Star Bird (Milton Bradley)

 

Star Bird
1978 - 1981
Milton Bradley

Star Bird was Milton Bradley's answer to Star Wars, Space 1999, Star Trek, and all the other far more popular movie and television based franchise toys of the era. “Fire your photon beams and hit the alien spaceship. Hear distress signals and sputtering engine sounds!” That was the shtick the back of the box promoted, and in short meant that if you had two ships, they could do battle against each other with space themed lights and sounds. Score enough points, and your ship will declare victory through another unique sound.

Micro sensors built into the Star Bird space craft were able to sense if you were raising the ship upwards, lowering it, or leveling off, all while providing accompanying sound effects. It was quite high tech for its time, especially as a kid's toy. Not only did it include laser firing sounds, but if your craft took enough damage from another, distress signals and power down sound effects would occur.

Though it assembled as a giant spacecraft, several smaller ships, including and escape pod, and interceptor fighters, were attached to the hull. The Star Bird itself could also be transfigured into a smaller fighter.

A second ship, the Star Bird Avenger was essentially the same ship as noted above, but with different bird like decals. It too contained all the features as the original craft.

You've probably noticed that each vehicle was released in two different boxes. This was most likely just a result of the line being popular enough to warrant a multiple year run, and boxes were just updated as time went by. Additionally, you may have notice the word "Space" being added before the vehicle's name as well. Again, this was most likely just a product of time, and the revisions to packaging that came with it.

The Intruder was released as the enemy vehicle to do battle against your Star Bird. It too featured lights and sounder. Packed in with it was a, "special target", a 3D satellite looking box made of cardboard.

Speaking of cardboard, the Command Base was the final piece released in the line. Though massive when put together, the main construction of the playset was, as you probably guessed, cardboard. However, it did feature some plastic parts, such as a crane, transport vehicle, and mini figures.

Much like the crafts, the base too was released in alternate packaging throughout the lifespan of the line.

It's difficult to pinpoint a price point for these toys on secondary markets because they're all over the place. One day, a complete in box / working ship (or playset) will sell for under twenty dollars, the next, close to two hundred. No one piece seems to be any rare than the other, so putting this line together shouldn't be too much trouble, if that's what you're interested in doing.

Overall, this is a pretty cool line. The technology for its time was mind blowing for kids, and they provided hours of interactive fun. It's a line I definitely recommend to vintage collectors.

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G.I. Joe Board Games (Hasbro / Milton Bradley)

G.I. Joe Board Games
Hasbo / Milton Bradley
1965 - 2009

Much like the action figures, G.I. Joe board games have decades of toy history behind them. They began their start in the 1960's and to this day continue to trickle out here and there.

Of course, the 60's games are those based upon the man twelve inch doll style action figures. Much like those figures, they have some pretty generic names such as Marine Paratrooper, Navy Frogman and more.

The premise was essentially the same spin and move mechanic for each game. In essence, the only real difference each one featured was a different board and characters to play as. However, this was really all a young child needed in the guts of a board game. I mean, let's be honest. How many of us bought those cheap 1980's board games because they had G.I. Joe, Transformers, Star Wars or a hundred other various properties we loved? We didn't care how the game played. We bought it for the box and figured it out from there.

 Marine Paratroop! Game (1965)*Navy Frogman! Game (1965)

 Let's Go Joe (1966)*Capture Hill 79 (1966)

 Combat Infantry! Game (1967)*Dangerous Assignment Game (1976)

Speaking of 80's games. These are the ones I personally saw on toy shelves back in the day. Though I never owned any, I wish I had. Look at all of the fantastic box artwork! How fun would it be to play these today with the actual 3 3/4 inch figures? Um, hello...Lots!

 Adventure Board Game (1982)*Cobra Battle Game (1982)

 Commando Attack Game (1985)*Live the Adventure (1986)

As most of us know, G.I. Joe took a hiatus from the 3 3/4 inch line in the mid to late 90's and returned in the early new millennium. With it came a new board game as well as a repackaged Commando Attack.

