Retro Tech: Merlin Hand Held Games Machine

Merlin

Back in the days when electronic bleeps and parps were the hallmark of a sophisticated gadget, to be the owner of a Merlin hand-held games machine really marked you out as a playground pioneer.

From Tic-Tac-Toe to Music Machine (‘Teach Merlin a tune and Merlin plays it back!’ the box claimed over-excitedly), the games were simplistic, though strangely compelling.

The toy took six AA batteries, which lasted about two hours. Made by Parker Brothers and created by Bob Doyle, a Harvard PhD and inventor who had previously worked with Nasa, Merlin was an astonishing success worldwide, selling more than five million units on its first run.

In 1995 Parker Brothers reissued the toy as ‘Merlin: the 10th Quest’, bringing its delights to a whole new generation. Nowadays originals pop up regularly on eBay, and several websites host ‘virtual Merlins’, where you can try to beat your best childhood scores.

Posted on December 5, 2009 | Filed Under Tech