Daily discussion post: Games people play

[liv]

I'm thinking about play at the moment. For me games are an important part of how I socialize, and I'm working out how much of that translates to the social isolation world. Or, as some community leaders have been framing it, the world of social connection with physical distancing.

So let's talk about what we do for play, and what we're playing during the pandemic. Here are some prompt questions, but feel free to talk about anything game-related!

Are games part of the way you interact with children? Have you rediscovered games as an adult? Or are you playful in some other way that doesn't involve formal, structured games?

Do you play board and card games? Are they a special occasion thing, perhaps once a year when the family get together for Christmas, or a regular hobby? What's the best classic game in your opinion? Are you taking part in the contemporary board game revival? Do you have a favourite, or can you suggest a game that deserves more attention?

What about video games? Do you play phone games (and if so, are there any where you would like to connect with other players and add new friends)? PC games? Who's finally getting to that long queue of stuff you downloaded when it was on special offer? Console games? Multi player or single, classic, retro or modern, big tough tens of hours games or casual? Do you have kids who play video games, and do you approve or need to restrict how much and what they play?

Do you take part sports for fun and play? Or do you follow any sports? Which teams are you into?

I know there are lots of kinds of games I haven't listed, all the various forms of role-playing and improv games, gamified self-improvement stuff like Duolingo and HabitRPG, party games, you name it!

And if you feel like talking about it, do tell us how you've adapted your gaming and play to new circumstances. What works virtually, what needs adapting? What are you reminiscing about or watching in the archives when there are no live matches? What have you come back to after a break if you're one of the people spending more time indoors these days? What are you looking forward to playing when the world goes back to normal?

Comments

[liseuse]

I've been sending it to basically everyone I know as a sort of "hey, this might help!".

Scrabble was very fierce in mine as well. When I inherited the old Scrabble board I found years of slips of paper used as scoresheets. I also remember getting to uni and realising that we played by a very harsh set of House Rules and that yes, pluralising a word did count as a go! And no, you don't have to skip two turns to be allowed to exchange your tiles!

The playing experience of Words With Friends feels a lot like Scrabble. There are some differences in how much letters are worth and the distribution of the premium squares. But overall it feels like a nice relaxed game of Scrabble - it's helpful that it's via your phone so there is no one staring at you and tapping their fingertips as you agonise over where to put the F.

[jesse_the_k]

Holy moly the no-plurals-rule is cruel. Some of my best plays have been with plurals bringing me into the outmost squares!

Sometimes to relax we'd play Speed Scrabble. We'd get two minutes per turn, which prevented any of us from swirling down into "must maximize points!" anxiety.

[liseuse]

I just thought that was how you played! And then we were playing at uni and I played a terrible word and someone asked why I didn't just shove the 's' onto the end of another one. I duly explained that you couldn't do that! It's against the rules! Reader, it is not against the rules. And yes reader, I did make my mother explain, to my housemates, that she had indeed created this rule and allowed me to believe it was an actual rule for my entire life.

I tend to assume I'm going to lose a game of Scrabble from the get go? I do not have a brain which is made for finding the most point-efficient turn. I like words and I end up looking for the nicest word, and not the one that scores a lot. My stepfather, however, isn't so hot with the words but that man has a verrrrry mathematical brain.

[jesse_the_k]

I'm glad that one of the liberations uni brought was clarity about the rules.

I share with you the delight of elegant word-play. It was illuminating playing with a friend who would routinely create four or five words each play, by making side-by-side words instead of intersections.

Our house rules are so lax in comparison.
- I've printed up a "permitted 2-letter words" cheat sheet that everyone can use
- If someone is willing to trade a tile, it's fine, with no turn penalties. (Say I have a great bingo if I only had an "E"; I ask the table whether anyone is willing to trade my, say, "U" for an "E.")

[liseuse]

It does mean that I still remain slightly unsure as to which are the actual rules and which are my mother's rules. I think I've just about sorted them in my head these days but there are moments where I pause and go "wait, hang on" and have to google.

I like those house rules!

We did used to have fun playing reverse!Scrabble when I was kid. Trying to find the words in words to remove from the board.

[magnetic_pole]

Ha! Your mother. The things we need to do to keep family life sane. :) M.

[liseuse]

She in no way did it to keep family life sane! She genuinely thought the official rules were too lax :)

[magnetic_pole]

Seriously?!? I thought she was trying to keep you thinking. M.

[liseuse]

Ahahahahahaha, nope!