 Mission: Cobra H.Q. (2002)*Commando Attack Game (2002)

I also want to give an honorable mention to Combat Fighter - A Rock em' Sock em' Robots type clone which was released in 2002.

 Combat Fighters (2002)

As is the case with most properties, Hasbro doesn't spend a lot of time being inventive with their board games these days. While they do release them here and there, these are typically just repainted classics such as the below Monopoly and Battleship.

It's sad in a way. One of the great things about the 80's (and 60's and 70's I suppose) was walking down a toy isle and seeing all those stacks of generic board games based on cartoons, TV shows or toys from the era. Those days are unfortunately behind us and don't show any signs of returning.

Monopoly (2009)*Battleship (2009)

On secondary markets, board games are big business. They can be a challenge to collect due to pieces being misses and expensive to obtain in mint boxes with all of those said pieces. G.I. Joe is no exception to this rule. While you can find a "cheap" one here and there, the average is going to cost you around $40.00 to $50.00.

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Big Trak (AKA Bigtrak) (Milton Bradley)

Big Trak
Milton Bradley
1979

Milton Bradley doesn't often dabble in the realm of toys. They have their niche carved out in board games and they do it well. As such, they don't necessarily have to stray far from that beaten path.

However, in 1979 they did and in a big way. The company gave the world Big Trak! The fully programmable electronic vehicle! This thing was hot, hot, hot when it first hit markets. Kids loved the concept of being able to essentially drive a remote control vehicle by way of inputting up to sixteen commands at one time on the keypad located at the top of the vehicle.

Even better, because the vehicle incorporated six wheels, it could go virtually anywhere. Simply put it down on the ground, input your choice commands, then watch it go! Keep in mind this was a big deal in the 70's. It was cutting edge technology at its finest and to make it even better it was a toy!

Though they are the exact same vehicle, there were technically two versions of the vehicle released. The black version (above) was released in the USA, while the white version (below) saw a release only in the UK.

You may also notice another slight difference between the two vehicles. The USA version is entitled Big Trak, while the UK version is Bigtrak.

Milton Bradley also produced an add on transport which could be attached to the back of your Big Track. Now not only could you program your vehicle to go anywhere, but you could also fill up the back with a bunch of action figures to take them off on an adventure.

Much like the vehicle itself, the transport came in both white and black - to match with their respective region released vehicle. Again, note the names to distinguish between the USA and UK versions.

US Version

UK Version

Big Trak remains to this day a very popular toy. These days it gets released periodically by company Zeon Limited who are the current rights holders. Unfortunately, these releases are limited to the UK with the most recent version being the 2016 Bigtrak XTR.

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(Family Matters) Urkel (Hasbro, Milton Bradley, Tyco and Colorforms)

(Family Matters) Urkel
Hasbro, Milton Bradley, Tyco and Colorforms
1991

It's funny how things that one would never think become popular would do just that. Originally slated as a one time character on the show Family Matters, Steve Urkel quickly became the show's focus each and every week - To the point that other cast members were pushed from the spotlight, and eventually left the series. Jaleel White portrayed the character as such a loveable nerd that audiences couldn't help but be drawn in to root for him.

During the height of the character's popularity, merchandising became a big money making deal. Toys, games, cereal and t-shirts were all produced based on Urkel. It seemed like every product developer out there wanted a piece of the action.

Today, we're going to look at some of our favorite Urkel related items. Mind you, this is just the tip of the iceberg of the vast amount of products that were produced based on the TV persona.

For our money, Hasbro probably released the absolute best Urkel item to date - The Family Matters Urkel "I Speak My Mind!" doll in 1991. With the pull of a string, Urkel says phrases such as;

"No sweat, my pet!"
"Hee, hee, hee, *snort*"
"Got any cheese?"

