This game, the first joint effort of producers Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley, marked the beginning of their fascination with larger-than-life concepts: think the giant tic-tac-toe board on "Hollywood Squares," the oversize playing cards on "Gambit," the huge board with the nine numbers on "High Rollers".
Despite the fact that "Video Village" lasted only two years, the thing works. There are all kinds of risks; a roll of the die might cause the players to exchange places and the person who was behind might find himself or herself in range of a win (since you had to complete the three streets in order to win), or perhaps hit "1-2-3 Go, 4-5-6 No," wherein they couldn't advance unless they rolled 3 or less.
All in all, perhaps the most innovative game of its era (one also marked by "Password," the first show to team celebrities and contestants), and two game-show legends are featured: Jack Narz and Monty Hall. And let's not forget announcer Kenny Williams as Kenny the Cop, who announced the roll of the die in that unmistakable voice of his.
And, by the way, I had the "Video Village" home game and spent many an hour playing it. It was as much fun as the show.
Despite the fact that "Video Village" lasted only two years, the thing works. There are all kinds of risks; a roll of the die might cause the players to exchange places and the person who was behind might find himself or herself in range of a win (since you had to complete the three streets in order to win), or perhaps hit "1-2-3 Go, 4-5-6 No," wherein they couldn't advance unless they rolled 3 or less.
All in all, perhaps the most innovative game of its era (one also marked by "Password," the first show to team celebrities and contestants), and two game-show legends are featured: Jack Narz and Monty Hall. And let's not forget announcer Kenny Williams as Kenny the Cop, who announced the roll of the die in that unmistakable voice of his.
And, by the way, I had the "Video Village" home game and spent many an hour playing it. It was as much fun as the show.