Bop It
Bop It toys are a line of audio games based on concepts originally invented by San Francisco Industrial Designer Dan Klitsner and KID,Inc. Bop It was licensed to Hasbro and further developed there by a number of designers including Bob Welch, Dan Sanfilippo, Darrell Merino and Curt Mahlstedt. The game is designed to 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 purple button that may be depressed to start the game. The name Bop It derives from the command to push the central button which bears the name of the game.
Models
Original Bop It
In 1996 Hasbro released the first in its Bop It line. Simply called Bop It, the game features three inputs: A cyan pull-handle on one end, a twistable yellow crank on the other end, and the depressable purple button in the middle. When the game commands the player to "Bop it!" the player must depress the central button. When the game commands the player to "Twist it!" the player must twist the crank. When the game commands the player to "Pull it!" the player must pull the handle. The maximum score is 100 and it is announced at the end of gameplay in a cypher where different tones represent different point values.[1][2] Thus, for each 100 points the descending "Vox Bop Solo" noise sounds. for 10 points, the twist it response nosie sounds and for each 1 point making up an uncompleted set of 10 the beat bop "bop it" noise sounds.[2] This style of score-reporting also occurs in the Bop It Extreme, and the Zing It spin off[3] (see below). The Bop It has 3 game modes: Solo Bop, Vox Bop and Beat Bop (see below). The maximum score was 100.
- Re-release Version
In 2002, Hasbro re-made the original bop it into a small design. It was see through and had the same sounds and voice as the 1996 version and increased the maximum score to 200, though there are some of the 1996 units that had the increase but sometimes it malfunctioned and some people thought that the game was 'Possesed'.
Bop It Extreme
In 1998, Hasbro released the Bop It Extreme. The game included 2 new inputs along with the original three from Bop It. The green flick-switch is flicked when the Bop It Extreme commands "Flick it!" and the free-spinning red wheel is spun when the Bop It Extreme commands "Spin it!". The maximum score was increased to 250, and the game features 4 games modes (Vox Bop, Beat Bop, Vox Bop Solo and Beat Bop Solo).[4][5]
Bop It Extreme 2
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Released in 2002, Hasbro's Bop It Extreme 2 was a re-working of the Bop It Extreme. The layout of the toy was changed and the shapes of several inputs were altered for ease of use. Volume controls were added, and the method of score reporting was changed to using plain English. Bop It Extreme 2 was released in black and white as well as pink variations. In addition to the 4 modes featured in Bop It Extreme, a "One on One" mode was added. In 2003, Bop It Extreme 2 was the top selling toy in the Bop It line.
Bratz Bop It
In 2004, Hasbro released a Bratz-themed variant of the original Bop It. The game featured the new color scheme of a fuchsia pull-handle, a twistable silver crank, and the depressable purple button in the middle. It also featured a newly recorded set of commands termed "Bratz 'shout outs'."[6] The maximum score is increased above that of the original Bop It to a 200 point maximum.[7] In all other aspects, the Bratz Bop It duplicated the original Bop It.
Bop It Blast
2005 saw the release of Hasbro's Bop It Blast, a re-creation of the original Bop It differing in little except in software. Bop It Blast 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.
Bop It Extreme Download
The next Bop It game that was released Bop It Download also created by Hasbro. It was released in 2007 and it's going to be replaced with Bop It! Everyone which will be released near June 2009. Bop It Download is the third versopm of Bop It Extreme, and it features 15 levels, a maximum score of 1000 points, and the ability to record your own voice, and download music and sounds.
- Levels
There are 15 levels in bop it Extreme download, up to level 13 are 20 inputs each, level 14 requires 250 inputs and level 15 requires 500 to reach to maximum score, 1000.
Level 1-3 are voice commands, level 4-5 are with lights, Level 6 is original bop it beat bop. level 7 has flick it as a voice command but others are sounds, level 8 is bopp it extreme beaet bop, level 9-12 are with lights are level 13-15 are voice and sound commands and bop it is replaced with the coloured sides.
Bop It! Everyone
Template:Future In the Toy Fair at 2009, Hasbro announced that it was going to release a new bop it toy for 2009. It is called Bop It! Everyone and the game was shown at the toy fair. People were allowed to play it andd it's going to have 3 game modes: solo, pass it, and a new game mode called Party which is new to the franchise.[8]. It will feature four controls: a blue pull-handle on one end, a twistable yellow crank on the other end, a depressable white button in the middle, and a new green microphone into which players must shout when the "Shout it!" command is issued, which is also new to the franchise. At the moment, Hasbro is waiting for the new bop it as is currently being shipped from overseas manufactures and it will be with Hasbro by June 27, and it will go through customs and quality check and should be in store by July.
Game modes
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Voice Commands (Vox Bop)
Vox bop is the main game to Bop It. The game calls out the commands in random with a musical beat that gets faster and faster and stops getting faster. The game is over if a player makes a mistake.
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.
Light Bop
Light bop is a game featured in bop it blast and bop it download. It plays just like Simon Says where the player only has to do the command when the voice and the light both match.
One on One mode
One on One mode features in Bop It Extreme 2, Bop It Blast, and Bop It Download to allow for simultaneous gameplay. Here, two players hold the Bop It 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. In Bop It Extreme 2 and Bop It Blast, the two player-colors are green and yellow and in Bop It Blast, the two player-colors are blue and green.
