MB Games

**EnglishPaul** · 06-08-2008, 04:00 AM

From what I remember as a child, MB Games made some of the best board games around.

Last month my daughter got given Travel Guess Who as part of a Mc Happy Meal. This was a great thing for MB as she was hooked, and the happy meal version involved trying to stand up lots of small bits of card in a plastic base and then lay them down in an intentional manner.
Well, within no time my wife and I had got frustrated enough to vow to buy the full size game.

Yesterday we bought it. Today I am now even more frustrated with this version, because at least you expected the happy meal version to be rubbish. But MB decided to update the game: so instead of the solid plastic flipping over bits with the faces stuck on, now they are flimsy plastic frame flipping over bits where you have to push pieces of flimsy card into. The thing is that you push the card in from the direction you face, so as soon as you flip down the flipper, the card falls out!
So tonight I will be glueing a lot of bits of card into flimsy plastic frames!

At what point did MB decide that people would rather pay less for rubbish, instead of more for something that lasts?
In contrast I found my old Connect Four game (also MB). It would have been bought about 81 or 82, and went to school with me many times, and on many holidays. It is perfect. The box is a bit dented from where I used to hit it with drumsticks, but the whole game and box to house it is great. And now my daughter really enjoys it.
So again I ask, when did MB decide that rubbish quality is ok? Even with glue I can't see Guess who lasting a year.

How I wish I had also found my old guess who at my parents house, but alas it is gone. As is any chance of me buying a 'new' MB game!

**sobeit** · 06-08-2008, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnglishPaul

At what point did MB decide that people would rather pay less for rubbish, instead of more for something that lasts?

when they decided to have them made in china. unfortunately thats the way it is.

**EnglishPaul** · 06-08-2008, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sobeit

when they decided to have them made in china. unfortunately thats the way it is.

That's only half of the story. China builds things to specifications. If the same game was built to the same specification, then very little difference should be seen by the consumer. The plastic might be toxic, but all observable things should be the same only at a lower price.
These was not just manufactured in a different place, but also to a completely different (and worse) design.
So pillage of western jobs to one side; at what point did MB decide this was a good idea?

**sobeit** · 06-08-2008, 02:00 PM

large major corporations makes demands upon their suppliers to supply what they need as cheaply as possible so you will get products made at the minimum specifications instead of above specifications as in the past.

I have seen this happen where I worked. Walmart came and said they want their stuff at x amount and if they dont get it at that, they will go elsewhere. In order supply their demands, we had to start sending work to china. Its all within specifications but barely - nothing like it would be if made at the local manufacturing plants.

Peagreen · 06-08-2008, 02:12 PM

Its also true that things are probably better built in china, the only fact is that they are built over there because the same materials are about half the cost over there, and labour is cheaper (if any is even involved these day) im only young but i researched this before. Shows how sad i am really. But its a shame because for instance, when your daughter gets as old as you.. whats she going too remember about fun? (games in general)

starting too realise why the younger generation use playstations etc. Its not our fault! its mb's ;)

peagreen

**beefers1** · 06-08-2008, 08:04 PM

don't blame the third-world laborers, it's just that the standards need to be higher. china isn't to blame for this, either. i happen to know a great many things of excellent quality that were made in china.

Peagreen · 06-09-2008, 02:08 AM

Im not blaming china, im simply saying they could make them better over there or the same. But how ever they make them there, they will be made cheaper. But they will always too be MB's spec and budget. + for the laborers, i didnt mention on blaming them.

**beefers1** · 06-09-2008, 02:16 AM

true, all companies nowadays want to do is just make as much money as possible, and look for any way possible to cut costs.

**EnglishPaul** · 06-09-2008, 03:18 AM

But when they become known for flimsy stuff... Only the competitors win.
Its like get a quick buck, bodge it and scarper business plan.

