KerPlunk (game) facts for kids
KerPlunk is a fun game for kids. It was invented by Eddy Goldfarb and Rene Soriano. The Ideal Toy Company first sold it in 1967. The game has a clear plastic tube. It also has many plastic sticks called straws. There are usually 26 to 30 straws in different colors. You also get lots of marbles.
The bottom of the tube has four trays. The straws go through holes in the middle. They make a criss-cross pattern. The marbles sit on top of this pattern. The game's name, KerPlunk, sounds like the marbles falling. This is called an onomatopoeic name, meaning the word sounds like what it describes.
How to Play KerPlunk
Playing KerPlunk is easy and exciting. First, turn the tube so a hole at the bottom lines up with your tray. Players then take turns removing one straw from the tube. The goal is to remove a straw without letting too many marbles fall.
Once you touch a straw, you must pull it out. Be careful! If marbles fall, they go into your tray. The player who collects the fewest dropped marbles wins the game. It's all about skill and a little bit of luck!
Who Makes KerPlunk?
Today, different companies make KerPlunk around the world. In the UK, Hasbro makes the game. It used to be made by the Milton Bradley Company. In the USA, Mattel sells KerPlunk.
Different Versions of KerPlunk
Over the years, KerPlunk has changed a bit. The original US game had a yellow tube. Modern US versions often have pink or blue tubes. The current UK version uses red and green colors. It also includes a special yellow marble called 'the golden ball'. This ball can change a player's score by adding or taking away 5 marbles.
There are also fun themed versions. One is inspired by the Toy Story movies. It has a rocket ship tube and Little Green Men figures instead of marbles. Another version, called KerPlunk Game to Go, has a tube that folds up. This makes it easy to take with you.
A newer game called KerPlunk 2 has also been released. The basic rules are the same. However, the marbles in KerPlunk 2 are colored. After they fall, they spiral down a path, like in a gumball machine. This version also has flashing lights and sounds.
More Fun Facts
- Giant Ker Plunk is a huge version of the game used for events.
