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Brand:
FAQ Promotional (Advertising) Game&Watch Games
By Gawaleus and gameandwatch
In collaboration with Florent Gorges, David Gschmeidler and Gerhard Meyer
The Game&Watch games were very popular as a promotional items. Well-known companies such as Bosch, Henkel, Blaupunkt, Alstom, SNCF and many more used electronic games for promotional purposes.
They imprinted their own logo onto the games and gave them to their sales representatives. They gave away the promotional Game&Watch as freebies to the customers. At least we know the company Bosch did so, according to a statement dated from 3rd of April 2014 by a former sales representative in France:
«Pour répondre à votre question, je possède ce jeu depuis de nombreuses années. J'étais à l'époque représentant dans le secteur de la pièce automobile et il devait faire partie d'une campagne promotionnelle Robert Bosch (bougies, batteries, essuie glaces).»
Translation:
«To answer your question, I own this game for many years. I was a representative for automotive parts and it was then part of an advertising campaign of Robert Bosch (spark plugs, batteries, windshield wipers).»
It's very interesting that most promo Game&Watch originate from France. Only a few come from other countries. Perhaps it was at that time mainly in France very popular to make such freebies. Or maybe a company in France had specialized in the Game&Watch as advertising and was actively engaged in advertising this type of promotional goods. We do not know.
It is interesting that the game Parachute from the Wide Screen series was used for promotional purposes often. Followed by Popeye, Fire and Mickey Mouse from the same series. Here is a list of the frequency of Games used:
Parachute PR-21 | 16 |
Popeye PP-23 | 9 |
Oil Panic OP-51 | 6 |
Fire FR-27 | 4 |
Mickey Mouse MC-25 | 4 |
Octopus OC-22 | 4 |
Life Boat TC-58 | 4 |
Turtle Bridge TL-28 | 3 |
Green House GH-54 | 3 |
Mario Bros. MW-56 | 2 |
Snoopy Tennis SP-30 | 2 |
Helmet CN-07 | 2 |
Donkey Kong DK-52 | 1 |
Mickey&Donald DM-53 | 1 |
Rain Shower LP_57 | 1 |
Black Jack BJ-60 | 1 |
Bomb Sweeper BD-62 | 1 |
Vermin MT-03 | 1 |
Manhole MH-06 | 1 |
Lion LN-08 | 1 |
Chef FP-24 | 1 |
Mario's Bombs Away | 1 |
Mario's Cement Factory ML-102 | 1 |
Donkey Konk Jr. CJ-71 | 2 |
Total | 69 |
The advertising Game&Watch are highly sought after by collectors. On one hand, because they are very special and on the other hand, because there are not many of them around. We only know from one single promotional Game (Pokka) what number was produced.
Series:
Game:
Country:
Brand:
Vermin Mizuno
Game: Vermin MT-03, Silver SeriesLogo: Mizuno
Company: Mizuno
Country: Japan
Number of Games known: 1
http://www.mizuno.com
Manhole Computer Persönlich
Game: Manhole MH-06, Gold SeriesLogo: Computer Persönlich
Company: Verlag Markt&Technik
Country: Germany
Number of Games known: 1
Lion Computer Persönlich
Game: Lion LN-08, Gold SeriesLogo: Computer Persönlich
Company: Verlag Markt&Technik
Country: Germany
Number of Games known: 3
Helmet Friweg
Game: Helmet CN-07, Gold SeriesLogo: Friweg
Company: Friweg
Country: Germany
Number of Games known: 1
Parachute Guilbert Esnor
Game: Parachute PR-21, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Guilbert Esnor
Company: Guilbert Esnor
Country: France
Number of games known: 1
Total
Game: Parachute PR-21, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Total
Company: Total S.A.
Country: France
Number of Games known: 1
Website Total Oil: https://www.total.com
Parachute "Aérospatiale"
Game: Parachute PR-21, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Aérospatiale
Company: Aérospatiale
Country: France
Number of games known: 1
Aérospatiale was a French state-owned aerospace manufacturer. See Wiki for more.
Tricots Saint James
Game: Parachute PR-21, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Tricots Saint James
Company: ?
Country: France
Number of Games known: 1
Parachute Fresa
Game: Parachute PR-21, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Fresa
Company: ?
