Gogo's Crazy Bones
| Also Known As GoGos | |
|---|---|
| File:Crazy Bones logo.jpg | |
| Designers | Magic Box Int |
| Players | Infinite |
| Setup time | 5 minutes |
| Playing time | Dependant on game |
| Chance | High |
| Skills | Negotiation |
| http://www.gogoscrazybones.com | |
GoGo's (also referred to as Crazy Bones or GoGo's Crazy Bones) are small, collectable figurines that became popular fad during the 1990s and 2000s. They are produced by Catalan company Magic Box Int. and are distributed by Toy Craze in the USA, Panini in Brazil, and Plus Marketing in Europe.If the Gogo's advance tins are included, power Gogo's would be series 5.
History
Crazy Bones was inspired by a game played in Ancient Greece called 'Astragals', where children played a similar game using sheep's knucklebones. This ancient pastime is also known as Tabas.[1][2] Crazy Bones is a modern version of this game, played with characters moulded from plastic. There are hundreds of individual characters, each character having a unique face and name. Each series has a number of 'rare' pieces that are sought after by collectors and are sold on numerous websites for many times their original value. there is 80 or 90 in 1 series of gogo's.there are 15 wanteds and 5 most wanteds.
Gameplay
Other than the collectible nature of Crazy Bones there are multiple games that can be played with the figurines including;[3]
- Traditional - players take turns flicking pieces at their opponents gogos, points are scored depending on how many of their opponents gogos are knocked over.
- On-Line - players throw pieces towards a line on the ground, the closest to the line wins.
- Battle - players line up multiple pieces and flick them towards the opposing players pieces in an attempt to knock them over.
- Bowling - players line up multiple pieces and 'bowl' a further piece at them. (Akin to ten-pin bowling.)
- Bomber - players place multiple pieces in a circle on the ground, then throw a further piece at them in an attempt to knock them out of the circle.
- Airborne - players throw a piece into the air, then attempt to pick up a second piece whilst the first is still in the air. They then throw the two pieces in the air, attempting to pick up a third and so on until they fail. (Akin to Jacks.)
- Basket - players attempt to bounce pieces into a box.
US variations
In the United States Crazy Bones were released under the following series names:[4]
- Crazy Bones Aliens
- Crazy Bones Buddies
- Crazy Bones Dragonball Z
- Crazy Bones GoGo's
- Crazy Bones GoGo's Ghost
- Crazy Bones GoGo's New Generation
- Crazy Bones Mega Bones (Large size figures)
- Crazy Bones Mutant's
- Crazy Bones Sports
- Crazy Bones Things
- Crazy Bones Toy Story 2
- Crazy Bones Mags (A magnetic series)
- Crazy Bones Marvel Heroes
Crazy Bones were also given out on two separate occasions at McDonald's with Happy Meals. These Monster Crazy Bones were set in two series; one original set of 12 and a special Halloween set of 12. Unlike previous series there were "Hundreds of colors, plus a few metallic ones", making completing a set highly unlikely.[5]
European variations
In Europe Crazy Bones were released under the following series names;[6][7]
- GoGo's Crazy Bones (80 bones, each available in 5 colours, and 5 'Most Wanted' rare bones with different paint schemes)[Series 1]
- GoGo's Crazy Bones Evolution (80 bones, each available in 5 colours, approximately half are translucent with embedded glitter)[Series 2]
- GoGo's Crazy Bones Explorer (80 bones, each available in 5 normal colours and a 'laser' metallic colour) [Series 3]
- GoGo's Crazy Bones Advance (10 bones, each available in 5 colours. Only available in Tin Boxes)
- GoGo's Crazy Bones Power (90 bones - 40 normal bones, 40 metallic bones, and 10 'Most Wanted' rare metallic bones with added paint steps) [Series 4] - This set also adds a collectible card game to the mix with each pack containing 2 bones and two cards (often 1 normal figure, 1 metallic figure, 1 normal game card, and 1 metallic card) with a chance of a 'Most Wanted' figure or card replacing one of these. The Most Wanted cards have the character name suffixed with a '-W', and have a laser-style finish.
In March 2009, to mark the release of the Explorer series in the UK, the Daily Mirror newspaper ran a week-long promotion where they gave away free figurines, stickers and sticker books. Two of the figurines were exclusive to this giveaway[8]
In April 2009, the Entertainer toy shop in Kingston upon thames held a 'swap day'. Every swapper received a special 'Laser Mosh' - Mosh is the first bone in the original series. The Laser Mosh is lime green, and carries the same coating as the Explorer special Gogos.
Gogo's Crazy Bones set 1 is currently available in North America with the Explorer set 2 to be released mid November.
Other merchandise
European Crazy Bones, Evolution and Explorer packets also contain stickers. These can be collected in sticker albums which are sold separately.
Series 4 Power Gogo's replace stickers with cards. There is a collector's folder with transparent sleeves for all cards.
Magic Box Int has also created various collector tins, bags (blue and green) and containers for the pieces.[9]
In August 2009, plush toys of three types were released:
- 'Clipper' Keyrings (8 different designs)
- 6" Reversible dolls (5 designs that swap between 'normal' and 'most wanted')
- 8" 'Bone Shakers' (3 designs with removable heads that reveal a cup to throw normal-sized bones with)
All plush designs are based on bones from series 1
During the mid 1990s, Coca Cola of Mexico released a similar brand of toys named "Hielocos" (translated to 'Crazy Ice').[10]
Banning in UK schools
Crazy Bones were banned in many schools, because they encouraged theft, arguments, and in-class distractions.[11][12]
Superfluous apostrophe
The apostrophe within "GoGo's" has been the subject of much internet debate as it seems to be misplaced. Some have even sarcastically hinted that this could be the reason the game was banned in some schools.[13]
References
- ^ "History Of Crazy Bones".
- ^ "The Ancient And Modern Game Of Astragals".
- ^ "How To Play".
- ^ "Crazy Bones Who's Who".
- ^ "Monster Crazy Bones!".
- ^ "Wholesaler & Distributor Of GoGo's Crazy Bones".
- ^ "Gogo's Crazy Bones".
- ^ "Free Gogo's with the Daily Mirror".
- ^ "Crazy Bones Merchandise".
- ^ "Atomic Pictures - Crazy Ice".
- ^ "Crazy Bones: Children turned into smugglers as schools crack down on the great Gogo's craze".
- ^ "Helen checks out Gogo's Crazy Bones".
- ^ "Gogo's Crazy Bones".