If you've ever played normal pick up sticks, you will know how the game is played. For those of you who haven't here are the rules: 1. Choose a player who gathers the sticks together in their hands holds them on a surface (preferably rough so they don't roll too far) and lets go. 2. Players take it in turns to remove sticks from the pile. A turn ends when the player accidentally moves a stick other than the one that they are removing. (When this happens you move onto the next player.) 3. Players continue in turn until all the sticks are removed. 4. The scores are then calculated. Players earn points for each stick removed, dependent on the colour of the stick. The person with the highest score wins.
Normal pick up sticks is played with sticks of about 6 inches long, and usually inside. The difference with Giant Pick Up Sticks is that the sticks are 3 feet long, and designed to be used outside on a lawn. This makes the game quite different, since they do not roll so far when dropped and the technique for removing sticks from the pile involves steadiness of the hands rather than the fingers.
Giant Pick Up Sticks is a fun game for all the family. It is ideal for summer family barbecues as it is possible for everyone to get involved. Having said that, it can cause arguments, particularly between small children, due to the fact that judgement must be used in deciding whether or not the player has moved a stick or not. Because of this it is very advisable to appoint a non-playing judge (one of the adults!). This also makes it inadvisable (depending on the children of course) to allow the children to play alone. Particularly because the 3 foot length pieces of wood can so easily transform into weapons!!
The main gripe I have with this product is the price. From outdoortoysdirect.co.uk the game, consisting of 30 3 foot lengths of wood in a cardboard tube, will set you back £23. This seems a lot. However, the simplicity of design of the game does mean that it will probably be extrememly long lasting (haven't owned it for sufficiently long to say from experience).
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Oh boy, I could just see the chaos that an argument over this could cause. LOL. If I'd had this as a kid though I'd probably have used it to build an imaginary showjumping course. *G*
floatingclouds 26.03.2004 21:40
I use to love this game, never played the giant version though (YET)...
patriciat 26.03.2004 12:48
They'd probably end up on the barbeque in our house. Lots of bad losers. Pat.t