The Prime drink is the latest obsession to take over Manchester, but before the viral beverage arrived there were various toys and gadgets we were obsessed with back in the day.
While many shoppers are determined to track down the sell-out drink created by Logan Paul and rapper KSI, the MEN has looked at other crazes that many of us were obsessed with in Manchester back in the day.
From 1980s toys to 2000s gadgets, we’ve created the below list of 15 things people were desperate to buy. If you weren’t the one obsessed with a specific item, you’re bound to recall someone in your family or friendship group eagerly buying it.
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Tamagotchis
The little plastic egg video game that took over the playground in the 2000s allowed you to look after your own tiny digital pet. The console was pretty simple, with a small screen and typically three buttons to control the adorable animal. It was your responsibility to care for the pet from the moment it hatched, otherwise it would die - RIP all the Tamagotchi creatures we forgot to feed.
Cabbage Patch Kids
These dolls took over in the 1980s, with children across Manchester collecting as many of the soft, cute Cabbage Patch Kids as they could. Many will recall having a variety of the dolls piled on their bed.
Yo-yos
It’s crazy to look at yo-yos now and imagine people being obsessed with the very ordinary toy that has been around for centuries. They’re not as simple as they look, though, with some kids never being able to get the hang of it. If you mastered it, you’d spend hours making it do its thing, while others in the playground were very jealous.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figures
A toy that has remained popular from the 1980s to present day is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figures. Thanks to the popular TV cartoon and numerous films, Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael continue to thrive.
Sticker books
One of the simpler and cheaper activities that kids were obsessed with back in the day was sticker books. Lunchtimes and breaks were spent trading stickers in the playground, with many trying to haggle the best deal. If you wanted to get your hands on a sparkly or furry sticker, you’d have to give away at least three of your ordinary stickers.
Slinkys
Despite being around since the 1940s, the appeal of Slinkys hasn’t worn off, with the spring toy still entertaining children for hours. The rainbow Slinkys were particularly popular in the 1990s and 2000s, when kids would race them down the stairs.
Scoobies bracelets
Jewellery making has always been popular, but in the 2000s, Scoobies bracelets arrived on the scene and made the hobby a little more complicated. The aim was to entwine the rubber strings to create a pretty pattern that would eventually result in a bracelet. Many will remember kids having their arms covered in brightly coloured Scoobies.
Beanie Babies
Another brand that’s still popular today is Beanie Babies, with many still collecting the loveable plush toys. From the 1980s onwards, they became hugely popular, not only as a toy, but as a financial investment with various characters selling for huge prices.
Rubik’s Cubes
Arguably one of the best inventions in the 1970s, Rubik’s Cubes kept children and adults entertained for hours. Some may recall throwing a tantrum when they still couldn’t master the puzzle after dozens of attempts.
Furbies
It would have been hard for 1990s babies to go through their childhood without laying their eyes on a Furby. The owl-like electronic robot toy was available in a variety of colours and spoke a unique language. Many kids couldn’t have just one - they needed a whole clan of Furbies.
Top Trumps
First introduced in the 1970s, Top Trumps continued to dominate the playground right through to the 2000s. Available in a variety of themed packs from TV shows to football teams, each card has a list of numerical data. The aim of the game is to have a higher value than your opponent, allowing you to win their card. If all of your cards are stolen, you lose the game.
BlackBerry phones
The majority of older children in the 2000s will have had the conversation with their parents or guardians about being allowed a BlackBerry. Looking back, the obsession with the smartphone was odd, considering the screens were tiny compared to other brands and the buttons on the keyboard were miniscule. One of the appeals was definitely BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) - a chat function where you could message your friends and anyone else who also had a BlackBerry.
Nintendo Wii/Wii Fit
A game console that was actually good for you. The Wii and Wii Fit kept families active with a variety of sporty games, like tennis and bowling. Multiple people could play if you had enough controllers, allowing hours of fun for the whole household. Another big appeal of the Wii was that you could create your own avatar to look just like you.
Nintendogs
Similar to Tamagotchis, the Nintendogs game gave 2000s children the responsibility of looking after their own virtual pet. Many will recall not going on the Nintendo game for weeks and being devastated to find their dogs had ran away from their virtual home.
MSN
Before children were able to spend hours on their own mobile phone texting, Whatsapping, and conversing on social media, MSN was the obsession. Kids would rush home from school and spend all evening chatting on the instant messaging service on the family computer, but it did have its annoying features, including sending a “nudge” or “knock” to get the person’s attention.
What were you obsessed with during your childhood? Let us know in the comments section below.
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