Ideal Maniac

Summary

The Ideal Maniac, developed by Ralph Baer, contains four games for two to four players. Each player has a “Maniac Button” on their side of the device. Most games involve pressing it at the right moment or for the right length of time. In the first of the four games, called “challenges”, for example, players must press the button as soon as the device stops making sounds.

The third game, on the other hand, is won by the player who later recognizes a pattern of light and tones that the Maniac gives to him and first presses the button. Two points are credited for each win and one point for each second place, with each single game repeated three times (on an LED display, score and type of game can be read). The player who is the first to score 25 points is the overall winner.