Released in 1981 by Parker Brothers, the Strawberry Shortcake Berry-Go-Round game appealed to young fans of the whimsical characters first created by American Greetings in the 1970s.
The colour-matching game challenged players to acquire the characters represented on their game boards in an effort to be the first to complete their board. No reading was required during gameplay, making it a great option for young players.
GAMEPLAY
Characters from the franchise represented in the game included Strawberry Shortcake, Orange Blossom, Meringue Pie, Huckleberry Pie, and Purple Pieman.
The white plastic carousel was placed on a green base with four arms. Red plastic strawberries were placed on the end of each arm, each oriented towards a player.
Cards illustrated with each of the five characters were placed on the plastic carousel. Players gave the carousel a spin using the strawberry-topped handle in the middle of the wheel. Players could let the carousel stop on its own or use the strawberry stopper in front of them to force a stop in hopes that the character card in front of them matched one of the cards needed on their game board.
An extra challenge was added thanks to Purple Pieman. This character could only be matched as the final character on a player’s card.
Accommodations were made for younger players: the instructions indicated that Purple Pieman could be captured at any point in the game, making for a less frustrating experience for potentially impatient youngsters.
IN THE BOX
A complete game included a berry-go-round carousel and base, four game boards, four strawberry stoppers, and 28 character cards. Instructions for the game were included on a printed insert.
COLLECTOR CONSIDERATIONS
As a collectible, the game appeals to fans and collectors of the original Strawberryland characters. Over time, the characters included in the franchise have been reinterpreted for new audiences and don’t have the same look and appeal to enthusiasts of the original artwork. WildBrain currently holds the license for the Strawberry Shortcake brand.
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