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Which Witch? Facts
Which Witch? was made by Milton-Bradley and sold in the US from 1970 until...? Unfortunately, records weren't kept or were lost around the time of the Hasbro buyout. The game cost $4 and Milton-Bradley sold approximately... Hasbro doesn't know this either. It is astounding to consider that nowadays Which Witch games in complete and good condition sell for an AVERAGE price of around $50!
US Variations
Which Witch was sold in three different box variations:
The most prevalent version available today measures 18" X 13". You can quickly identify this version by looking at the boy in the blue sweater on the cover. You can see his left arm all the way down to his elbow and the game board’s “Bat’s Ballroom” corner. There were two slightly different variations of this version. Both say copyright 1970 on the cover but the first edition says "U.S. patent applied for." printed on the right side, and on the inside....
A later version also says copyright 1970 on the outside but on the inside it is dated copyright 1971 and has a patent number printed on the bottom of the front cover. It includes this more draconian version of rule C on the inside.
The third variation is what I call the compact version (18" X 9", the game board folds). You cannot see the boy's elbow or the Bat's Ballroom" on this box.
Internal Boxes
The wide version includes a yellow internal box along the front long side of the box while the compact version uses one white internal box positioned on the right end of the box.
Speaking of internal boxes, to enhance your game, consider buying a yellow handsome cotton-lined box to safely store and display your Which Witch game pawns. It fits neatly into the game's inner box and stores them with the dignity they deserve.
International Versions
Which Witch was sold as "Haunted House" in the UK in the early 70's, and should not be confused with the Haunted House game designed by Marvin Glass produced by IDEAL and sold in the US in the early 60's. The UK version of Which Which was made by Denys Fisher. It measures 16 inches by 10 inches. The Australian version was made by Toltoys.
It was sold in Italy as "Il Castello Incantato". Here is a web page of pictures of Il Castello Incantato. Below are pictures of the German version "Spuk Schloss" (transl: Ghost Castle). Does anyone know about any other world versions? French, Japanese, etc.?
Which Which Mysteries
Why do kids like to chew on the mice so much?
What is the significance of the number 4012 printed on the game box and inside assembly instructions?
What is the blue blotch behind the girl in the green sweater? Mystery solved!: It's a big blue bow in her hair.
Why is the whammy ball on the cover colored blue?
How come there's bats on the picture of the Bat's Ballroom on the box but no bats in the Bat's Ballroom in the game?
Why does the game board on the cover use no edge clips or stairway landing?
We all know the names of the 3 main witches in the game, but who is the mysterious black haired witch in the picture hung in the stairway?
Please visit ClassicDecorations.com for all your classic U.S. Halloween decorations and game parts...
The most common deficiencies in the design of the game
1. The Bannister (bottom post of stairway railing) tears off too easily, probably due to how tightly the starway landing clips on. Remove it with care!
2. Irresistably chewable mice!
3. Bases break off the kid playing pieces. Why??
4. Broken broom axles. How many people actually install the broom axle by sliding it into the slit in the wall as it says in the game assembly instructions? The natural tendancy is to just insert the entire axle stick into the slit and slide it down. Could the improper (or proper) installation (or uninstallation) of it make it more vulnerable to breakage?
5. Split box cover corners
6. Broken inner boxes
7. Easily frayed wall edges and corners and creased wall sections.
8. All the steps leading up to the Charmed Circle are marked with a regular footprint although they are in a danger zone.
The Rules
Most Controversial Rule. The one that says if a player is in a danger zone, and the particular danger of that area strikes they have to move their playing piece back to the nearest safe zone, even if they don’t get moved or knocked over by the danger.
How I Would Change The Rules. You shouldn't be allowed to win if you're playing piece is a mouse. You should have to continue playing until your turn wields a "Glenda the Good breaks the spell" card.
Most Curious Observation
It is actually safer to be a mouse in danger zones because you are small and less likely to get moved or knocked over by the danger.... this only applies of course if you don’t subscribe to the (most controversial) rule described above.
Similar Games
“The Real Ghostbusters” game (1986) is similar to Which Witch because it also uses a 3-D type setup.
"Ghost Castle", sold in the UK in 1985 by Milton Bradley, was described as: “The Haunted House Of Horrors. Enter Ghost Castle, but look out for the falling skull as you tread warily past the knight in armour and across the shaky floor. Race by the skeleton in the dungeon. He could come to life at any moment and send you running back to the start. Then climb the creaky stairs, will you be the first to close the coffin lid and lay the ghost to rest?”
Just For Fun
To enhance gameplay don't forget to get the ever-helpful Lazy Susan
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Here's a link to a nifty Which Witch memories web-page.
Here's another link to a boss Which Witch memories web-page.
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Here's the Which Witch assembly instructions. Save it to your hard-drive and use any graphics program to zoom into it.
Here's a link to the Which Witch playing instructions
http://www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/WhichWitch.PDF
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