The company that produces the Jenga game initially wanted to change its name to “Timber!” or “Tumbling”. This is because it didn’t indicate how the game was played and people wouldn’t know what it meant. The original creator refused because she thought the name would gain meaning later on.
What is a simple, yet infuriating game, that makes you want to immediately play it again after you lose?
Jenga is a game made up of 54 blocks that are removed one at a time and stacked on top of each other. It was released in 1987 and is considerd one of the best selling games of all time.
“You take a block from the bottom and you put it on top” is that song going through your head yet? Don’t worry it will as it remains one of the most famous jingle slogans of all time.
The story of Jenga is really interesting as it has roots in an ancient game and became a huge hit in the 1980s. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a house that doesn’t have Jenga in it. It’s the perfect game no matter your age and it’s one of the few games that kids… Continue Reading (10 minute read)
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14 thoughts on “The company that produces the Jenga game initially wanted to change its name to “Timber!” or “Tumbling”. This is because it didn’t indicate how the game was played and people wouldn’t know what it meant. The original creator refused because she thought the name would gain meaning later on.”
weeddealerrenamon
Hey fun fact: Jenga comes from the swahili word *kujenga*, which is the verb ‘to build’.
Fact that’s maybe only fun for me: the woman who invented the game owned a property in Kenya, and later bequeathed it to a research center nearby. My parents were two professors who both did research in the same region of Kenya, and I had the good fortune of spending my summers at “Jenga House” when they took me with them. I didn’t know why it was called that until years later.
Interesting thing in logo design is that your logo doesn’t have to be a picture of what you do. A lot of small businesses think you have to have a wrench if you’re a contractor or a cake if you’re a baker.
But the thing with a brand is that is gains meaning over time. The Apple logo didn’t mean shit until they got big. The Nike swoosh has nothing to do with shoes but everyone knows it. She was right.
Fun fact, for similar reasons, the original name for Boggle was “Find Words in a Square”. The dice were also made of glazed porcelain, which was expensive to make and prone to chipping or cracking. As a result, the original creators were unsuccessful in marketing the game, and eventually sold the concept to Parker Brothers for only $500.
Parker Brothers remade the dice in plastic, and renamed the game, first to “Bogglyboggle” and then shortened further to Boggle. The game then became a massive success.
Hey fun fact: Jenga comes from the swahili word *kujenga*, which is the verb ‘to build’.
Fact that’s maybe only fun for me: the woman who invented the game owned a property in Kenya, and later bequeathed it to a research center nearby. My parents were two professors who both did research in the same region of Kenya, and I had the good fortune of spending my summers at “Jenga House” when they took me with them. I didn’t know why it was called that until years later.
“I’m sorry Ray, but you really shouldn’t go with ‘McDonalds’, maybe ‘hamburgers’ instead? At least people will know what it means?”
Interesting thing in logo design is that your logo doesn’t have to be a picture of what you do. A lot of small businesses think you have to have a wrench if you’re a contractor or a cake if you’re a baker.
But the thing with a brand is that is gains meaning over time. The Apple logo didn’t mean shit until they got big. The Nike swoosh has nothing to do with shoes but everyone knows it. She was right.
Jenga, jenga, jenga, JENGA, JENGA… *crash*
Recently saw a [neat variation](https://youtu.be/4ewSDiuzTDs) on Jenga; basically the same game, but the players wear [these electrodes](https://www.powerdot.com/collections/all/products/powerdot-muscle-stimulator?variant=46946219463&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=Cj0KCQiAhZT9BRDmARIsAN2E-J3g5J-mxxpGID9QW99Xnpnfv5dzWph6XH5F-3Dwpy17smTfSeU0izUaAg0oEALw_wcB) on their hands that cause them to shake and spasm uncontrollably.
I had a knock-off jenga growing up where the blocks were all different colors and I’m pretty sure it was called timber
I still remember those commercials where they are chanting “Jenga jenga” good times
And then, Jenga Fett was born. The rest is history.
I grew up playing a Jenga knock-off called “Stak Attack” and I will forever defend it as the superior version and name.
Obviously the Jenga thing worked out, but Timber! Is a pretty good name
TBF Timber! would be a great name for it.
At my house we didn’t have Jenga. We had Tumbling Tower. So I guess she was wrong in a way….
Fun fact, for similar reasons, the original name for Boggle was “Find Words in a Square”. The dice were also made of glazed porcelain, which was expensive to make and prone to chipping or cracking. As a result, the original creators were unsuccessful in marketing the game, and eventually sold the concept to Parker Brothers for only $500.
Parker Brothers remade the dice in plastic, and renamed the game, first to “Bogglyboggle” and then shortened further to Boggle. The game then became a massive success.
I like to imagine a future where lumberjacks yell “Jenga!” as they fell a tree