Wednesday, July 04, 2012

Collectible of the Week: The Six Million Dollar Man: A Game By Parker Brothers (1975)








I was just five years old during “Bionic Mania” that all-too-short a span in the 1970s when The Six Million Dollar Man (1974 -1978) and his spin-off, The Bionic Woman (1976 – 1978) reigned supreme on television, and at toy stores thanks to the efforts of Kenner and Parker Brothers.

Not long ago, my parents found a fun little reminder of those days in the mid-1970s at a local yard sale: The Six Million Dollar Man board game from Parker Brothers, manufactured in 1975. 

The back of the box spells out the game’s specifics:

“Four bionic men each claim to have Steve Austin’s powers.  Your job is to prove that YOU ARE THE REAL SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN.

The Computer Spinner reads out your moves and gives you the power to handle assignments for NASA, INTERPOL, the CIA and the Defense Department.  You’ll take part in dangerous missions – encountering imposters and waging Bionic Battles.

Each assignment will make you stronger.  And the stronger you become the faster you’ll move around the board and back to the Bionic Research Lab where you’ll win the game.

On the box front, you can see images from the four scenarios you get to explore in the game: “Steve Austin rescues stranded astronaut,” “Steve Austin prevents nuclear blackmail attempt,” “Steve Austin knocks out International Crime Ring” and “Steve Austin locates underwater missile network.”

Unfortunately, there is not a scenario called Steve Austin fights Bionic Big Foot.

Anyway, the first player to complete all four assignments proves that he’s the real Six Million Dollar Man.  Bionic battles ensue when a “player lands on a space which is occupied by another player.” 

Where many games from this era seem to have nothing to do with the TV series they are related to, this game’s description actually sounds like it could be a Six Million Dollar Man plot-line.  I can just see Oscar Goldman (Richard Anderson) now, informing an alarmed Colonel Austin (Lee Majors) that three bionic imposters have been spotted all over the globe…and he’s got to stop them.

7 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:06 AM

    Fantastic, I have that game too!
    You should really go back and review some of the old episodes, from both shows. I think you would find a lot of the stories hold up, especially if you were a fan of them. Watch the first pilot movie for Six Mill, very well done, and quite different from the rest of the series. I really feel $6 Million Dollar Man, was one of the more "realistic" super hero/spy/action shows of any era. Lee Majors was perfect for the role! Also, the opening sequence is still the best title intro to any series!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anonymous,

      I plan to review some episodes soon, particularly my favorite 6MillMan episode...the ones involving Sasquatch.

      I re-watched The Bionic Woman Season Two recently, and it held up very well, so I'm not surprised that the same is true for the Lee Majors program.

      Thanks for a great comment,

      best,
      John

      Delete
  2. Anonymous3:47 PM

    John the Six Million Dollar Man was one of my boyhood favorite series of the 1970s. This game I received as a gift in ‘75 and enjoyed it because it was true to the series.

    SGB

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi SGB:

      It was one of my favorite series as well. I played with the toys, watched the show, read the books, built the models...you name it! My favorite episodes were the ones with Sasquatch and the Space Probe...

      I had this game, and another, called Bionic Crisis.

      Next week in this space, I feature my Eagle One!

      Happy July 4th, SGB!

      best,
      John

      Delete
  3. Anonymous3:15 PM

    Six Million Dollar Man was a awesome show!! You had NASA, Jets, Helicopters, Guns, Tanks, Villians, Bigfoot, Robots, Probes, etc... I really didn't care much for the Bionic Woman.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous10:08 AM

    I had this game also, along with the comic books, coloring books, bubble gum cards and of course the Six Million Dollar Man action figure, and now I have the DVD collection. It was great to be able to finally throw away my VHS tapes that I had recorded myself all those years ago. It's safe to say that I am Lee Majors biggest fan.

    Lisaloves6mill.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I found this game in the attic. It is in very good condition despite Texas' brutal heat and time in the attic. How much would one of these games sell for now a day.

    ReplyDelete

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