06-08-2008, 04:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
EnglishPaul Still no avatar Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sheffield Posts: 1,314 OS: XP SP2 Blog Entries: 9	MB Games From what I remember as a child, MB Games made some of the best board games around. Last month my daughter got given Travel Guess Who as part of a Mc Happy Meal. This was a great thing for MB as she was hooked, and the happy meal version involved trying to stand up lots of small bits of card in a plastic base and then lay them down in an intentional manner. Well, within no time my wife and I had got frustrated enough to vow to buy the full size game. Yesterday we bought it. Today I am now even more frustrated with this version, because at least you expected the happy meal version to be rubbish. But MB decided to update the game: so instead of the solid plastic flipping over bits with the faces stuck on, now they are flimsy plastic frame flipping over bits where you have to push pieces of flimsy card into. The thing is that you push the card in from the direction you face, so as soon as you flip down the flipper, the card falls out! So tonight I will be glueing a lot of bits of card into flimsy plastic frames! At what point did MB decide that people would rather pay less for rubbish, instead of more for something that lasts? In contrast I found my old Connect Four game (also MB). It would have been bought about 81 or 82, and went to school with me many times, and on many holidays. It is perfect. The box is a bit dented from where I used to hit it with drumsticks, but the whole game and box to house it is great. And now my daughter really enjoys it. So again I ask, when did MB decide that rubbish quality is ok? Even with glue I can't see Guess who lasting a year. How I wish I had also found my old guess who at my parents house, but alas it is gone. As is any chance of me buying a 'new' MB game! Last edited by EnglishPaul; 06-08-2008 at 04:02 AM.

06-08-2008, 02:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 7,433 OS: windows/linux	Re: MB Games large major corporations makes demands upon their suppliers to supply what they need as cheaply as possible so you will get products made at the minimum specifications instead of above specifications as in the past. I have seen this happen where I worked. Walmart came and said they want their stuff at x amount and if they dont get it at that, they will go elsewhere. In order supply their demands, we had to start sending work to china. Its all within specifications but barely - nothing like it would be if made at the local manufacturing plants. __________________ there's been global warming since the ice age

06-08-2008, 02:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Peagreen Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: lancashire Posts: 82 OS: Windows XP SP2	Re: MB Games Its also true that things are probably better built in china, the only fact is that they are built over there because the same materials are about half the cost over there, and labour is cheaper (if any is even involved these day) im only young but i researched this before. Shows how sad i am really. But its a shame because for instance, when your daughter gets as old as you.. whats she going too remember about fun? (games in general) starting too realise why the younger generation use playstations etc. Its not our fault! its mb's ;) peagreen

06-08-2008, 08:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
beefers1 Below is my avatar Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Greater Vancouver area, BC, Canada Posts: 4,036 OS: Win XP Pro SP2 My System Blog Entries: 13	Re: MB Games don't blame the third-world laborers, it's just that the standards need to be higher. china isn't to blame for this, either. i happen to know a great many things of excellent quality that were made in china. __________________

06-09-2008, 02:08 AM	#7 (permalink)
Peagreen Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: lancashire Posts: 82 OS: Windows XP SP2	Re: MB Games Im not blaming china, im simply saying they could make them better over there or the same. But how ever they make them there, they will be made cheaper. But they will always too be MB's spec and budget. + for the laborers, i didnt mention on blaming them.

06-09-2008, 02:16 AM	#8 (permalink)
beefers1 Below is my avatar Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Greater Vancouver area, BC, Canada Posts: 4,036 OS: Win XP Pro SP2 My System Blog Entries: 13	Re: MB Games true, all companies nowadays want to do is just make as much money as possible, and look for any way possible to cut costs. __________________

06-09-2008, 03:18 AM	#9 (permalink)
EnglishPaul Still no avatar Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sheffield Posts: 1,314 OS: XP SP2 Blog Entries: 9	Re: MB Games But when they become known for flimsy stuff... Only the competitors win. Its like get a quick buck, bodge it and scarper business plan. Last edited by EnglishPaul; 06-09-2008 at 03:19 AM.