Bopthusiasm: "bopping it"

Between all that shopping and exams, for the students in Europe, there is a time for relaxation and strange habits. I remember when I studied (not so long ago) a friend and I would always do the ‘stick trick’. I wonder if I could still do it. Remind me to let you know how to do it, pretty amazing, when I have re-mastered the trick ;)

Yet, the Bop It makes you move and gets a laugh out of you either way (or it does with me anyway). Maybe it’s a good alternative, that’s also an ice-breaker. For those of you not familiar with the game it was originally released in 1996. It is an audio game which gives you commands such as spin it, flick it, pull it and twist it. It quickly became one of the most popular games because of the interaction between player and toy. Moreover, you can play solo, with two or multiplayer. The game is licensed to boardplayer and toy multinational Hasbro, also known from classics such as Monopoly (best selling boardgame ever according to the book of guiness world records, Cluedo, Pictionary, Risk, Scrabble  etc.

Even now in 2013 Bop It lives on. The company has released several versions since and today the sales of the Bop It, Bop It Bounce, Bop It XT, Bop It Smash, the Bop It re-release and the pen and keychain versions are still going strong.

We (my generation) grew up with the Bop It and you may not know it but tv programmes and movies incorporate it and since 1996 its become one of those popular culture diamonds. Maybe its crowning moment was a slot in popular show The Simpsons, because if you appear there you are most definitely a part of pop culture. My own favorite guest appearance of the Bop It was on Gilmore Girls. Lorelai and Rory mention it a few times (for instance Lorelai says they take it out when a social situation needs mouth to mouth resuscitation J and even take it out one episode. (at 1:14 below when Luke and Dean fight)

 

Therefore, my Bop It XT and Smash are the pride of my games cupboard and I couldn’t imagine it without them. Have fun!!