Pictionary (1985)
Pictionary
Pictionary is a board game that was invented by a young waiter named Rob Angel in 1981. The game was inspired by a version of “charades on paper” that Angel and his roommates played during their game nights. Angel realized that the concept would make a good board game and even came up with a name: Pictionary, which he derived from a Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary that he used to think of new words during play. In 1984, Angel’s mother sent him a care package that included Trivial Pursuit, which inspired Angel to launch Pictionary. Angel, along with his partners, licensed Pictionary to Western Publishing, and Hasbro purchased the rights in 1994 after acquiring the games business of Western Publishing. Mattel acquired ownership of Pictionary in 2001.
Why is Pictionary Popular?
Since its launch, Pictionary has sold over 38 million copies in 60 countries, making it one of the bestselling board games in the world. The game has also been licensed by popular TV shows and has a video game version for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Pictionary is popular because it is a fun and engaging game that can be played by people of all ages. It is a great way to spend time with friends and family, and it encourages creativity and imagination.
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