Talk:Trivial Pursuit

Untitled
I think that 2-6 players is an incorrect number. From what I can gather the different versions say different things. The new electronic version says 3-6 for example, while the 25th anniversary edition says 2-36. The original edition said 2-24 so I feel that is the best option. petisher 01:06, 25 July 2008 (UTC)

I'm fairly certain the makers call them wedges or wedgies(pl.), I own not only the board game but also the PC games with game commentary. The commentary calls them wedges.Apinballwizard 12:22, 29 September 2007 (UTC)

I reverted the addition of the following text:


 * As an aside, there is an on-going debate between players as to whether or not the tokens should be referred to as "cheeses" or "pies," referring to the wedge shape of the tokens.

I think that this is a personal experience regarding Trivial Pursuit, rather than encyclopaedic information.
 * Andrew Moylan 03:07, 14 Apr 2005 (UTC)


 * My family and I have called them "dibbers" since before I can remember. I don't see this as strange, but everyone else I've played this game with thinks that it's weird! Crunchysaviour 21:53, 18 December 2006 (UTC)

Fred Worth Lawsuit
Being that this is one of the most obvious and earliest forms of DRM[1] that has been taken to the Supreme Court, the Court Ruling has been proven False independently as proven by this photograph [2] from the television show which clearly states that his real First name was in fact 'Frank'. Sadly, no Credit, Recognition, nor Appeal has ever been given to Fred Worth.

-This 'graph seems... well... pointless. The Court was never asked to verify Columbo's first name, and the Court's decision didn't hinge on something as arcane as that - it comes down to the simple fact that YOU CANNOT COPYRIGHT FACTS. You can't copyright the phone book, and you can't copyright the dictionary. It doesn't matter WHAT Columbo's first name is; that's not how Worth lost the lawsuit. He has earned and deserves no credit, and that's not "sad," that's the ruling of the Court. Wikipedia may be many things - but it ain't the spot to bemoan poor ol' bestseller Fred Worth. And - for the record - it doesn't matter if the ruling has been "proven False independently," (which is, in itself, a meaningless statement) unless the Court itself or one higher reverses the ruling - captured photos from TV notwithstanding. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.81.161.139 (talk) 13:55, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

Possible Stupidest Question Ever
In Trivial Pursuit Volume 6, this question is listed under SN, or Science and Nature: "What two-letter Roman numeral follows MCMXCIX?" The answer they give is: "MM."

The card is numbered "15" in the bottom right-hand corner.

If anyone knows why this question may make sense, please post.

MCMXCIX translates to 1999 in arabic numerals, while MM translates to 2000, which follows 1999. I'm not exactly sure how that's science and nature, but it's a valid trivia question

CrazyPirateNinja 04:04, 27 December 2005 (UTC) This is better. "A plumpricot is a cross between which two fruit?" SN Genus 2. 67.83.148.145 17:18, 23 March 2007 (UTC)


 * In Roman numerals, M is 1000, C is 100, X is 10 and I is 1 (there's also D for 500, L for 50 and V for 5). MCMXCIX is read as M,CM,XC,IX, or 1000,100 before 1000,10 before 100,1 before 10, which is 1000,900,90,9, coming out to 1,999 in Hindo-Arabic notation. The subsequent number is 2,000, rendered as MM in Roman numerals (two thousands). The question falls in with science and nature because in academia mathematics is considered a natural science (and thus the placement of the mathematics department under a college of Arts and Sciences as pretty much all universities). SWalkerTTU 04:41, 7 July 2007 (UTC)

Recent Australian edition
I got one about three years ago for Xmas. The colours were changed on categories. I couldn't be bother updating article with all the details. I know Green is now "sports and leisure"

The colours-for-categories seems to be inconsistent everywhere - older versions, newer versions, and electronic versions have all used different colours for (essentially) the same categories. (This doesn't include where categories are different across versions!) In my opinion the "standard" should be what was laid down by the original Genus edition as that was effectively the version of Trivial Pursuit most people became familiar with. Computer games, DVD editions and themed editions can be passed off as "gimmicky" and not definitive.--Bricks J. Winzer 13:29, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

Another photo please
Can't we have a better photo, one that describes better the board and pieces? This one focusing on the context of playing is not very "encyclopedic" and the Trivial looks anecdotic there.


