Cluedo History

Murder by Death · Post by **Murder by Death** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 12:51 am

Anthony Pratt invented Cluedo in 1944. In 1994 he died at 90 in obscurity. Even those who might have been 20 at the time and involved in the development of the game would be in their late 80s, if they are even still alive. Time is running out and very little history of the game is known. It would be a shame to lose the last of the living witnesses to the birth of the game without getting a first hand account of the wherefores and whys of the game's creation.

Against that backdrop, I came across this article that indicates Pratt's star on the Birmingham Walk of Stars has been pushed off for consideration until at least 2013. A crushing blow for both the fans who have been pushing for the star and Cluedo's ignominious 60th Anniversary. Hasbro has not even seen fit to unveil the plaque at their headquarters as announced.

Sad really. There's not much I can do personally about helping preserve the history. If I lived in the UK, I might actually try to track down and interview some people. But, I did want to mention it in case someone might read this and get an idea ...

Adam106 · Post by **Adam106** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 6:45 am

It could be that Hasbro have been planning their reinvention for a while and were just waiting for Pratt to die in order to completely destroy his masterpiece. I think if he was still alive today, he wouldn't be very pleased - infact, the reinvention wouldn't even be if that were the case.

WarnerPlum · Post by **WarnerPlum** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:52 am

Against that backdrop, I came across this article that indicates Pratt's star on the Birmingham Walk of Stars has been pushed off for consideration until at least 2013. A crushing blow for both the fans who have been pushing for the star and Cluedo's ignominious 60th Anniversary. Hasbro has not even seen fit to unveil the plaque at their headquarters as announced.

But... but... WHY???!!

WarnerPlum · Post by **WarnerPlum** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:55 am

Of course, while I think of it, I came across this bit in 'CLUE History', in the 'In Print' section on this site:

What few realized was that Mr. and Mrs. Pratt were specialists in savage murder and dark deeds.

And there was me thinking, "The Pratts were murderers!??!?!?!

"

kova · Post by **kova** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:21 pm

Adam106 wrote:It could be that Hasbro have been planning their reinvention for a while and were just waiting for Pratt to die in order to completely destroy his masterpiece. I think if he was still alive today, he wouldn't be very pleased - infact, the reinvention wouldn't even be if that were the case.

Hmm. If they were planning it for some time, why do we have the 2003 edition?

CluedoKid · Post by **CluedoKid** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:38 pm

2003 edition helped usher in a modern look in an old-fashioned setting. The art deco design, while not bad for the cover, gave us decidely cartoony suspects, though not on the same playing field as the 1963 edition.

With FX, they had 21 century compatable political correctness covered with the blantant and awkward additions of Azure and Lavender. Clue Mysteries finally revealed a Clue Jr. direction with the cartoonish look, sans the art deco design (With Peach and Lavender suffering the worst). Also, the murder was replaced with theft, as did it carry on to the DVD game.

So yes, already they were taking their liberties well into the 2000's. It was a build up to a pitiful 60th aniversary for the game. One which doesn't seem to be dying anytime soon.

So yeah, Clue died in 2003.

Adam106 · Post by **Adam106** » Wed Dec 09, 2009 3:06 pm

CluedoKid summed it up nicely.