Country: France
Number of Games known: 1
Parachute V.A.G / Audi / VW
Game: Parachute PR-21, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Audi und VW
Company: Volkswagen AG
Country: France
Number of Games known: 2
Popeye J.i21
Game: Popeye PP-23, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: J.i21
Company: J.i21
Country: France
Number of Games known: 8
Parachute Henkel
Game: Parachute PR-21, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Henkel
Company: Henkel
Country: France
Number of Games known: 2
Parachute Phosphatine
Game: Parachute PR-21, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Phosphatine
Company: Blédina
Country: France
Number of Games known: 1
Parachute OMO
Game: Parachute PR-21, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: OMO
Company: Unilever
Country: France
Number of Games known: 1
Picture 2
http://www.unilever.com
Parachute Royco
Game: Parachute PR-21, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Royco
Company: Campbell Foods
Country: Belgium, France
Number of Games known: 2
http://www.royco.be
Turtle Bridge Royco
Game: Turtle Bridge TL-28, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Royco
Company: Campbell Foods
Country: Belgium, France
Number of Games known: 1
http://www.royco.be
Parachute Blaupunkt
Game: Parachute PR-21, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Blaupunkt
Company: Blaupunkt
Country: Germany
Number of Games known: 2
Picture 1 Picture 2
Parachute Bosch
Game: Parachute PR-21, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Bosch
Company: Robert Bosch GmbH
Country: France
Number of Games known: 2
Octopus Bosch
Game: Octopus OC-22, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Bosch
Company: Robert Bosch GmbH
Country: Frankreich
Number of Games known: 2
Popeye Bosch
Game: Popeye PP-23, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Bosch
Company: Robert Bosch GmbH
Country: France
Number of Games known: 2
Fire Bosch
Game: Fire FR-27, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Bosch
Company: Robert Bosch GmbH
Country: France
Number of Games known: 1
Turtle Bridge Bosch
Game: Turtle Bridge TL-28, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Bosch
Company: Robert Bosch GmbH
Country: France
Number of Games known: 1
Parachute Brocéliande
Game: Parachute PR-21, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Brocéliande
Company: Cooperl Group
Country: France
Number of Games known: 1
http://www.broceliande.fr
Octopus Vandame
Game: Octopus OC-22, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Vandame
Company: Vandame
Country: France
Number of Games known: 4
Parachute SNCF
Game: Parachute PR-21, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: SNCF
Company: SNCF
Country: France
Number of Games known: 1
Octopus SNCF
Game: Octopus OC-22, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: SNCF
Company: SNCF
Country: France
Number of Games known: 1
Popeye Fram
Game: Popeye PP-23, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: FRAM
Company: FRAM
Country: France
Number of Games known: 3
http://www.fram-europe.com
http://www.sogefigroup.com
Popeye Alsthom
Game: Popey PP-23, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Alsthom Atlantique
Company: Alstom
Country: France
Number of Games known: 2
Snoopy Tennis Candia
Game: Snoopy Tennis SP-30, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Candia
Company: Candia
Country: France
Number of Games known: 1
Popeye Candia
Game: Popeye PP-23, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Candia
Company: Candia
Country: France
Number of Games known: 1
Mickey Mouse Candia
Game: Mickey Mouse MC-25, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Candia
Company: Candia
Country: France
Number of Games known: 2
Popeye Dove
Game: Popeye PP-23, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Dove
Company: Unilever
Country: France
Number of Games known: 1
http://www.unilever.com
Fire Dove
Game: Fire FR-27, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Dove
Company: Unilever
Country: France
Number of Games known: 1
http://www.unilever.com
Turtle Bridge Dove
Game: Fire FR-27, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Dove
Company: Unilever
Country: France
Number of Games known: 3
http://www.unilever.com
Popeye Smarties
Game: Popeye PP-23, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Smarties
Company: Nestlé
Country: France
Number of Games known: 1
http://www.smarties.de
http://www.nestle.com
Popeye Kanterbräu
Game: Popeye PP-23, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Kanterbräu
Company: Kronenbourg
Country: France, Germany
Number of Games known: 1
Picture 2
http://www.carlsberggroup.com/brands/Pages/Kanterbr%C3%A4u.aspx
Popeye Club de vacaciones
Game: Popeye PP-23, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Club de vacaciones
Company: Club de vacaciones
Country: Spain
Number of games known: 1
Foto 2
Mickey Mouse Kanterbräu
Game: Mickey Mouse MC-25, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Kanterbräu
Company: Kronenbourg
Country: France, Germany
Number of Games known: 1
http://www.carlsberggroup.com/brands/Pages/Kanterbr%C3%A4u.aspx
Mickey Mouse Neptune Orient Lines (NOL)
Game: Mickey Mouse MC-25, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Neptune Orient Lines
Company: Neptune Orient Lines
Country: ?
Number of Games known: 1
Mickey Mouse EFI
Game: Mickey Mouse MC-25, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: EFI
Company: Erlich Foods International
Country: USA
Number of Games known: 1
Fire "Plessey"
Game: Fire FR-27, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: A "Cardiogram"
Company: Plessey
Country: England
Number of Games known: 1
Update January 28th 2018: The Plessey Company plc was a British-based international electronics, defence and telecommunications company, originated in 1917. In 1989, it was taken over by a consortium formed by GEC and Siemens which split the assets of the Plessey group.
Source and more information about Plessey: Wiki
Oil Panic Flamagas
Game: Oil Panic OP-51, Multi Screen SeriesLogo: Flamagas
Company: Flamagas
Country: Spain
Number of games known: 2
The company Flamagas is mainly engaged in the production of lighters and cigarette paper and it was a distributor for Game&Watch in the 80's and 90's.
The game originally came from someone whose uncle was working for Flamagas back then. The uncle received two of the "Flamagas" Game&Watch, which he gave to two of his nephews. From there, on of the games went on to a Game&Watch collector.