 * It also looks like two underage girls drinking... :) —The preceding unsigned comment was added by MagerValp (talk • contribs) 09:45, 16 December 2006 (UTC).


 * They could be in the UK, where the minimum age in question is 18. I wouldn't go so far as to say they wouldn't be asked for proof of age when buying the alcohol, though! ;) Crunchysaviour 21:50, 18 December 2006 (UTC)


 * Then what about the countries in which there is no age limit on drinking alcoholic beverages, such as in Sweden? (Only buying is illegal to do if you're under 21 in Sweden (18 in bars)). Please stop being so ignorant all the time. You do know that theres more than 6.3 billion people living in other countries than the USA, right? Ran4 05:30, 15 August 2007 (UTC)


 * *slaps own wrists* I apologise for being so utterly stupid and ignorant all the time. You are right, Ran4. What a waste of blood and organs I am. Woe is me, etc. Crunchysaviour (talk) 12:09, 11 December 2007 (UTC)

Columbo contradiction
The Columbo section contradicts itself. It starts off by saying:

Lt. Columbo's first name is never explicitly revealed in the Columbo TV series.

but later it says:

In the episode Dead Weight where Columbo introduces himself to General Hollister, the audience is shown a close-up of his badge, complete with the signature of "Frank Columbo".

A close-up of the badge? That's a pretty explicit revelation if you ask me! 217.155.20.163 14:02, 27 December 2006 (UTC)
 * It's at 12 minutes 50 seconds on the Season One box set, disk 3 - ISBN 1-4170-1432-6 - if anyone's interested. And it's pretty clearly "Frank". --Wtshymanski (talk) 01:52, 22 January 2008 (UTC)

Lawsuit
There is a current lawsuit over the invention of Trivial Pursuit. Is this something that should be added? 130.15.110.164 05:02, 6 January 2007 (UTC)
 * Do you have citations from reliable sources? If so, be bold and add the information! --ZimZalaBim (talk) 05:17, 6 January 2007 (UTC)

Maculate Conception
This is my account regarding the conception of the Trivia Pursuit boardgame. It is primary information and not readily or easily verifiable.

Shortly after arriving in Vancouver in late 1979, after spending some time in California, in the presence of at least three other people whose names I no longer clearly recall I disclosed that I had been thinking about a money making enterprise to use trivia in a boardgame format.

The three people seemed to be from Montreal - Verdun if I recall correctly. I believe one's name was Ken (maybe Dave) - in fact it was through him that I met the other two. We had met while I was hitchhiking up from California and we came up together and I crashed at his friend's house in the West End near Robson and Denman. Ken (or Dave) had spent some time in Mexico from where he was returning after spending some time among the Wichol (spelling uncertain) Indians. One of the three told me he worked for the City of Vancouver and was privately studying a computer language (possibly Cobol) to help him with his job. The other was apparently a McGill student or former student but was told that he was studying philosophy or religion which was also my field of interest.

They seemed to be fans of Leonard Cohen who was from Montreal, I think they said Verdun which was 'infamous' for it's mental institution. So the idea that these guys all knew each other and were from Verdun stuck in my mind after all this time.

In any case, I was asked about what I would call the game to which I replied 'Trivia Pursuit' or 'Trivial Pursuit' - at the time I was not sure which was grammatically correct. They also asked me how the game would work and I stated that simplicity would suffice and told them about a simple circle design with 6 colors. I told them that I thought the concept would be a big winner but that it would require a lot of work and that I couldn't do it myself.

In the end I got caught up in the basic survival of street living as a young man (on Main and Georgia Street and on Hornby Street) and after returning to see my friend near Denman and Robson, I discovered that he was no longer there. Apparently he had moved out. I had introduced him to a graphic artist named Janet going to school at Vancouver Community College I think. I surmised (sadly)that they may have hit it off. I never saw any of them again. I do seem to recall however suggesting that she might help with the design of the gameboard but after reading the history of the game, I don't see any indication of that.

Interestingly - concerning "Philip Columbo' - one thing we had discussed at one point was who was our favorite TV detective and I told then that I favoured Columbo's style ... but I'm sure what this means...

