Simon
Officially Simon (electronic memory game)
ICONIC ELECTRONIC MEMORY-PATTERN game invented by RALPH BAER (father of video games) + HOWARD MORRISON in 1978; released by MILTON BRADLEY (now Hasbro). Circular unit with 4 COLORED LIGHT-UP QUADRANTS (RED, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE) that play unique TONE + FLASH pattern. Player must REPEAT the pattern back correctly + game adds ONE MORE STEP each round; failure to match = GAME OVER. Iconic 1980s TOY + still sold today. Sold 20+ MILLION UNITS across all versions. Basis for HUNDREDS OF CLONES + MEMORY-PATTERN games. Named after 'SIMON SAYS' children's game. Iconic pop culture — appears in countless films + TV shows + memes.
What is Simon?
Simon is ICONIC ELECTRONIC MEMORY-PATTERN game invented by RALPH BAER (widely called 'FATHER OF VIDEO GAMES' — also invented Magnavox Odyssey 1972, first home video game console) + HOWARD MORRISON, released by MILTON BRADLEY (now Hasbro subsidiary) in 1978. HARDWARE: circular electronic device (about dinner plate-sized) with 4 LARGE COLORED LIGHT-UP QUADRANTS: (1) RED (top-right), (2) YELLOW (bottom-right), (3) GREEN (top-left), (4) BLUE (bottom-left). Each quadrant plays a UNIQUE MUSICAL TONE (A/A above middle C, D/D, E/E, G/G — musically a suspended chord). GAMEPLAY: (1) Player selects difficulty level (1-4, adjusts pattern speed + length). (2) Game plays STARTING PATTERN (1 color flash + tone). (3) Player MUST REPEAT pattern by pressing correct quadrants in correct order. (4) If correct, game ADDS ONE MORE STEP (now 2-color pattern) + plays again. (5) Repeat: pattern gradually grows to 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16... eventually 31 STEPS if you're a memory prodigy. (6) FAILURE (wrong color or timeout) = ERROR TONE + GAME OVER; final score displayed. HARDWARE ORIGINAL 1978: batteries (2C + 1 9-volt), speaker, incandescent light bulbs (later LEDs), simple TI microprocessor. FAMOUSLY GLOWING PLASTIC + iconic 4-quadrant design — became design classic + inspired countless imitators. INSPIRED BY: (a) 'SIMON SAYS' children's game (follow verbal commands); (b) ATARI's 1976 ARCADE GAME 'TOUCH ME' (electronic memory game with 4 buttons that Ralph Baer PLAYED + wanted to improve). Baer + Morrison invented Simon as CONSUMER-FRIENDLY improvement of Touch Me — bigger, more colorful, better sound. LAUNCH: SEPTEMBER 1978, launched at STUDIO 54 in NEW YORK CITY (iconic disco). Priced $25 (about $110 today). INSTANT HIT — sold out for months; became DEFINING CHRISTMAS TOY of 1978-1980. VERSIONS OVER YEARS: (1) SIMON (1978 original); (2) SIMON POCKET (mini version, 1980s); (3) SUPER SIMON (2 players, larger); (4) SIMON 2 (1998, revised); (5) SIMON SAYS (1997 pyramid variant); (6) SIMON AIR (2016 gesture-controlled, no touch); (7) SIMON OPTIX (2017 VR-goggles version); (8) SIMON MICRO SERIES (2019 keychain versions); (9) SIMON SWIPE (2014 with slide gestures); (10) SIMON SQUARED (2 games in one). Hasbro continues to release new versions periodically. TOTAL SALES: 20+ MILLION UNITS across all versions since 1978. CULTURAL IMPACT: (a) ICONIC 1980s TOY — synonymous with era; (b) POP CULTURE APPEARANCES: The Simpsons, Family Guy, countless films (Wall-E has Simon-like device), 'Big Bang Theory' Sheldon plays Simon; (c) SCIENTIFIC STUDIES on MEMORY, PATTERN RECOGNITION, ATTENTION use Simon as instrument; (d) RALPH BAER — inventor honored with National Medal of Technology (2006) + inducted into National Inventors Hall of Fame + widely recognized as FATHER OF VIDEO GAMES; Simon is second-most famous invention after Magnavox Odyssey; (e) HUNDREDS OF SIMON CLONES + variations including SMARTPHONE APPS + web versions + kids' educational toys. Elektro Sound + Elektroniks + countless off-brand versions. Simon design (4 quadrants, unique tones per color, growing pattern) is now GENERIC 'MEMORY GAME TEMPLATE' used in EDUCATIONAL software + brain-training + serious neuroscience research. Ralph Baer passed away 2014 at age 92; Simon remains his most-loved consumer invention.
