What is the History of the Operation Game?
The Operation game, a beloved classic that has entertained generations of children and adults alike, has a fascinating history rooted in invention, creativity, happenstance, bad luck, and unfair business deals. John Spinello, an industrial design student, unknowingly shaped a significant part of pop culture in 1964 when he created what would become known as Operation.
Spinello was studying at the University of Illinois, and was tasked with creating an electric game for an assignment. His invention required players to navigate a metal wand through holes without touching the surrounding metal edges – a challenge that earned him an A grade. His invention could be considered an inversion of the Giant Buzz Wire challenge, and laid the foundation for the Operation game.
The original creation, known as Death Valley, was a departure from the familiar patient on the operating table seen in today's Operation game. Death Valley portrayed a character navigating the perils of a desert. With his water canteen rendered useless by a bullet hole, the character embarked on a desperate quest for water amidst a landscape filled with absurd and dangerous obstacles.
In this early version, players journeyed around the board, using a metal probe as their game piece. They had to carefully insert this probe into holes of differing sizes, a task that demanded precision and a steady hand.
Impressed by Spinello’s invention, a family friend, Sam Cottone, arranged a meeting with Marvin Glass, a renowned toy designer at Marvin Glass Associates (MGA). MGA was known for its innovative toys, including "Lite-Brite," "Mouse Trap," and "Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots." Glass offered Spinello $500 (equivalent to about $5,100 in 2023) for the rights to the design, along with a promise of a job upon graduation – a promise that, unfortunately, never materialised.
Marvin Glass sold Spinello’s concept to Milton Bradley, a prominent game company. Milton Bradley transformed it into "Operation", a game that struck a chord with its combination of skill, suspense, and a touch of medical intrigue.
The essence of the game was in its simplicity and the immediate feedback mechanism. If the player's probe touched the metal sides, it completed a circuit between two charged metal plates, triggering a loud bell – a feature that delighted and startled players.
In the 1980s, Milton Bradley became part of Hasbro, who continued to produce "Operation", ensuring its longevity. The game evolved from Spinello's prototype, which was a metal maze with drilled holes and a metal rod, into the well-known format of removing various ailments from a patient with a pair of tweezers.
Today, "Operation" has inspired numerous variants, including modern arcade game adaptations. At We Are Tricycle, we offer a giant operation game, which brings the same excitement and challenge on a larger scale, as well as some quirky alternatives to Operation such as Tap the App or Pluck the Duck.
The story of the Operation game is a testament to the enduring appeal of simple yet innovative gameplay, as well as a warning of the dangers of losing your intellectual property rights!
To explore our range of arcade games and classic funfair attractions, including our take on the legendary Operation game, look through all our products, or contact us for more information.
