MTV: The Throwback Music Party Game
MTV: The Throwback Music Party Game Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
180 cards 1 electronic timer 1 gameboard 1 instruction sheet 1 potato sticker 1 sticker sheet
Object
To be the first team to collect at least one Artist Card from all eight music categories:
- The Brits
- Award-Winning Videos
- Best of Unplugged
- Pop Anthems
- Hip Hop Hits
- Headbangers
- Teenage Angst
- Queens of MTV
Setup
Form two teams, then place the buzzer, Artist Cards, Head-to-Head Cards, and gameboard in the middle of the table.
Play
To start, each team chooses a player to represent them in the quick-fire buzzer round.
The Buzzer Round
Both players sit opposite each other and place the buzzer in the middle of the table. Flip over a Head-to-Head Card to reveal a song category. As soon as one of the players thinks of a song that answers the card, they shout it out and hit the buzzer, setting off the timer.
Example Head-to-Head Card: "Songs containing the word Don't"
The other player now has 15 seconds to think of a new song that fits the category. As soon as they have one, they shout it out and press the buzzer, resetting the timer. The other player is now back in the hot seat.
Players keep yelling out songs in turn until one of them can't think of a correct answer and they run out of time. The winner takes an advantage into the Artist Round.
Example songs for "Songs containing the word Don't": "Don't Look Back in Anger!", "Don't Stop Believing!", "Boys Don't Cry!", "Don't Stop Me Now!"
Use Your Backup Singers! Your teammates aren't allowed to shout anything out to help you. However, if they think of a song that fits the category, they can hum or whistle it to help jog your memory. But no words allowed!
Artist Round
The player who won the Buzzer Round draws nine Artist Cards from the deck, and secretly looks at them. On the back of each is a popular band from the golden age of MTV.
They choose three to keep and hand the remaining six to their opponent from the Buzzer Round. This player also secretly chooses three to keep and discards the rest.
Both players now put their three cards face down on their three category squares on the game board.
Soon, they'll each have 30 seconds to get their team to guess all three artists by describing them in three different ways:
- One Word
- Lyrics
- Perform
One Word
Describe the artist to your team using one carefully chosen word. You can repeat the word as many times as you like, but you can't change it. For example, if you were trying to describe Nirvana, you might say: "Cobain!"
Lyrics
Speak (not sing) a lyric from one of the artist's songs. Don't worry too much if you get the lyrics a little bit wrong. For example, here's someone trying to describe Dire Straits: "Money for nothing and the chips for free."
Perform
Hum, whistle or scat one of the artist's songs. For example, here's someone humming a song by Blink-182: "DADA-DADA-DADA-DA-DA-DA-DA."
When everyone's ready, the player who won the Buzzer Round goes first. Hold down the buzzer for two seconds to start the 30-second timer.
Players can tackle their three cards in any order they want and can always come back to them if their team gets stuck. Their team can guess as many times as they like. Whenever they guess correctly, flip that Artist Card over.
If a team flips over all three cards and still has time to spare, they can try to steal the other team's Artist Cards by describing them in the correct way. When the timer goes off, they add all the Artist Cards they've won to their collection.
Now it's the other team's turn. Their performer gets 30 seconds to get their team to guess all the remaining Artist Cards on the board, starting with their own. If they have time, they can also try to steal any the other team failed to guess. When the timer goes off, they add any Artist Cards they've won to their collection, and discard any that weren't guessed.
Go Again
Choose two new players to go head-to-head in the Buzzer Round and start the whole show again!
Stealing Cards
At the end of every Artist Round, teams can discard three records from the same category (e.g. Headbangers) and steal one from their rival's collection. Each team can only do this once per round.
Winning
The first team to enter the Buzzer Round with an Artist Card from all eight categories wins the game. Feel free to jump up and party like it's 1999!
Extra Bits
New Words Only
When playing the One Word and Lyric categories, players can't say any words that appear on the card.
No Making Up Songs
In the Buzzer Round, if you think a player has given a questionable answer, you can shout "Challenge!" and stop the game to look up the song. If they were right, you lose the round. If they were wrong, you win the round.
Looking After Your Buzzer
To keep your buzzer happy and healthy, you need to treat it right. Use quality batteries, screw it shut tightly, and make sure you don't get over-excited and hit it too hard.
If you can't find any batteries, don't worry. You can find a free timer app for iPhone and Android by searching "Big Potato Buzzer" in the app store.
Battery Information
The buzzer takes 2 x AAA (LR03) 1.5V batteries (not included).
How to install batteries:
- Open the battery door with a screwdriver.
- If used batteries are present, remove these batteries from the unit by pulling up on one end of each battery. Do NOT remove or install batteries using sharp or metal tools.
- Install new batteries as shown in the polarity diagram (+/-) inside the battery compartment.
- Replace battery door securely.
- Check your local laws and regulations for correct recycling and/or battery disposal.