patents that were pending. This newest member of the series again increased the maximum score to a total of 500, and for the first time allowed different high scores for different modes rather than having one high score for all modes collectively. Minor vocal additions were implemented such as the announcement of the player's score at notable landmarks (each 100 points scored). In addition to the 5 modes featured in Bop It Extreme 2, a "Light Bop" mode was added. The use of a cypher to report score was again adopted as in the two original Bop It models.[18]

Bop It Download

In 2007, Hasbro coppyrighted the instructions to the Bop It Download desccribing it as covered under the extreme. This paitent had a maximum high score of 1000 and it has 15 difficulty levels. It has the ability to download beats, sounds, record your own voice and other voices are offered such as a country bumpkin, and a pirate.

Bop It!

At the London Toy Fair in January, 2009, Hasbro announced upcoming new release for later in the year using the name Bop It! The announced new model includes newly featured sound actions which require players to shout into the toy.[19].

Game modes

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Voice Commands (Vox Bop)

"Vox Bop" is the primary game mode for the Bop It toy. A voice recording in the game machine calls out the commands randomly with a musical beat that increases in speed as the game progresses. The game ends when a player makes a mistake or reaches the highest score in solo.[3]

Beat Bop

The beat bop mode follow a similar format for passing as in the Vox Bop modes above, and the rules are roughly equivalent. The difference in Beat Bop mode is that the game uses sounds as commands instead of words. Thus:

  • "Bop It!" becomes the sound of a bass drum.
  • "Spin It!" becomes the sound of a wobbling wheel.
  • "Flick It!" becomes a "Boing!" sound.
  • "Pull It!" becomes the sound of a slide-whistle.
  • "Twist It!" becomes a cranking sound.[3][11][12]

One on One mode

One on One mode features in Bop It Extreme 2 allow for simultaneous multi-player gameplay. Here, two players hold the toy on either side. When they hear the command to "Bop it!" (or the bass drum sound on Beat Bop mode), a light indicates which player must try to hit their color.

Popular culture

  • Bop It appeared in the TV series, Gilmore Girls, where it was referred to by Lorelai and Rory, and used in the episode "We Got Us a Pippi Virgin" (Season 5, Episode 5) by Luke opposing Dean. Lorelai later explains that Bop It is what they bring out in social situations that "need mouth to mouth" resuscitation.

Sister products

The popularity of the Bop It line encouraged Hasbro to release a number of sister products:

Zing It

Main article: Zing It

The Zing It is a yo-yo-style audio game that, like the Bop It, issues commands that the player must follow along with. Like the original Bop It there are three commands that may be issued: "Bop it!" (requiring the player to press the depressable purple button), "Zing it!" (requiring the player to throw the yo-yo downward and jerk it back up to the hand again), and "Loop it!" (requiring the player to perform the "'round the world" yo-yo trick). The Zing It features 3 modes: "Vox Bop" (as with Bop It products), "Beat Bop" (as with Bop It products), and "Vox Bop Challenge" (where the game will test mental pelmanism by issuing rapid strings of commands which must be subsequently performed in the correct order). As with Bop It and Bop It Extreme, Zing It announces the score by musical cypher. There is a maximum score of 250 points.[10]

Top It

Main article: Top It

The Top It is a kendama-style audio game developed by Parker Bros. (under Hasbro) that also issues commands which a player must respond to with the appropriate action. Commands include "Top it!" (requiring the player to catch the ball in the red top cup), "Flop it!" (requiring the player to catch the ball in one of the purple side cups), and "Flip it!" (requiring the player to catch the ball in the purple side cup on the other side). The command structure has slightly fewer variations than any other Hasbro game, since the "Flip it!" command can only be issued if the "Flop it!" command directly precedes it.[20]

Groove It

The Groove It is an audio game made by Hasbro whose instructions have been copyrighted in 2003. With similar gameplay to the Bop It games, Groove It employs photodetection technology to determine the player's hand position. As with Bop It games, the Groove It issues voice commands, however in this case the commands are: "the scratch," "the slide," and "the zoom." The maximum score is 300 and the game employs a ranking system.[21]

References

  1. ^ a b c d US patent 6086478
  2. ^ a b US patent 6210278
  3. ^ a b c d e Bop It! [Rules & Instructions]. Hasbro 1997.
  4. ^ Orbanes, Philip. The Game Makers: The Story of Parker Brothers From Tiddledy Winks to Trivial Pursuit. Harvard Business School Press. p.iv. 2004.
  5. ^ a b Szymanski, Marianne. "The Use of Focus Groups in Toy Testing", Advertising & Marketing to Children. Vol.1. No.2. Winthrop Publications. p.162. 25 May 1999.
  6. ^ De Götzen, Amalia; Serafin, Stefania (July 11-13, 2007). "Prolegomena to Sonic Toys" (PDF) in Proceedings SMC'07, 4th Sound and Music Computing Conference.: 174. Retrieved on 2009-06-23. 
  7. ^ Tulathimutte, Tony (2004) (DOC). Controller Mediation in Human-Computer Play. Stanford University. p. 91. http://www.gamasutra.com/education/theses/20051111/thulatimutte_thesis.doc. Retrieved on 2009-06-24. 
  8. ^ Bop It! [Rules & Instructions]. Parker Bros. 1996.
  9. ^ Orbanes, Philip. The Game Makers: The Story of Parker Brothers From Tiddledy Winks to Trivial Pursuit. Harvard Business School Press. p.210. 2004.
  10. ^ a b Zing It Instructions. Hasbro. 1999.
  11. ^ a b c BopIt Extreme Rules [& Instructions]. p1. Hasbro. 1998.
  12. ^ a b c BopIt Extreme Rules [& Instructions]. p2. Hasbro. 1998.
  13. ^ Bop It! [Rules & Instructions]. Hasbro 2000.
  14. ^ http://www.toyretailersassociation.co.uk/toty/toty2k3.htm
  15. ^ BopIt Extreme 2. Hasbro. 2002.
  16. ^ http://www.toyretailersassociation.co.uk/toty/toty2k5.htm
  17. ^ Bratz Bop It Instructions. Hasbro. 2004.
  18. ^ Bop It Blast Game Instructions. Hasbro. 2005.
  19. ^ http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/news.phtml/21835/hasbro-bop-it-music-toy.phtml
  20. ^ Top It Rules. Hasbro. 1999.
  21. ^ Groove It Play Guide. Hasbro. 2003.

See also

External links

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