Oil Panic "Plessey"
Game: Oil Panic OP-51, Multi Screen SeriesLogo: A "Cardiogram"
Company: Plessey
Country: England
Number of Games known: 1
Source and more information about Plessey: Wiki
Oil Panic Queens House
Game: Oil Panic Queens House OP-51, Multi Screen SeriesLogo: Queens House
Company: County and District Limited
Country: Great Britain
Number of Games known: 1
Picture 2
Fire Sicli
Game: Fire FR-27, Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Sicli
Company: Sicli
Country: Switzerland(?), France(?)
Number of Games known: 1
Oil Panic Petro Lewis
Game: Oil Panic OP-51, Multi Screen SeriesLogo: Petro Lewis
Company: Sunoco
Country: USA
Number of Games known: 3
Oil Panic Siteco
Game: Oil Panic OP-51, Multi Screen SeriesLogo: Siteco
Company: Siteco
Country: France
Number of Games known: 1
A French collector has found out that the father of a earlier school friend used to work at Siteco, and he even had put away one copy each game!
http://www.osram.com
Donkey Kong Siteco
Game: Donkey Kong DK-52, Multi Screen SeriesLogo: Siteco
Company: Siteco
Country: France
Number of Games known: 1
http://www.osram.com
Mickey&Donald Siteco
Game: Mickey&Donald DM-53, Multi Screen SeriesLogo: Siteco
Company: Siteco
Country: France
Number of Games known: 1
http://www.osram.com
Green House Procida
Game: Green House GH-57, Multi Screen SeriesLogo: Procida
Company: Procida
Country: France
Number of Games known: 1
http://www.agbioforum.org/v4n1/v4n1a04-bijman.htm
Green House Cooper
Game: Green House GH-54, Multi Screen SeriesLogo: Cooper
Company: Cooper
Country: France
Number of Games known: 1
http://www.cooper-safety.com
Green House Procter & Gamble
Game: Green House GH-54, Multi Screen SeriesLogo: Procter & Gamble
Company: Procter & Gamble
Country: France
Number of Games known: 3
Mario Bros. Pokka
Game: Mario Bros. MW-56, Multi Screen SeriesLogo: Pokka
Company: Pokka
Country: Japan
Number of Games known: 75-100
Rain Shower Coral
Game: Rain Shower LP-57, Multi Screen SeriesLogo: Coral
Company: Unilever
Country: France
Number of Games known: 2
Mario Bros. Campari
Game: Mario Bros. MW-56, Multi Screen SeriesLogo: Campari
Company: Campari
Country: Netherlands
Number of Games known: 1
Life Boat Matey
Game: Life Boat TC-58, Multi Screen SeriesLogo: Matey
Company: Matey
Country: England
Number of Games known: 3
03/07/2020 Update:
The true story being that these games were given out as xmas gifts to associates and workers of the photographic company who specialised in retouching photos for advertising agencies called Lifeboat/matey who were based in the Saatchi & Saatchi building in Whitmore street, London.
A owner of this game said, he was given it at xmas in 1993, at the time he was working for a big advertising agency on a project involving an 90s band called 'Cockteau twins', Lifeboat/matey were in the process of retouching photos for one of their album covers which the company he worked for was doing the advertising for, he actually said that he'd put it in a drawer and forgot about until now as he's moving house.
Lifeboat/matey as well as being in Saatchi & Saatchi's main building also worked with them on a lot of projects, they then merged with admagic and at some point bought out by another advertising company called TAG.
Thanks a lot to Tony Liversidge for providing this information.
Black Jack Humpty Dumpty
Game: Black Jack BJ-60, Multi Screen SeriesLogo: Humpty Dumpty
Company: Humpty Dumpty Snack Foods
Country: Canada (used to be USA)
Number of games known: 1
Picture 2 Picture 3
Bomb Sweeper May West
Game: Bomb Sweeper BD-62, Multi Screen SeriesLogo: May West
Company: Vachon Inc.
Country: Canada
Number of Games known: 2
Picture 2
https://www.vachon.com/en/pastries/may-west/#regulier
Mario's Cement Factory Mitsubishi
Game: Mario's Cement Factory ML-102, New Wide Screen SeriesLogo: Mitubishi
Company: Mitsubishi
Country: Japan
Number of Games known: 2
Donkey Kong Jr. TV Shizuoka
Game: Donky Kong Jr. CJ-71, Table Top SeriesLogo: TV Shizuoka
Company: TV Shizuoka
Country: Japan
number of games known: 1
Picture 2
Donkey Kong Jr. Les Juniors
Game: Donky Kong Jr. CJ-71, Table Top SeriesLogo: Les Juniors
Company: Entremont
Country: France
Number of games known: 1
Picture 2 | Picture 3 | Link to the company: https://entremont.com
Mario’s Bombs Away
Game: Mario's Bombs Away TB-94, Panorama Screen SeriesLogo: Agfa
Company: Agfa
Country: Spain
Number of games known: 1
Picture 2
If anyone has more information about the promo Game&Watch games or more or better pictures, please send a message to