In a evening of 1971 the Robbins family was as usual playing cards, their favorite family activity. But that night a new idea surged, to adapt the game that they typically play by actually writing the rules in the card, like reverse direction and skip. They didn’t know back then, but they had just invented one of the most popular card games of the World, UNO.
Merle Robbins was a barber that lived in Reading, Ohio, and the game he usually player with its family was crazey eight. Crazy eight was played with normal deck, but there were specific rules for each card, like reverse direction for king or skip the turn for queen. This made the learning curve higher, and that was what triggered Merle decision for that night to write the instructions on the cards.
After realizing the benefit of documenting their idea, Merle and his family sold 5,000 decks while traveling across the US in a camper van, successfully selling out. This success caught the attention of marketer Bob Tezak, who recognized the game's potential and decided to buy the commercialization rights. Sales skyrocketed, leading to the acquisition of the game by Mattel in 1992.
Today, UNO has evolved into numerous themed versions, digital apps, and even tournaments. Despite its modern adaptations, the game retains its core charm: a simple deck of cards that brings people together. It’s a reminder that great ideas often start small—and sometimes, they’re born out of a friendly disagreement!
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