Which Board Game Features the Pop-O-Matic Bubble

Pop-o-Matic is an unadorned device that has now made its way to the board game industry. However, it is not a common component and enjoys a love-hate relationship with the board gamers.

Trouble is the board game featuring a pop-o-matic bubble, a device encased in a transparent dome in the middle of the board. This little device entombs six-sided dice, and two metal sheets. Pushing down the dome will move the metal plates at the bottom and releasing the dome will snap the sheets back to toss the dice within the container. The players take turns to push the device to run their four pieces around the board.

If you are fed-up with your existing board games and looking for an exciting new game to play with family and friends, try Trouble. The game enjoys a global fandom, and you will find various versions of Trouble played on your travels from Europe to the Middle East, far east, and down under. However, many countries do not have this board game with a pop-o-matic bubble. They still use the old method of using a small empty container to shake the dice and through. The number on the dice is the number of squares you should move the piece.

What is a Pop-o-Matic Bubble?

More and more people are joining the bandwagon for the widespread fascination with the board game's pop-o-matic bubble. This pop-o-matic bubble is a very basic device that typically sits in the center of your board game.

The construction of the device is simple. There are two metal sheets/plates at the bottom that are movable, and a six-sided dice sits on these sheets. Then there is a crystal clear plastic dome that encloses this metal sheet and a dice mechanism.

How the device works is not rocket science as well. You press the plastic dome with slight pressure, and this will depress the metal plates or sheets. Now, as you release the dome, the sheets will instantly rebound, tossing the dice in a berserk fashion.

Trouble: The Board Game with Pop-o – Matic

Trouble is a board game with worldwide popularity and fandom and is known by many names. For instance, in the UK, it is called “Frustration, whereas, in Finland, it is “Kimble.” Although different, Trouble takes its inspiration for concept, gameplay, and board from Ludo, an Indian board game with the same theme.

You will need 2 to 4 players to play the game. The board requires each player to send all four pieces they have all the way around the board game. The number of squares each player moves each piece depends on the outcome of the roll of a dice.

The game first appeared in the US back in 1965 by Datz, a company now known as “Hasbro” these days. While the newer version is widely popular, you can still see the marketing of an older or classic version by Winning Moves Games.

 How Do You Play Trouble

While you are moving the pieces forward, you can try beating your player at their game. The board game featuring pop-o-matic allows you to catch up on an opponent’s piece by moving your piece to the same square and sending their pieces back o where they started.

A player cannot touch opponents’ pieces, or else the owner of the piece will get another chance to redo the roll/pop. The game does not allow you to team up, and the pieces are always under protection when in their last four slots.

While the pop-o-matic bubble makes a click and pop sound every time you press on it, it prevents your dice from being lost. Plus, the opponents cannot cheat by any inappropriate rolling techniques. As pop-a-matic is secure within the dome, it provides the same dice-roll for all players.

Pop-o-matic also ensures that the dice roll is quick and players can perform the action in rapid succession. While the dice has numbers imprinted on them instead of traditional circular pips, the travel version of Trouble may contain a cover that comes with circular pips for universal understanding.

The six on the dice means that you as a player can move the piece out of its square and start the journey towards the end. If you get a six at any stage of the game, this means you will get another turn to roll the dice.

You can move all four pieces out as and when you get a six. Additionally, you can also move any of the pieces as you see fit. Landing on another player’s piece on the board will allow you to send their piece back into the box, where they will wait to open it till they roll a six.

However, this rule is void when your piece sits on their piece sitting on its starting square. You have to take each of your pieces to the finishing slot. However, the game requires a lot of critical thinking and planning.

You have to keep track of where your pieces are and how to move them as well as anticipate the possible moves by your opponent. This can help move your pieces strategically to send other player’s pieces back to their start while clearing your way to the finishing space.

Double Trouble

Double Trouble came into the market 21 years after its predecessor, and Winning Moves Games produces it.

However, in this variant of the board game featuring pop-o-matic, as a player, you can move pieces all the way to finishing space via detour wheels. There are four build-in wheels in double Trouble, and you will have to land your piece on a star space in order to turn the wheel.

Sounds like fun? Well, it truly is. If you are a fan of classic Trouble or have never tried a board game featuring pop-o-matic bubble, then any version of Trouble is definitely worth trying.  Play with your partner or make it a family activity during the holiday season and over the weekends.