Operation
Milton Bradley
- Publisher
- Milton Bradley
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Where it came from
The game Operation was conceived in 1964 by John Spinello, an industrial design student at the University of Illinois who sold the prototype to Milton Bradley for a modest sum. The concept was inspired by an electric shock game Spinello had previously designed, refined into a tabletop experience that required steady hands and concentration. It was officially released to the public in 1965, quickly becoming a staple of the American toy market due to its unique combination of mechanical feedback and lighthearted medical roleplay.
The iconic design, featuring the red-nosed patient known as Cavity Sam, was crafted to be both visually striking and functionally accessible for children. The gameplay revolves around a battery-operated circuit where the game board’s metal edges trigger a buzzer and a light when touched by the tweezers. While initial reception was cautious due to the novelty of the mechanism, the game proved a commercial success, cementing its status as an enduring classic in the Milton Bradley catalog for over half a century.
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About Operation
Operation is a game in the Board Games catalog on collecto.rs. Milton Bradley. Catalog data is sourced from Wikidata. No public games collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
Who publishes Operation?
Operation is published by Milton Bradley.
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