RECOVERY MODE All hints

Page 42Half Charged

The Christmas Receipt

Reality Called In Sick

Find the 5 things that don’t belong in 1984.

TipOpen one step at a time. The answer always asks twice, so nothing gets spoiled by accident.

1NudgeOpen

Cross off the decoys first. These look modern but were fine in 1984: Rubik’s Cube (1974), Trivial Pursuit (1981), Cabbage Patch doll (1983), Sony Walkman (1979) and compact disc (1982).

2CloserOpen

One intruder is Game Boy: Japan April 1989, US July 1989.

Still to find: a virtual pet, trading cards, a water gun and a video disc.

3AnswerAsks twice

This shows the full answer. Sure?

Yes, show me
  • Game Boy · 1989
  • Tamagotchi · 1996
  • Pokémon cards · 1996
  • Super Soaker · 1990
  • DVD · 1996
★Solved it? The story behind the datesContains the answers

This shows the full answer. Sure?

Yes, show me

Everything in the document on one timeline. Yellow dots arrived too late.

  1. 1974Rubik’s CubeFine
    Invented 1974.Source: Wikipedia
  2. 1979Sony WalkmanFine
    Launched 1 Jul 1979.Source: Nippon.com
  3. 1981Trivial PursuitFine
    On sale in Canada 1981, US 1982.Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia
  4. 1982Compact discFine
    First CDs on sale October 1982.Source: NBC News
  5. 1983Cabbage Patch dollFine
    Coleco dolls in stores 1983.Source: The Strong National Museum of Play
  6. 1984 · the document is dated here
  7. 1989Game BoyNot yet
    Japan April 1989, US July 1989.Source: Smithsonian Magazine
  8. 1990Super SoakerNot yet
    First sold 1990 (as Power Drencher); Super Soaker name 1991.Source: The Strong National Museum of Play
  9. 1996TamagotchiNot yet
    Japan November 1996.Source: Japan House LA
  10. 1996Pokémon cardsNot yet
    Japan October 1996, US January 1999.Source: Wikipedia
  11. 1996DVDNot yet
    Japan November 1996, US March 1997.Source: Wikipedia

Every answer is also printed at the back of the book, with its page number.

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