Hasbro’s OPERATION as a 1998 LCD Game? | BZZZzzzzzzztt!
Operation is a battery-operated game of physical skill that tests players’ hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. The game’s prototype was invented in 1964 by University of Illinois industrial-design student John Spinello, who sold his rights to renowned toy designer Marvin Glass for $500 and the promise of a job upon graduation, which was not fulfilled.
Thirty-plus years later, in 1998, Hasbro published this handheld variant to bring the popular board game into the video game space. How did they do?
#handheld #vintage #retrogaming #genxgrownup
– LINKS
@RetroZoltan
Crazy 8 Handhelds Part II » https://youtu.be/obSeHa1d7xk
Crazy 8 Handhelds Part I » https://youtu.be/cy3pQHTiLvw
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– CHAPTERS
00:00 Operation Collab
01:35 Package & Contents
04:04 Hardware Tour
05:05 Level 1
06:11 Level 2
06:37 Level 3
08:16 Level 5
09:42 Level 6
10:18 Summary
@rockmanx2002
May 9, 2026 at 7:45 pm
Under any other name, this would've probably been fine. You mentioned its similarity to Fantastic Voyage on the 2600, and I wonder if this game would be better suited as an Atari 2600 game.
@justinpenn9250
May 9, 2026 at 7:45 pm
I think they could have packaged it better!
@gregwesson8815
May 9, 2026 at 7:45 pm
On the Arcade 1up Game table, operation functions as a maze. You have to drag your tweezers through the intestines with your finger not touching the sides. You get three tries. Not a bad implementation for a touchscreen version.
@jamesanthony8438
May 9, 2026 at 7:45 pm
I had Operation as a video game in the 80's on the 2600.
It was from 20th Century Fox Games and was called "M*A*S*H" =)
@ncf1
May 9, 2026 at 7:45 pm
I remember this, the original game, when I was a kid I wanted it so badly I made passing mention to my parents how I wanted to be a doctor or a surgeon and so thinking they'd get me on the medical track went and bought it for me. I ended up in a factory crushing biscuits all day long but thats not the point – I GOT THE GAME. I was a happy kid!
@oaf-77
May 9, 2026 at 7:45 pm
i dont know what i was expecting, maybe something that incorporated the money scoring of the original game. maybe a 2 player mode.
if they wanted to make a finesse game they could have the timer style play like video golf games.
@binkman853
May 9, 2026 at 7:45 pm
Interesting. Not Operation but ok. Thanks
@tedadamgreen
May 9, 2026 at 7:45 pm
I’ve often seen this and wondered how it played, so thanks for answering that … not great but not bad either!
Thanks Jon 👊🏻🕹️😎📺PLP-on
Looking forward to the RetroZoltan video too
@Inadvisablescience
May 9, 2026 at 7:45 pm
Reminds me of "Life Force' if it were an LCD game
@PuertoGeekan
May 9, 2026 at 7:45 pm
I guess they could've given it an alternate title, like "Operation: Microsurgery!" or something like that. The gameplay reminds me of the vertical screens in "Vanguard."
@danielbowden6330
May 9, 2026 at 7:45 pm
Cauliflower ear would have been a good addition too.
@james42519
May 9, 2026 at 7:45 pm
Why does.everyone open stuff like this? Found out as a kid years ago if you cut at edges where it is sealed and leave bottom attached you can fold it open and get stuff out but can put stuff back if you want and it looks almost like didn't open it.
@mikesilva3868
May 9, 2026 at 7:45 pm
Interesting 😊
@hiddentrack80
May 9, 2026 at 7:45 pm
This thing is fine, especially if they were trying to put out a device for the kids whose parents wouldn't buy something like a GI Joe lcd game because it was too violent.
@tubewatcher155
May 9, 2026 at 7:45 pm
What is it with Gen xers and our insatiable need for high stress games? Operation, perfection, don't break the ice.
@cryptocoffee13
May 9, 2026 at 7:45 pm
For a 90's little gadget, not bad at all.
@zockeromi1970
May 9, 2026 at 7:45 pm
totally awesome, i never know that existed
Comments are closed.