Fans of Minute to Win It already know that the show has perfected the art of making games look simple, but once you actually try them, well, you find out they're not. This is one such game. Sticker Picker Upper requires a steady hand and nerves of steel.
The Goal
On top of an upside-down pizza pan, three stickers are laid out with their sticky sides facing up. Your task is to roll an egg around the pan to pick up the stickers, without dropping the egg.
Did I mention that the egg is raw? That's really the least of your worries, but you might want to wear old shoes, just in case.
Equipment Needed
This game is geranlly played a little farther along in the money tree than some of the easier ones, so each person only has one chance to nail it. That means one egg per person. You can choose to give multiple tries per player instead, or you could be using the game's official rules of three lives before you're out -- in these cases you'll need more eggs and more stickers than the list calls for. Speaking of the list, here it is.
- One raw egg per player (or more -- see above)
- Three round red stickers per player (or more -- see above)
- One standard sized pizza pan
- Two tables, both at the same height
- Small bowl
- A one-minute timer or stop watch
- Plenty of cleaning supplies
Note: The show uses round red stickers, the kind you get from the office supply store. I'm assuming that's because they're both widely available and easy to see on camera once they've adhered to an egg.
You, however, can use whatever stickers you darn well please.
Setting Up the Game
The easiest part of Sticker Picker Upper is setting it up, so enjoy your down time while you're putting this together. First, turn the pizza pan over so that if it has an edge around it, that's facing down. You don't want bumpers around the thing, that would make the game way too easy! Then, place three stickers on the pan in a triangle shape, with each point dangerously close to the edge of the pan. Make sure the stickers are sticky-side up, otherwise you've just ruined your pizza pan AND the game simultaneously.
Place the tables side by side with enough space between them so that the pizza pan can bridge them, and the contestant can reach underneath to pick up the pan with one hand. Place the pizza pan between the tables. Place the small bowl on one of the tables and put the egg in the bowl. Now go and change your shoes -- you don't want to get egg on those nice ones you're wearing now.
How to Play
There are two ways to begin this game: The first is using the setup instructions above with the gg in a bowl. When the one-minute timer begins, the player picks up the pan in one hand and places the egg on the pan with the other, then only the hand that's holding the pan can continue to be in use for the duration of the game. Conversely, the egg can already be placed on the pan before the timer starts, adding more difficulty to the game because the player now has to lift the pan and the egg with one hand before actually beginning to play. The choice is yours.
Once the pan has been lifted and the egg is safely on top, begin rolling the egg around the pan in an effort to get all three stickers to stick to the egg. (Quick tip: This is generally easier if the eggs aren't cold and "sweating.") If the egg falls off the pan, the game is done. Collect all three stickers in under a minute without breaking the egg, and you win.
The Rules
The game is tricky to play, especially when they go and throw a bunch of rules at us. They are:
- You may only use one hand to hold and move the pizza pan. If the egg falls off, you can't reach out and catch it with your other hand. It's just gone, man.
- Once you've collected all of the stickers, the egg must remain on the tray for three consecutive seconds. You can't just roll it off the edge for the last sticker.
Tips and Tricks
I'd love to provide you with the secret to mastering this game, but it's hard and the only way you'll get really good at it is to practice. Sorry.
The blueprint with video instructions for this game can be found at NBC.com.
Game Variations
A game like Sticker Picker Upper can be frustrating to play, but fortunately there are all kinds of ways you can change it up to suit your players and the occassion. For example:
- Play the game with the pizza pan upright, so that the edges will save the egg from toppling off.
- Use only two stickers, and place them closer to the middle of the pan so there's less risk of the egg taking a dive.
- For younger players, use hard-boiled eggs.
- For theme parties or events, use appropriately themed or colored stickers. (Or play the game at an Easter party and dye the eggs first.)
Always feel free to make adjustments to the games to suit your own needs. Unless of course you're practicing to actually be on the show, in which case you need to follow the official rules to the letter!