Quick facts
Category
Skill Toys
Type
Individual
Players
1–4
Duration
~5 min
Where played
indoor
Field / court
Circular Simon device with 4 colored quadrants
Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Estimated origin
September 1978 (Studio 54 NYC launch); ongoing production 47+ years via Hasbro
Olympic
No
Popularity
global
How it works
Objective
Repeat progressively longer color-tone patterns back accurately. Maximum pattern length achieved = your 'score'. Highest theoretical score is 31 steps.
Rules
Basic rules
SIMON plays PATTERN starting with 1 color flash + tone
You watch + memorize.
REPEAT PATTERN by pressing correct color quadrants in correct order
Touch same colors game showed.
CORRECT? Game adds ONE MORE STEP + replays entire pattern
Progressive difficulty.
WRONG COLOR or TIMEOUT? Error tone + GAME OVER
Score = pattern length reached.
DIFFICULTY LEVELS 1-4: adjust pattern speed + starting length
Advanced modes are faster + longer starting pattern.
MAXIMUM 31 STEPS (game caps at 31)
Rare achievement.
SUPER SIMON: 2-4 players compete or take turns
Multiplayer variants exist.
AIR / OPTIX / SWIPE variants use gestures or VR instead of touch
Modern editions offer new interactions.
Scoring
Pattern length reached before failure = your score. 31 steps = perfect maximum (very rare).
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Reach 5-step pattern | Beginner level |
| Reach 10-step pattern | Solid memory |
| Reach 15-step pattern | Impressive |
| Reach 20-step pattern | Very advanced |
| Reach 25-step pattern | Elite memory performer |
| Reach 31-step MAXIMUM pattern | Perfect Simon (rare achievement) |
| Speedrun 31 steps under 60 seconds | Speed-memory hybrid mastery |
Win condition · Achieve highest pattern length before failure. No 'winning' — pure skill-progression toy.
Playing area
Called
Circular Simon device with 4 colored quadrants
Dimensions
~25cm diameter (original 1978); miniature versions since
Iconic bright colors: RED, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE. Each plays unique tone.
Equipment
Simon electronic game unit — $15-30 (Hasbro modern version)
Widely available at Target, Amazon, Walmart.
Batteries: 2 x C-cell + 1 x 9-volt (original) or AAA/AA (modern)
Battery-powered.
Simon Air (2016) — $25 — gesture-controlled version
Wave hand instead of touch.
Simon Optix (2017) — $30 — VR-goggle version
Immersive memory challenge.
Simon smartphone apps (many free versions on iOS/Android)
Digital versions widely available.
Various online Simon-clone websites (free)
Browser-based memory practice.
Strategies
LEARN TO 'CHUNK' patterns into groups of 3-4 — easier than tracking single items
Miller's Law: 7±2 items short-term memory.
USE AUDITORY MEMORY — each color has UNIQUE TONE; hum the melody
Multi-modal encoding strengthens memory.
CLOSE EYES + FOCUS ON SOUND if visual overwhelms — some prefer audio-only
Sensory preference.
STAY CALM under pressure — panic = mistakes
Mindset matters at long patterns.
PRACTICE DAILY — memory is trainable skill
Improvement measurable over weeks.
USE RHYTHM + BEAT — patterns often have musical flow if you tap along
Beat encoding aids recall.
IF MISTAKE MID-PATTERN — game ends immediately; no continuation
One-shot per pattern.
ADVANCED SPEED SETTINGS require FAST RECALL — trade accuracy for speed
Different skill on higher levels.
Terminology
- Pattern
- Sequence of colored light+tone game plays for you to repeat.
- Round
- One iteration — game plays + player repeats.
- Step
- Single color in pattern; also called 'note' due to tone.
- Error Tone
- Low disappointing sound when player fails.
- 31
- Maximum pattern length; game caps here.
- Level 1-4
- Difficulty setting (speed + starting length).
- Longest Sequence
- Player's best round achieved (score).
- Simon Says
- Related children's game (verbal follow-command) — inspiration but different.
- Touch Me
- 1976 Atari arcade game that inspired Simon.
- Chunking
- Memory technique of grouping items (e.g., phone number 555-123-4567).
- Miller's Law
- Cognitive limit of 7±2 items in short-term memory.
