(And How I Learned To Play Correctly)
Quick question… does anyone have any true memories of playing Mouse Trap?I mean the actual game?
I don’t. All I remember is ripping open the box and immediately attempted to put together the Rube Goldberg contraption.
Only recently did I realize how the game is truly played. You build the contraption as you go! Yeah – seriously. That’s the game. Go figure. Am I in the minority here? One time I saw some kids playing mousetrap but the contraption was only half built. I scooted one of the little ones over and asked them what they were doing? They said playing Mousetrap. I told them they were clearly playing wrong then proceeded to build the rest of the contraption for them.
I even made sure to position the swimmer backwardson the see-saw. Then, when everything was teetering
in place , I cranked that puppy up.
It worked perfectly.
The boot.The zig zag table.
Even the tub ball drop.
It was one of the best runs I had ever seen. But, when it finished, the kids started to cry. At first I guessed them to be tears of joy – moved by the beauty of such a flawless run. But I came to find that these kids had been playing religiously for 2 months . The PROPER way! Never once building the trap and running it outside of the game rules.
Nope – these kids were pros. They just kept playing the game – faithfully waiting for the one day when they would witness the machine in all it’s glory.
Then – they met me…
I totally remember this game being a dud. And if you lost one piece, you basically couldn't play anymore.
I remember a game that had an equally silly setup – The Grape Escape. If you didn't play it. Look up that monstrosity.
I played it the "right" way, the couple times I did play. I was an only child, but people gave me board game anyway, even none of the adults really wanted to play them with me.
I'm impressed, Jennifer. I never met anyone who actually played it the right way.
Ah yes, The Grape Escape. Another one of those games that was visually appearing – but horrible to play.