John Spinello, Inventor Of 'Operation' Game, Can't Afford Real-Life Operation

[Miles Archer]

John Spinello, Inventor Of 'Operation' Game, Can't Afford Real-Life Operation

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/27/john-spinello_n_6055174.html

John Spinello earned a small spot in pop culture history 50 years ago when he invented Operation, the battery-powered game that lets kids play surgeon.

But now, the 77-year-old Illinois man needs $25,000 in oral surgery and can't afford to pay for it, having sold the rights to his creation for just $500.

Spinello says he's not bitter and prefers to not focus on the healthcare crisis.

"Look, everyone needs medical care," Spinello told HuffPost Weird News. "I prefer not to dwell on that aspect and focus more on the joy that the game has brought to so many over the years."

[Kalidurga]

1. It's heartwarming to see Hasbro step up to the plate....

first time using this smiley

[Miles Archer]

2. Same thing happened with the creators of "Superman," Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster...

...they entered their senior years broke, and DC Comics DID step up and write them a check, but not to the tune of a half century of Superman profits. This stuff happens, and it is tragic.

[Kalidurga]

3. I wouldn't expect Hasbro to write a huge check...

But, since they have been so lukewarm my expectations have gone up. If as soon as they knew they just dashed of a 25k check and said "sorry to hear about your troubles we hope this helps" I would think that is a grand and awesome thing. But, now I would like to see them shell out 100k because I had to resort to a sarcasm tag. Yes it's about me, j/k still it's colossally wrong to say oh we are just thinking about buy the prototype. No it's help him out no strings, sheesh.

[gvstn]

4. I loved that game!

I know my parents bought me at least two copies.

Really sad to hear that a bunch of toy industry insiders who are helping out with his fundraising campaign can't come up with $25,000 to help one of their own.