I was doing some online Christmas shopping today and came across the original Simon game from Milton Bradley. Wow, was that a walk down memory lane! I would have to say that Simon was one of my favorite games as a child. My friends and I played it for hours. I remember always getting that giddy, nervous feeling when we had a long game going and I didn't want to be the one to blow it. Even though we were supposed to be playing against each other, most of the time we played the Simon Game as a team to see how long we could go.

There are so many complicated games on the market today including video games, online games and handheld games. I haven't the slightest idea how to play most of them. So, when I see a game like Simon, it is just so refreshing. It is amazing how such a simple game could provide hours and hours of enjoyment. My friends and I never tired of it.

The Simon Game is a game of memory. A sequence is played out and players have to copy that sequence. There are different speeds and skill levels with this game, so anyone can play it.

I have decided to purchase one of these Simon games for my kids this Christmas. I think it is going to be lots of fun sharing this vintage toy with my children. I hope they like the game as much as I do. I just can't wait to get my hands on those bright, colorful buttons. They just don't make games like this anymore. What a shame. Simon is a game that never gets old regardless of how many years have gone by. Simon was more than just a game. It was a pop culture symbol of the 1980's.

Simon's a computer, Simon has a brain, you either do what Simon says or else go down the drain.

• Four large buttons; yellow, red, green and blue
• Each button has a different tone. Red (A-Note), Green (A-note octave higher than Red), Blue (D-note) and Yellow (G-note)
• The game lights these buttons in a sequence
• Players must hit the buttons in the same sequence
• Game play ends when a player makes a mistake or when the player wins
• Simon Says Game: Single Player; basic game as described above
• Player Says Game: Players make their own game sequence
• Choose Your Color: Multi-player game which each play chooses a color or colors. Players must only press their assigned color. If they hit an incorrect color, it is then removed from the sequence. This continues until there is one color left and a winner.

• Simon Game was invented by Ralph H. Baer and Howard J. Morrison
• Game programming was done by Lenny Cope
• Game was manufactured by Milton Bradley
• Simon Game was launched in 1978 at Studio 54 in New York City
• The Simon Game was named after the childhood game Simon Says
• Game play was based on the unsuccessful Atari Touch Me Arcade Game
• Joel Berger, age 14, of Leawood, Kansas, was crowned "World's Best Simon2 Player" and set a Guinness World Record during the SIMON 25th Anniversary Championship Playoff at Hasbro Games in East Longmeadow, Mass. With today's win, Joel will go down in Guinness World Record history for playing the longest game of SIMON ever recorded - 14 SIMON sequences.

KaptainMyke's carries a large selection of Novelty Simon Game Merchandise.

The design features a very bright, lit up vintage Simon game with the text "80's" in the center of the game.

Some of the items they offer include: key chains, buttons, shirts, sweatshirts, mouse pads, stickers, mugs, aprons, tote bags, magnets, cards, pet shirts, hats and ties.

Due to the success and instant popularity of Milton Bradley's Simon Game, many copy cat games were introduced in an attempt to profit from this success. Some of the Simon copy cat games include:

1974 & 1978 Atari Touch Me Game:
The original Touch Me game was released in 1974, but was unsuccessful. This game is where the idea came from for the Simon Game. This game was re-released in 1978 as Atari's first and only handheld game.

1979 Einstein Game by Castle:
The idea of the game is for one or more players to try to match Einstein’s play. Einstein is a compact unit which features four colored squares (yellow, blue, green, and red). After choosing one of the four possible skill levels, the player(s) then chooses the number of random sequences they want to match. You can choose 9, 12, 20, or 32. Once you press start, Einstein begins by playing the first square to be matched. The game builds and the sequences become more complex the longer you play.

1980 Fabulous Fred by Mego:
Fabulous Fred is an electronic game machine that features 10 different games: Electronic Organ, Music Machine, What's That Song, Memory Game, Mind Benders, Space Attack, Submarine Hunt, Catch the Comet, Baseball and Roulette.

1988 Copy Cat by Tiger Electronics
Another Simon type game which has several variations. Repeat the sequence of lights & sounds. Pay attention! Copy Cat goes faster & faster. See how long you can remember the sequence!

1999 Star Wars Simon Game:
An electronic space battle game which includes four games; Star Wars Simon, Star Wars Counterattack, Star Wars Challenge and Star Wars Ultimate.