Addendum: one of the people (Ken/Dave) present may have been from Cape Breton

Mention in Quantum Leap
There was a mention of the name "Trivial Pursuit" in an episode of Quantum Leap. Someone said something like "that would make a great board game!". This was set in a time years before 1979. Anyone able to provide the transcript of what was actually said? 139.130.36.190 03:21, 24 October 2007 (UTC) Joshua Hrouda

Dominos
After reading this article I ordered a pizza. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.224.175.222 (talk) 03:47, 8 May 2008 (UTC)

Errors
I always found this game notoriously full of errors. They might be interesting to note. Questions on Hickory Dickory Dock and seeing the Great Wall from space might warrant inclusion. Seems there were others, but maybe my experience was isolated. --Thomas B♘ talk 09:49, 13 November 2008 (UTC)


 * I think this would be interesting and useful; one question/answer I remember from the original version was: "Who was the head of the Gestapo?" (The answer given is Heinrich Himmler, it should be Heinrich Mueller.) Historian932 (talk) 15:45, 3 January 2012 (UTC)

Internet Explorer, Chrome -- "Chris Haney" reference
In Internet Explorer and Google Chrome, when you hover your mouse over "Chris Haney" in the first paragraph, the text says "...page does not exist". In that bubble window thing (I don't know what they call it in computer-ese lingo). But not in Firefox. And Firefox is correct of course, because the page does exist. And when you click the link in all 3 browsers, you do go to the correct link. But only Firefox gives the correct message. It's doing that this morning (Jun-01;2010;5:21AM). Anyone know why IE and Chrome make that error, but not Firefox?

PS: I hate the new Wikipedia editing window now, they tried to make it 'hip' or modern or something, but I prefer the old-fashioned one where all the tools you needed were right above the edit box. Why does everything have to be changed all the time? Just venting, lol.

--Atikokan (talk) 09:21, 1 June 2010 (UTC)

Dumbing down
Of course it has to be dumbed-down. My generation ('boomers'), who were the absolute very first to buy and play this game, were intellectuals. Hard-working, hard-thinking intellectuals. We were the anti-establishment generation. We busted aw' esses to get our university degrees. We were passionate about political and scientific arguments we'd have while doing spliffs and quaffing '50' at our rec-room parties. We drank in the excitement of intense intellectual discussions. We were smart.

Today's generation?

Pffft.

Gimme a break.

Gen-X and Gen-Y are a bunch of lazy, moronic, spoiled narcissists. And they are dumb.

No, correction, they are lazy. I don't think today's young (20ish, 30ish) kids are dumb -- I think they are just lazy. That's it. Lazy.

And that's why they need a dumbed-down version.

Thank you.

Have a nice day. No wait -- a fabulous day.

--Atikokan (talk) 05:41, 13 November 2010 (UTC)

citation needed - pls confer and edit if appropiate
RE: "The issue was taken to the Supreme Court of the United States, which rejected Worth's arguments in March 1988.[citation needed]"

see: Worth vs Selchow USCA 9th Cir. (9-8-1987) ¤ 827 F.2d 569, cert denied US Supreme Ct. (3-28-1988) ¤ 108 S.Ct.1271 source: http://chart.copyrightdata.com/c18C.html —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.51.79.9 (talk) 22:51, 25 February 2011 (UTC)

Invented in Nerja, Spain
Well, according to the Olive Press's "Expat 100" article published on 8th Sep 2011, Scott Abbott and Chris Haney were in Nerja for 3 months during which time they invented the game. They are in 22nd position in the 100. Olive Press is an English-language free paper in southern Spain. EdX20 (talk) 09:44, 7 October 2011 (UTC) Extra info from SUR in English newspaper: [Invented it] "...while drinking in La Cueva bar in 1980." EdX20 (talk) 19:01, 2 December 2011 (UTC)

Reference #9 is broken
The newspaper article reference "Trivial 'brain-teasers' enrage game's fans" does not link to the appropriate article. 130.95.13.18 (talk) 04:15, 16 March 2012 (UTC)

Sales numbers
This article states the game sold over 20,000 sets in North America in its peak year of 1984. Then it states as of 2014, more than 100 million games had been sold worldwide, and also that 30,000,000 games were produced in Wisconsin between 1983 and 1985. Unless that "over 20,000" means way over, that number seems to be off. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.87.141.16 (talk) 09:35, 14 December 2019 (UTC)