And of course you couldn't have a talking Urkel doll if it didn't say, "Did I do that?"

These days the doll is fairly common on secondary markets, and one can obtain one for as little as fifteen to twenty dollars mint in the box. Of course you'll run across the occasional seller here and there that thinks someone will drop fifty to a hundred on it - Which they won't.

"If you want to do the Steve Urkel Dance,
All you have to do is hitch up your pants,
Bend your knees, and stick out your pelvis;
(I'm  telling you, baby, it's better than Elvis)"

Those were some of the obnoxious lyrics to what would soon be dubbed the Do the Urkel dance. The dance steps incorporated all as noted above, and oddly enough it took the world by storm. So much to the point that White portrayed the character in a cross-over episode of Full House where he reprises the dance.

In 1991, game makers Milton Bradley wanted folks at home to join in on doing the Urkel with their fun boardgame of the same name. Though the game involved a lot of doing the Urkel, the main concept was to be the first player to obtain eight Bow Tie cards.

Game play was simple enough. Each player chooses a corner of the board to start in, then a chosen starting player rolls the dice in the designated dice tray. The dice will either land on an arrow, or a pair of glasses. If it lands on an arrow, the player takes the corresponding Bow Tie card that it is pointing to. If it lands on the glasses, the player can choose any of the cards.

Players must then act out the instructions on the cards before claiming them which could include singing the lyrics to Do the Urkel, hiking up their pants, snorting, and more. After claiming their card, the player can continue to roll if they choose or pass to the turn to the next player. Should they continue to roll, if the arrow points to another card, they can claim that card as well by performing out the acts, and can then continue rolling. However, should the dice arrow point in the direction of a card that has already been claimed, all cards are forfeit, and the turn moves on to the next player.

You continue this torture until someone has obtained a set of eight cards, and the game ends.

This next item actually has a rather ironic packaging scheme. It's entitled the Family Matters View-Master 3-D. However, Tyco makes the central focus of the package Urkel, with the rest of the cast confined to a small bubble off to the side of the character. Apparently family doesn't matter.

Tyco produced the View-Master 3-D in 1991 along side several others TGIF lineup shows such as Full House and Blossom. Though we don't remember what story was showcased on the packed in reels, the blister pack was based on the episode where Urkel "rescues" an orangutang from a local research facility, and brings it to the Winslow's home. Now not only could you take in the visual story of Family Matters, but you could do it all in glorious 3D!

Last, but certainly not lease in the realm of Urkel "collectibles" is Colorforms 1991 Urkel! The premise was simple - Take a gloss finished background of Steve Urkel, and adhere peel and stick outfit pieces on top of him. When finished, peel of the pieces again, and put them back in the box or mix and match further combinations. Wow, what a blast of a good time....Zzzzzzz.

Sadly there isn't much more to this one that we can say. It's a pretty straight forward concept.

Though we didn't go into great detail on it, you can also check out the cereal box for Urkel-O's from our post on Cereals of the 80's. With that, we wrap up our look at one of the world's most beloved nerd. Now if only we could get all of the above utilizing the character Booger.

Join us next time when we take a look at Army of Two - 40th Day!

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Milton Bradley Board Games Of The 80's

Chances are, if it was a successful franchise, companies like Milton Bradley and Parker Brothers capitalized on it by flooding the market with board games based on said hits. What kid wouldn't want a board game based on G.I. Joe or The Smurfs?

The games themselves didn't even need to be good. Most kids wanted them just because of the pictures on the box covers. In fact, most of the games played exactly the same as the next - I.E. place a player token at the start section of the board, role the dice, pick up cards when prompted, be the first to reach the end. It was brilliant marketing.

Though there were hundreds of games released in the 80's, below is a collection of some of our personal favorites. Please join us for a little trip down memory lane into the world of classic board games from Milton Bradley.

Those are some of our favorites, but what about you? Use the comment section to tell us about some of your favorite franchised games of the 80's from Milton Bradley.



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