Hungry Hungry Hippos
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Hungry Hungry Hippos is a board game made for young children by Hasbro of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, under the brand of its subsidiary, Milton Bradley.
Game play
The game is playable by two to four players and is recommended by the manufacturer for children ages 3–6. It is not uncommon to see it played by nostalgic adults or by parents with their children. The object of the game is to use the lever on the back of a player's hippopotamus to consume as many of the twenty white marbles on the playing field as possible. Play ends when all of the marbles have been "eaten" by the hippos. The player who has captured the most marbles wins.
The shaking of the lightweight playing field during play, particularly when children are pounding on the levers to make their hippos capture marbles, introduces a strong random element in the game. Winning is often a matter of pure luck and not of skill.
The hippos are named Henry, Harry, Homer, and Happy. The names of the hippos can be found on stickers next to each hippo on the playing field.
Similar children's games popular in the U.S. include Don't Break the Ice, Don't Spill the Beans, and Ants in the Pants. However, Hungry Hungry Hippos is the only one of these with lasting pop culture status.
Australian Pre-School Ban
In January 2006, a Melbourne pre-school banned the popular children’s game as part of a campaign to tackle the growing problem of childhood obesity. According to Melbourne’s The Age newspaper, the administrative staff of Jane Cox Pre-School felt the game promoted poor self image, greed and aggressive play. Whilst health groups across the state largely applauded the school’s action, The Age later reported that the school had decided to reverse its decision in light of numerous complaints from parents.
Pop culture
Hungry Hungry Hippos has become a part of American pop culture. Homer Simpson has mentioned this game twice on the cartoon The Simpsons, and it is referenced in a third episode that features an apparently similar game, "Ravenous Ravenous Rhinos." It was also mentioned in the film Donnie Darko. Hungry Hungry Hippos were also part of segement in the Second Season of Robot Chicken in which the Hungry Hungry Hippos were made into an action packed movie.
External links
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