Party
Party is a game mode featured in Bop It everyone. It is like a pass the parcel game where the game is passed after each command.
Details
Comparison of Bop Its
| Game | Released | Max score | Number of games |
Number of inputs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bop It | 1996 | 100 | 3 | 3 |
| Bop It Extreme | 1998 | 250 | 4 | 5 |
| Bop It Extreme 2 | 2002 | 250 | 6 | 5 |
| Bop It (rerelease) | 2002 | 200 | 3 | 3 |
| Bratz Bop It | 2004 | 200 | 3 | 3 |
| Bop It Blast | 2005 | 500 | 9 | 3 |
| Bop It Download | 2007 | 1000 | 3 | 5 |
| Bop It! Everyone | 2009 | TBA | 3 | 4 |
Vocal details
The Bop It commands are called out in different tones. These tones differ from version to version as well. In Bop It Blast, distinct tones are employed by both male and female speakers. The brachets repersent the word the voice says the tone in.
| Version/Pitch | A♭ | A | A♯ | B♭ | B | C | C♯ | D♭ | D | D♯ | E♭ | E | F | F♯ | G♭ | G | G♯ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bop It | Bop it! | Pull it! | Twist it! | ||||||||||||||
| Bop It Extreme | Flick it! | Spin it! | Pull it! | Twist it! | Bop it! | ||||||||||||
| Bop It Extreme 2 | Bop it! | Twist it! | Bop it! | (Spin) it! | Flick it! | Spin (it)! | Pull it! | ||||||||||
| Bop It Blast | Twist it! (♂) Pull it! (♀) | Pull it! (♂) | Twist it! (♀) | Bop it! (♂) | Bop it! (♀) | ||||||||||||
Tonal distortions occur when battery power is low in the original Bop It and Bop It Extreme. Beginning with Bop It Extreme 2, and in all subsequent releases, this error is corrected so that the game simply starts to stop when the batteries are dead. This error has also been corrected for the 2002 re-release version of Bop It.
Hold position for Bop It games
While holding the Bop It so that the writing on the central button is right-side-up to the player is considered an advantageous position for right-handed players, the game can be played "upside-down" as well. Advanced players have developed techniques for holding the toy to minimize movements and to quickly return to the basic position. For this reason most players keep their hands centrally located along the side bars. The size of the central button allows it to be depressed without using the hands, and a number of player have adopted alternative techniques to speedy gameplay.
The newly redesigned versions of the Bop It have been designed so that there is no right-handed preference.
Popular culture
- Bop It was parodied on a 2004 SNL Weekend Update, as "Bump It", a seemingly sentient and sexually suggestive toy which asked Amy Poehler to "Pull it" numerous times.
- 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
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.[3]
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, however this benefit is counterbalanced by the difficulty in differentiating between the sounds of the highly similar commands ("Flop it!" and "Top it!" are often misheard).[9]
Groove It
The Groove It is an audio game made by Hasbro in 2005. With similar gameplay to the Bop It games, Groove It employs photodetection technology to determine the player's hand position. The Groove it issues voice commands like Bop It. At the start the basic and the advance games, the game starts with three basic moves. The scratch, the slide and the zoom. when you start a round in groove it the music sarts and gives you four beats, the game will then lead you into the first move by saying "let me see you do the"(scratch, slide, or zoom, or any other move if you messed up on it). the same thing happens when learning a new move except the game says "you've got the groove now watch the lights for a new move" waits a few beats then says "show me how you do the"(new move) As the game progresses, new moves are added and the pitch of the music gets higher. The maximum score is 300 and the game hs a ranking system. The lowest ranking is, "Wheres your groove?" and the highest is the groove grand master which is announced at 250 correct moves. After reaching the maximum score, no cypher is used, the game carries on playing until all three chances are used up and then the voice will say,"Ready for more?"
Third party clone products
Super Click It
The Super Click It was released in 2000 by Walmart. The game has five commands: A handle which is pulled backwards nicknamed "Crack It," a yellow button which is pressed when the game commands "Squish It," a green fan which is blown when the game commands "Blast It," and a small zipper and it is pushed down when the game commands "Zip It." Available game modes are identical to those of Bop It Extreme. The resulting score (maximum 100 points) is also announced via a sound effect cypher, and the player receives a cheer and fanfare for winning the game. If the player makes a mistake or hesitates for too long, cartoon negative noises are given.
In the two-player game, each player must correctly perform 10 actions for a successful round. If a player makes a mistake, a negative noise is given followed by a comment, and then the voice says "Switch!" and the game is passed on to the next player as a solo game.
References
- ^ Bop It! [Rules & Instructions]. Parker Bros. 1996.
- ^ a b Bop-it FAQ. World of Tim. Retrieved 3 December 2008.
- ^ a b Zing It Instructions. Hasbro. 1999.
- ^ BopIt Extreme Rules [& Instructions]. p1. Hasbro. 1998.
- ^ BopIt Extreme Rules [& Instructions]. p2. Hasbro. 1998.
- ^ Bratz Bop It. Amazon review. 5 October 2006.
- ^ Bratz Bop It Instructions. Hasbro. 2004.
- ^ Ihttp://www.pocket-lint.com/news/news.phtml/21835/hasbro-bop-it-music-toy.phtml
- ^ Top It. Amazon review. 27 April 2002.
