Pop-up Pirate

Pop-Up Pirate is a popular luck-based game for children manufactured by Tomy. It originated in Japan in 1975 under the name Kurohige Kiki Ippatsu (黒ひげ危機一発, Lit. "Blackbeard in Danger") and has seen many iterations over the years.

Pop-up Pirate
Manufacturer(s)Tomy
Players2-4 players
Age range3+
Skill(s) requiredLuck

Rules

The pirate is placed into a spring-loaded barrel and rotated to randomize the unlucky slot. Players must take it in turns to insert plastic swords into slots in the side of the barrel. If a player inserts the sword into a specific slot (which changes randomly every time the game is played), the pirate is launched out of the barrel and the player is eliminated. The last player remaining after all others have been eliminated wins.

Educational value

According to Dominic Wyse, a professor of early childhood and primary education at University College London, the game improves children's motor skills, as well as in common with other games promoting turn-taking and having fun together with others.[1]

Variations
Themed version
Alternate versions replacing the pirate with other subjects have been released. One of the earliest was a Mario-themed version released exclusively in Japan to advertise the game Super Mario World.[2] Many versions followed in Japan, including Hard Gay, Monkey D. Luffy, The Good Dinosaur, a Buzz Lightyear-themed version to promote Toy Story 4, and many others replacing the pirate with different characters. One of the first variations of these to be released in America was a Darth Vader-themed version called Pop Up Darth Vader.[3] Other variations of the game include a Frozen and a Despicable Me version.[4]
Pop-up Pirate Treasure Island
A variation of Pop-up Pirate, Treasure Island adds board game elements by having players race to be the first person to collect 6 gold coins from a treasure chest Blackbeard is guarding. Only one key opens the treasure chest though.[5]

Video game
Party Fun Pirate
Pop-up Pirate!
Publisher(s)Tomy
Platform(s)Wii (WiiWare)
Release
  • JP: November 25, 2008
  • NA: April 13, 2009
  • EU: February 13, 2009
Genre(s)Other
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer

Tomy has also released a video game version of Pop-up Pirate.[6] Available as a WiiWare game, it was released in Japan on November 25, 2008,[7] and in Europe on February 13, 2009. The North America version is titled as Party Fun Pirate, which was released on April 13, 2009.

The game is essentially a digital version of the game, but also includes a single player logic puzzle mode. Players are also able to replace the pirate with one of their own Miis.[8]

References
  1. Dominic Wyse, How to Help Your Child Succeed at School. Pearson, 2007. p 31.
  2. "Super Mario World Pop-Up Pirate". Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  3. "Pop Up Darth Vader packaging". Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  4. "Pop-Up Pirate - Don't let it pop!". 90nostalgia. 2019-07-20. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
  5. Treasure Island
  6. WiiWare-World: Pop-Up-Pirate! Upcoming game
  7. http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/wiiware/wkkj/index.html
  8. Pop-Up Pirate Springing On WiiWare Next Week
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