Major competitions
No formal competitive scene — casual + educational toy
n/a · n/a
Speedrun.com — Simon speedrun records (fastest to 31 steps)
continuous · worldwide online · since 2010
Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ) — occasional Simon runs
biannual · USA + online · since 2010
MEMORY CHAMPIONSHIP events sometimes include Simon-style challenges
annual · worldwide · since 1991
Nostalgia + retro toy exhibitions frequently feature Simon
occasional · worldwide · since 1978
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Hasbro (current owner, via Milton Bradley acquisition 1984)
Founded 1923 · Pawtucket, RI, USA
Official site ↗Milton Bradley (original publisher, acquired by Hasbro 1984)
Founded 1860 · Springfield, MA, USA (historical)
Ralph Baer — Co-inventor + 'Father of Video Games'; passed away 2014
Founded 1922 · USA/Germany
Howard Morrison — Co-inventor
Founded 1932 · USA
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Ralph Baer — Co-inventor + Father of Video Games; National Medal of Technology 2006; passed 2014 at 92
- Howard Morrison — Co-inventor
- Milton Bradley executives (Ed Wallach + team) — Championed launch + marketing
- Various speedrunners — Sub-60-second full 31-step runs
- Bob 'Bobo' Reyes — Simon world-record holder claims
- MIT + neuroscience researchers who use Simon in memory studies
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Buy SIMON basic ($15-30 at Target, Amazon, Walmart)
Modern Hasbro version with LED lights.
- 2
Play LEVEL 1 (slowest) first — build memory foundation
Progress before speeding up.
- 3
Aim for pattern length of 5-8 in first sessions
Baseline for most players.
- 4
Use AUDITORY memory (hum tones) + VISUAL together
Multi-modal recall.
intermediate
- 1
Practice DAILY for 10 minutes — memory is trainable
Weeks of practice yields improvement.
- 2
LEARN CHUNKING — group patterns into 3-4 note phrases
Miller's 7±2 rule applies.
- 3
Try LEVEL 2-3 for faster patterns + longer starting length
Adaptive challenge.
- 4
Aim for 12-15 pattern length reliably
Above-average performance.
advanced
- 1
AIM for 20+ pattern length — elite territory
Very rare among casual players.
- 2
TRY 31-STEP MAXIMUM — mastery goal
Ultimate Simon achievement.
- 3
PARTICIPATE in memory challenge events + speedrun.com Simon runs
Community competition.
- 4
STUDY MEMORY TECHNIQUES (Memory Palace, method of loci) for advanced retention
Applies beyond Simon.
Frequently asked
Who invented Simon?+
RALPH BAER + HOWARD MORRISON co-invented Simon in 1978. RALPH BAER (1922-2014) is widely called 'THE FATHER OF VIDEO GAMES' — born in Germany, escaped Nazi persecution in 1938 as Jewish refugee, moved to USA, became legendary electrical engineer + inventor. His most famous invention: MAGNAVOX ODYSSEY (1972), the WORLD'S FIRST HOME VIDEO GAME CONSOLE, predating Atari's Pong. Baer patented many gaming concepts; TCJ published 'The World's First Video Game Console' — he received NATIONAL MEDAL OF TECHNOLOGY (2006) from President Bush + NATIONAL INVENTORS HALL OF FAME induction. HOWARD MORRISON was Baer's frequent collaborator + Marvin Glass & Associates (toy design firm) partner. They designed Simon after Baer played ATARI's 1976 arcade game 'TOUCH ME' + thought he could improve it. Milton Bradley (now Hasbro) licensed + published. Baer + Morrison split proceeds; Simon became SECOND-MOST-FAMOUS Baer invention after Odyssey. Baer passed away December 6, 2014 in Manchester, NH at age 92; his legacy in gaming + toys is INCALCULABLE. Simon remains beloved 47+ years after launch.
What's the maximum Simon score?+
MAXIMUM PATTERN LENGTH IS 31 STEPS — the game CAPS at 31. After reaching 31, game ends with congratulatory victory tone + display (implementation varies by version). 31 STEPS IS EXTREMELY RARE — requires memorizing 31 sequential color-tones perfectly without error, played at increasing speeds. Most casual players reach 8-12 steps; dedicated players 15-20; memory prodigies 25+; only tiny percentage ever hit 31. WORLD RECORD claims are difficult to verify (no official body), but various claims of consistent 31-step completions exist on YouTube + speedrun.com. Ralph Baer himself claimed few people reach 31. SPEEDRUN VARIANT: fastest time to complete 31-step run — top performers under 3 minutes total. HARDER MODIFIED VERSIONS: some Simon variants (Super Simon, Simon 2) have DIFFERENT MAX LENGTHS or SPEED SETTINGS; the classic 1978 Simon caps at 31. Modern smartphone Simon apps often have UNLIMITED pattern length (no cap) — top players reach 50+ steps. Simon's 31-cap was TECHNICAL LIMIT of 1978 microprocessor + intentional 'ceiling' for accomplishment feeling.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Simon (game)— Wikipedia
- Hasbro Simon official— Hasbro
- Wikipedia — Ralph H. Baer— Wikipedia
- National Inventors Hall of Fame — Ralph Baer— NIHF