Most of us baby boomers and those younger remember the famous kid’s game “Operation.” I’m not sure you’d call it a ‘board game’ per se, but there was a platform or small frame set-up and of course the wired in tweezers used to pluck body parts out of the male patient.
The body parts were little plastic pieces such as a ‘wrenched ankle’, ‘funny bone’, ‘broken heart’, and don’t forget the ‘spare ribs’ to name a few. The object was to use those wired tweezers to excise those body parts without bumping against the metal sides and hearing the buzz sound. The patient being operated on would also light up his red nose on these metal hits.
So as we get older and older (hey, It beats the alternative) I was thinking that Hasbro, the folks who make this game, should come up with a new version of ‘Operation’ that is aimed at those in middle to old age. This new edition would exchange the ‘butterfly in stomach’, ‘wish bone’ and other body parts with maladies we of an aging generation face.
Some of the parts to be removed on the “Advanced Age Operation” game could be as follows:
Cataracts, gall bladder, appendix, there could be a heart bypass or you could be directed to install a stent or pacemaker for an ailing ticker.
The new Operation game could also feature mole removal, gastric bypass for the severely obese and switch out leg hinges with knee replacements.
Actually there could be two versions of the game based on gender.
The male patient could have a prostate removal piece, maybe even a penile implant spot and let’s not leave out a hair transplant.
The female patient could undergo a boob job or removal of the uterus due to having a hysterectomy.
I’m just spit-balling here but there are ways to add fun and update a classic old game like “Operation.”
WHILE WE’RE AT IT–
There are other old school board games that could be updated to modern times as well. I’m guessing the girls’ board game ‘Mystery Date’ could include possible same sex hook-ups or some more metro-sexual male suitors. Since women can serve in the military game Stratego could include some female game pieces. The crime detecting game ‘Clue’ could have a portion that includes DNA evidence.
I’m sure there are other old school board games that could be updated to fit into modern times. However changes come along slowly and there’s no need to take on more than I’ve already suggested. Hasbro and any other game makers out there, the ball is now in your court.
WEIRD BUT TRUE-
Here’s a newer game that related to the gross-out Reality TV show “Dr. Pimple Popper” (and this one is real folks) It’s the “Pimple Pete” game.
NEXT WEEK’S BLOG : Some great dates in music history.