Thursday, September 29, 2011

Water Ring Toss | Retro TOMY Waterful Games



Waterful Ring Toss by TOMY

Growing up, I was the oldest kid in our extended family. My cousins are all much younger than me so there wasn't really anyone to play with until the mid 1980s. However, in the mid 1970s, I was lucky enough to have an aunt who was just 11 years older than me. A while back I blogged about her awesome 1970s record collection back in the day.

My aunt loved these impossible-to-play ring toss water games. Waterful games were manufactured by TOMY back in the 1970s. They were like these plastic handheld tanks filled with water. Inside the small tank-like game would be a ring toss or ball toss. You would control the game with a button or two. There were a variety of games including basketball and soccer -- games of true skill because it was super challenging to win against the water. 

I always imagined breaking the Waterful toys open. I was so curious to touch and see what was inside. Was it was really water? Was that clear substance actually some sort of gel? I was a weird kid. 

Did anyone have one of these Waterful games, games you play with in water?
Wonderful Waterful Soccer!


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18 comments:

  1. MargieSeptember 29, 2011 at 8:07 AM

    I had one and it was one of the most frustrating games ever. I miss it. :)

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  2. AnonymousSeptember 29, 2011 at 8:12 AM

    You know, I thought these were so awesome and I always wanted one. But then we'd get one or play one somewhere and I always hated them! The water always tasted salty too.

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  3. ShannonSeptember 29, 2011 at 9:42 AM

    I loved these games! I always thought they were filled with some sort of gel mixture. I would buy one now if they still made them. :)

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  4. AnonymousSeptember 29, 2011 at 9:44 AM

    This was one of my favorites growing up!

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  5. b-chicaSeptember 29, 2011 at 10:59 AM

    I had them; kinda wonder now if there is still one out in the tag sale stuff in our barn. The ones I had, you added the water after you bought them. I got pretty good at one of them.

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  6. Ms. ASeptember 29, 2011 at 2:05 PM

    I have two of the ring toss!

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  7. BelleSeptember 29, 2011 at 2:34 PM

    I bought these for my girls and loved to play with them myself!

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  8. Rawknrobyn.blogspot.comSeptember 29, 2011 at 6:53 PM

    I liked trying the ring toss. I don't think I ever succeeded at it.
    Be well, Ally.
    xoRobyn

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  9. MarleneSeptember 29, 2011 at 10:19 PM

    I had completely forgotten about this. How I loved to play this game!!!

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  10. Blast from the PastSeptember 30, 2011 at 2:08 AM

    I do remember these...I always wanted to open one up too. I guess we'll never know what was *really* inside of those things!

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  11. CSeptember 30, 2011 at 10:35 AM

    I totally forgot about these, but yes, we had some growing up. It had to be gel, right? Those rings moved waaay too slow.

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  12. Pat TillettOctober 9, 2011 at 2:32 PM

    You sure do manage to bring back a lot of memories. I had one these things. It drove me crazy!

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  13. bestieNovember 12, 2011 at 9:05 PM

    LOVED these!

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  14. NinaJune 22, 2012 at 2:44 PM

    You are killing me with this blog. I am having a severe case of deja vu

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  15. JanetJuly 22, 2012 at 2:50 PM

    I had the one where you had to get the rings over something, like a ring toss. Didn't wonder about it not being water though. I had received it as a gift, and I added the water to it, after I got it. I LOVED that game. Something like that would not amuse my kids today, like it did me. I think we were easier to please.

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  16. LeeannJuly 31, 2012 at 11:44 AM

    My Grandma had one at her house that I played the heck out of when I went over there!

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  17. LeeannJuly 31, 2012 at 11:47 AM

    My Grandma Boone had one of these at her house and I played the heck out of it! It must have been left behind when my Aunt and Cousin moved out!

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  18. helen725March 20, 2013 at 3:52 PM

    I also had the Waterfuls ring toss!! I loved playing with it when I was a kid. I wish that I still had it- I found one on E-Bay, but it was so expensive. I did buy a mini version from Old Navy, but it doesn't work the same as the original.

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