The Grape Escape

Infobox_Game
title =The Grape Escape
subtitle =
image_link =
image_caption = Players make their way around the playing board hopefully avoiding obstacles.
designer =
illustrator =
publisher = Parker Brothers
players = 2–4
ages = 5+
setup_time = 3-7 minutes
playing_time = 20 minutes
random_chance = High (die rolling)
footnotes =
bggid = 8636
bggxrefs =

The Grape Escape was a board game released in 1992 by Parker Brothers (now Hasbro) and licensed by Rehtmeyer Inc. [ [http://www.toysngames.com/licensing/index.htm Rehtmeyer, Inc. // Licensing // Toy Experts Game Experts Board Game Manufacturing Prototyping Toy Manufacturing ] ] . The game was intended to entertain younger audiences of 5+ years old [http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/8636 Grape Escape, The | BoardGameGeek ] ] . The game was short lived having only been available for one year. The game consisted of playing pieces constructed of various colored "Grape Goop" (Play-Dohhttp://www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/Grape_Escape.pdf] ) that were fashioned after grape-like action figures. Game play consisted of maneuvering clay playing pieces through several plastic obstacles on a board that were aimed to physically disfigure or decapitate the playing piece; destroying the "Grape Goop" figure often resulted in losing the game, but sometimes had the affected player re-mold their "Grape Goop" figure using one of the included grape mold templates and returning to the start space. "Some" obstacles included: crank/rubber band operated scissors, steam roller, and grape stomping boot activated by lever and rubber band. Some speculate that the game was discontinued early not only from moderate sales but also because it promoted violent behavior in children.Fact|date=May 2008

Game Play

Each player rolls the die in turn. They then move their grape the number of conveyor belt spaces indicated. The hazard stations are counted as a place as well. The "Grape Leap" roll allows the player to jump ahead one space of the grape in the lead. If a player rolls "Turn Crank" they can operate the apparatus and take out any grape on one of the four stations. Should a player land on the same place as an opponent's grape, that grape is pushed to the next hazard station. The first grape to reach the finish wins.

Advertising

The Grape Escape was advertised primarily through television commercials aired during children's television programs. The commercials consisted of elaborately animated figures being violently crushed and decapitated while little children played the game. Aside from the animations and regular game play, the television advertisements played a Grape Escape theme song written to sound like the famous Italian song Funiculì, Funiculà except with modified lyrics [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlrx2tnSw0U YouTube - Grape Escape ] ] .

Game Factoids

*The game required moderate adult assembly; most of the game contraptions arrived on plastic part trees that required the assembler to extrapolate the parts from the plastic frame.

*Many times the clay figures were too large to become properly decapitated and deformed by the torture devices, this occasionally caused children to force parts resulting in broken game components or personal injury.

*Tag Line: The Squish 'Em, Squash 'Em, Squoosh 'Em Game

*Ultimate Game Goal: Escape the Jam Factory!
*Other Known Names(unique to regional distribution areas): "Druivenfuif" and "Bravo Traube"

References