Marketed by Parker Brothers Canada in 1975, the bilingual game pictured above was donated to the Museum in 1991. The game was based upon the scifi-adventure television show telecast from 1974 through 1978. Elements of the show were derived from the book Cyborg by Martin Caidin.
The principal in the show (pictured on the box) was Steve Austin (Lee Majors), a U.S. astronaut who was severely injured while testing a "moon landing craft". To save his life, the "government" decided to try an operation in which his damaged body parts would be replaced by atomic-powered electro-mechanical devices. These parts gave Steve superhuman powers.
In the second year of the show, Jaime Sommers (Lindsay Wagner) was introduced as Steve's love interest. The photograph at the right is of the Parker Brothers game which was offered in 1976 and donated to the Museum in 1991. In the show Jaime was an athletic tennis pro who became severely injured in a sky-diving accident. Like Steve, she was reconstructed with bionic body parts. Eventually, The Bionic Woman was "spun off" as a separate television show which was telecast from 1976 through 1978.
A number of the same characters appeared on both shows (played by the same actors) and from time to time both Majors and Wagner were featured on each other's show assisting each other in undertaking dangerous missions for the "government".
The photograph
on the left is the game board from the Six Million Dollar Man Game.
It is a simple "tract" game with four playing areas. Based upon the content of the television show, it offered players an opportunity to engage in some of "the Man's" missions. Note for example that number 1 (lower right in the photograph) concerns outer space, number 4 (upper right) concerns under sea.
One of the problems both Steve and Jamie faced was a "drain" on their atomic power as they engaged in missions. Consequently, they periodically were required to have critical "recharging". There are areas on the game board track which offer players this opportunity.
In addition to game markers and printed instructions, there are movement constraints printed along the track which impede a player's completing a "mission". These impediments are typical of the type the characters experienced on the television show.
Last update May 24, 2010