Simon
Electronic Game
1978 (manufactured)
1978 (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is an electronic Simon game from MB Electronics. The object of the game is to mimic the sequence of signals created by the machine, by pressing the coloured buttons in the same order that they light up and make a sound. The game gets its name from the playground repetition game known as Simon Says.
A pop culture symbol of the 1980s, Simon was created after its inventors saw a similar repetition game at an arcade games convention, in the 1970s. Manufactured by Atari, Touch Me created a sequence of lights and sounds that the player would have to repeat by pressing the same sequence of buttons. It was a flop in arcades, competing against the likes of Pac Man and Space Invaders. The designers of Simon, Baer and Morrison, decided that they could compete with the Atari machine by creating a play at home game, improving the look and sounds. They took their design to MB who capitalised on its 'disco' style by launching it at the Studio 54 nightclub, in New York. A massive success and innovation in home gaming, it is so iconic of its era that it is invariably now used as shorthand for the 1980s in film and television programmes.
A pop culture symbol of the 1980s, Simon was created after its inventors saw a similar repetition game at an arcade games convention, in the 1970s. Manufactured by Atari, Touch Me created a sequence of lights and sounds that the player would have to repeat by pressing the same sequence of buttons. It was a flop in arcades, competing against the likes of Pac Man and Space Invaders. The designers of Simon, Baer and Morrison, decided that they could compete with the Atari machine by creating a play at home game, improving the look and sounds. They took their design to MB who capitalised on its 'disco' style by launching it at the Studio 54 nightclub, in New York. A massive success and innovation in home gaming, it is so iconic of its era that it is invariably now used as shorthand for the 1980s in film and television programmes.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 5 parts.
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| Title | Simon (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Offset lithography on cardboard, with moulded polystyrene packaging, printed paper, injection moulded plastic, with printed aluminium and inner electronic circuit board. |
| Brief description | Simon electronic game, MB, 1978 |
| Physical description | Electronic 'Simon' game: black circular case with four large buttons on top, in yellow, blue, green and red. Centrally there is an aluminium disc printed with the game name, the MB logo and featuring several smaller buttons to control the game number, skill level and other functions. The base has battery compartments. Eight-page stapled pamphlet with dark blue cover depicting a scene of the Milky Way and title of the game in red and white, with instructions on how to play. Cardboard box offset printed featuring, on the top, an image of the 'Simon' electronic game, two hands playing it. Inside the box are two pieces of white polystyrene packaging to hold the 'Simon' game in place. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is an electronic Simon game from MB Electronics. The object of the game is to mimic the sequence of signals created by the machine, by pressing the coloured buttons in the same order that they light up and make a sound. The game gets its name from the playground repetition game known as Simon Says. A pop culture symbol of the 1980s, Simon was created after its inventors saw a similar repetition game at an arcade games convention, in the 1970s. Manufactured by Atari, Touch Me created a sequence of lights and sounds that the player would have to repeat by pressing the same sequence of buttons. It was a flop in arcades, competing against the likes of Pac Man and Space Invaders. The designers of Simon, Baer and Morrison, decided that they could compete with the Atari machine by creating a play at home game, improving the look and sounds. They took their design to MB who capitalised on its 'disco' style by launching it at the Studio 54 nightclub, in New York. A massive success and innovation in home gaming, it is so iconic of its era that it is invariably now used as shorthand for the 1980s in film and television programmes. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.128:1 to 5-2011 |
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| Record created | January 27, 2012 |
| Record URL |
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