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Parker Brothers - Merlin The Electronic Wizard (1978-1983)
Parker Brothers - Merlin The Electronic Wizard (1978-1983)
Parker Brothers
Merlin the Electronic Wizard
š„First Electronic Game to Sell 1 Million UnitsĀ
The Parker Brothers Merlin, released in 1978, was a rectangular, handheld electronic toy that resembled a red telephone and became a cultural sensation by offering six distinct games in a single portable device. Designed by former NASA scientist Dr. Bob Doyle, it utilized a grid of eleven backlit buttons and a small speaker to deliver classics like Tic-Tac-Toe, Blackjack 13, and a sophisticated Music Machine mode that allowed users to compose and play back their own melodies. Its "intelligence" was powered by a TMS1100 microprocessor, a cutting-edge piece of 1970s technology that enabled the machine to play against a human opponent with varying degrees of skill. By the end of 1980, Merlin had officially become the best-selling toy in the United States, surpassing five million units sold and proving that electronic handhelds were a permanent fixture of the toy industry rather than a passing fad.
Donated by:Ā Tessa M. - North CarolinaĀ
