HISTORY

In 1966, the Milton Bradley Company released a new game called TWISTER. It was the first game that used players’ bodies as playing pieces, requiring them to bend and stretch in challenging positions. The object of the game was to outmaneuver your opponents by placing your hands and feet on the colored circles as directed by the spinner. To begin, each player places one foot on a yellow circle and the other foot on a blue circle that are nearest their TWISTER end. Spin the spinner to find out if you move a hand or foot and to which color. But watch out! Anyone who falls, or lets an elbow or a knee touch the mat, is out of the game. The winner is the last player who is able to stay balanced on the mat.

Milton Bradley had low expectations for TWISTER’s success and at first, game sales was slow. But an appearance on the “Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson changed everything. On May 3, 1966 Carson played a game of TWISTER with his guest for that evening, Eva Gabor. The audience went wild with laughter as the two celebrities stretched their bodies into unusual positions, challenging each other’s dexterity. The sight of Johnny sprawled on the mat with Eva Gabor sent Americans rushing to stores to buy their own TWISTER. Later that year, 3 million copies of the game were sold to households across America. Milton Bradley had a winner on their hands!

TWISTER’s popularity continues today with an estimated 65 million people worldwide having played the game. Due to popular demand, new and exciting versions of TWISTER have been introduced in recent years that capture the same spirit of laugh-out-loud fun!

In 2003, Milton Bradley introduced TWISTER MOVES, a game that combined TWISTER with dancing and lots of music. Playing this game is challenging and fun. Using a color-coded dance mat and TWISTER MOVES CDs, players are challenged by a virtual DJ to follow the dance moves that are called out. Plus it’s portable - when you're done, pack it up and take it with you to a friend's house, a party, or wherever you’re going.

In 2006, the makers of TWISTER took the concept of TWISTER, dancing, and music one step further, announcing the release of TWISTER DANCE DVD. Instead of following voice commands by a virtual DJ, players engage with a TV-based dance coach, demonstrating 40 different dance moves set to music. Besides providing step-by-step dance instructions, TWISTER DANCE DVD challenges kids to create their own dance routines set in four different locations: Aqua Beach, Downtown, Center Stage, and TWISTER dance Club.

This year TWISTER takes the fun outside with the TWISTER OUTDOORS family of games. This exciting new line of games from Milton Bradley includes TWISTER SCRAM, TWISTER TAKE OUT, and TWISTER DODGEBALL. Each game encourages free form fun (running, jumping, ducking, and dodging) that is best enjoyed outdoors! Click to learn more about TWISTER OUTDOORS now!