Submitted by Jeff H

Marbles were a versatile toy, whether they were used for games or just collecting. Personally, I really enjoyed building marble mazes (the wood blocks were far superior to the plastic sets). What did you use marbles for as a kid?

This is also really interesting — how marbles are made.

Submitted and Written by Rachael G

I never knew what it was when I played it – just a great time outdoors. I recently went to a laser tag arena and quickly remembered playing this as a kid. It was basically some guns and a vest you wore – I mean this was honest to goodness laser tag at home!

Update: Featured Comment

regularg0nz0 sez:

WoW (Worlds of Wonder) Lazer Tag sets were the real epic win. Cool looking pistols, sensors, helmets, caps, and a giant-ass rifle that even hold up today.

Unfortunately, too many stupid kids (aka: ONE!) broke into school buildings to play and pointed the gun at a deputy Sheriff who had a shotgun at the ready…

That was the end of all cool realistic gun-shaped toys in the US.

I can’t stand all the bright orange vaguely gun-shaped pieces of cartoony plastic that have been on the market since.

Submitted by WerewolfCyote

Apparently, after checking the Wikipedia article, we discovered that there are a lot of different ways to play Wall Ball. Some people have no bounce rules and some have rules that you must bounce before it hits the wall. Reading comments on the above YouTube reveal that it seems to change from school to school and there’s a lot of contention over who’s game is the purest. We don’t care if you played a classic set of rules or you had a crazy home-court set, we want you to post them below so we can try them out. Our spankin’ new red rubber ball just came in the mail and want to try them all out.

Submitted and Written by Ali K

Black top four square!! Ultimate recess game. Simple yet endlessly entertaining, all that was needed was chalk, a rubber ball, and some kids. When the ball is bounced into your square you must then bounce it back out without hitting twice in your own square, otherwise you are out. Every time a player gets out, the rest rotate and an alternate enters. The goal was to become and maintain the position of King for the duration of recess. Incorporating cool moves was the best, including but not limited to; bouncing the ball sky high with a “baby bomb”; bouncing the ball unexpectedly low to the ground for a “midget”; through the legs like “Michael Jordan”; and anything else our young minds could come up with. Where playground ended and asphalt began, the game of four square was there.

Submitted by Allison W

Open thread: Why did you love Hi-Ho! Cherry-O?