The Games Forum Suggestions Thread - Games

MadhattanJack

Just to end the list...

Gender: Male

Has anyone here ever suggested playing Six Degrees of Brian Eno? It can be a bit challenging, but it doesn't have to be Brian Eno each time, and we could add a rule that the collaboration (or whatever) has to be on an album already listed on BEA, if that helps. So that would mean no singles or EPs except for The Weight Of History / Only Once Away My Son, which I guess is the exception that proves the rule or something.

To me, the problem with forum-based games on BEA is that the obvious solution, namely trivia contests, are kind of ruined by the existence of Discogs and Allmusic, among other sites that can be used to answer almost any trivia question within seconds.

The only other idea I thought of was the "Album-Cover Egg Hunt," where someone names an object (preferably something fairly generic, like "recreational vehicle" or "person with angel wings") and players then post albums listed on BEA whose covers depict the object, and... eventually someone turns the resulting list into a chart? Maybe points could be awarded somehow? I'm not sure how to decide winners and losers for something like that, but the word games folks are playing now don't really have winners and losers either. Anyway, the downside to that might be that people could hit the servers pretty hard, loading all those album covers looking for the object(s) in question. (Maybe there could be a time limit.)

(Apologies if these have already been suggested, natch.)

Romanelli

Bone Swah

Gender: Male

Location: Broomfield, Colorado

Moderator

MadhattanJack wrote:

Has anyone here ever suggested playing Six Degrees of Brian Eno? It can be a bit challenging, but it doesn't have to be Brian Eno each time, and we could add a rule that the collaboration (or whatever) has to be on an album already listed on BEA, if that helps. So that would mean no singles or EPs except for The Weight Of History / Only Once Away My Son, which I guess is the exception that proves the rule or something.

To me, the problem with forum-based games on BEA is that the obvious solution, namely trivia contests, are kind of ruined by the existence of Discogs and Allmusic, among other sites that can be used to answer almost any trivia question within seconds.

The only other idea I thought of was the "Album-Cover Egg Hunt," where someone names an object (preferably something fairly generic, like "recreational vehicle" or "person with angel wings") and players then post albums listed on BEA whose covers depict the object, and... eventually someone turns the resulting list into a chart? Maybe points could be awarded somehow? I'm not sure how to decide winners and losers for something like that, but the word games folks are playing now don't really have winners and losers either. Anyway, the downside to that might be that people could hit the servers pretty hard, loading all those album covers looking for the object(s) in question. (Maybe there could be a time limit.)

(Apologies if these have already been suggested, natch.)

The thing with the Brian Eno game is that it's not really a game, and after a short while, you start ending up with the same answers...and as you saw, you also get a lot of people simply dropping a single name...which adds nothing to anything. The second thing is that it died really quickly, and like all six degrees games, runs out of gas fast. (My favorite was Six Degress Of Cookie Rojas, in which it was possible to tie MLB players from pre-Babe Ruth days to a decent but unremarkable player from the 60's and 70's, who also managed briefly but enough in the 80's and 90's. But even that became dull after you did it once, maybe twice.) Also, I find it MASSIVELY INSULTING that the OP did not mention BEA alongside Discogs & RYM as informational sources. Post A Picture Of This is basically the same as Post A Word...it doesn't require much, and as you said...where is the conclusion? How is a winner determined? Does it simply keep going forever?

That single you mentioned...some do fall through the cracks. They get fixed when found.

The games that tend to really work on BEA are ones that involve people as nominating, campaigning for favorites, discussing, and taking the time to actually immerse themselves into it, whether it be listening to an album or watching a film. Then, the items going head to head and advancing via user votes. Actual winners are determined by the group as a whole. The games that involve actual thinking and stages become interesting for their duration, even to those that choose not to participate. (I always find the film games very interesting and fun, but I don't participate, simply because my time for films is very limited, and I'm not the best at rating, ranking and critiquing them.) What I DO take away from these is some knowledge that I can use to choose films to watch in the future, and maybe an improved way of looking at them when I do.

These are the types of things that, as AM has stated, the Games forum was made for. We haven't seen one in a bit, but when there's even just one tournament going, that forum is pretty fun and entertaining.
_________________
I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history

baystateoftheart

Neil Young as a butternut squash

Age: 30

Location: Massachusetts

In the meantime, while we wait for someone to create a tournament, I'd like to invite everyone reading this to join the canon game (now added to my signature). It has been one of the most fun aspects of my time on BEA, but it's been a little less active lately.

The beauty of this game is that because you choose the list your assigned albums are drawn from, everyone can play, whether you listen to CDs or streaming, and whether you're looking to push out of your comfort zone or stay firmly within it.

So come one, come all!
_________________
Join us in the canon game Smile

/ Add me on RYM

Romanelli

Bone Swah

Gender: Male

Location: Broomfield, Colorado

Moderator

baystateoftheart wrote:

In the meantime, while we wait for someone to create a tournament, I'd like to invite everyone reading this to join the canon game (now added to my signature). It has been one of the most fun aspects of my time on BEA, but it's been a little less active lately.

The beauty of this game is that because you choose the list your assigned albums are drawn from, everyone can play, whether you listen to CDs or streaming, and whether you're looking to push out of your comfort zone or stay firmly within it.

So come one, come all!

These are always interesting to read, and it always looks like a great way to add new music to your sphere. I've been more of a lurker on these for years, but maybe it's time to jump in and make a go of it!

Thanks for posting this. Well worth checking out!
_________________
I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history

LTSings

Gender: Female

Does anyone here know of any games I could participate in? I am being excluded from a game because my taste is different from others. I didn't expect the songs I picked to do well here, but I didn't expect to be excluded all together and for the host of the game to just ignore me. I was interested in seeing how the game worked too, since I'd never participated in one. I'd appreciate it if someone here can let me know of any games here that I can participate in.

baystateoftheart

Neil Young as a butternut squash

Age: 30

Location: Massachusetts

LTSings wrote:

Does anyone here know of any games I could participate in? I am being excluded from a game because my taste is different from others. I didn't expect the songs I picked to do well here, but I didn't expect to be excluded all together and for the host of the game to just ignore me. I was interested in seeing how the game worked too, since I'd never participated in one. I'd appreciate it if someone here can let me know of any games here that I can participate in.

Check the first post again. Your songs are in the nominations list, so that means you're not being excluded. Also you're welcome to join the canon game Smile

_________________
Join us in the canon game Smile

/ Add me on RYM

LTSings

Gender: Female

baystateoftheart wrote:

Check the first post again. Your songs are in the nominations list, so that means you're not being excluded. Also you're welcome to join the canon game Smile

Thank you. the last time I checked the list, I was being excluded and the host of the game wasn't even responding to me. I was being completely ignored. I'll check out the other game you mentioned.

cestuneblague

Eyebrow of the Hurricane

Location: Chi-Town

No that was my bad I was slow (as usual) to update the nomination list and now they should all be there in the original post, everybody is welcome here.

MadhattanJack

Just to end the list...

Gender: Male

Look, if we can't have instant gratification, what's the point of having all these computers in the first place? I say we throw them all on the scrap heap as soon as possible.

LTSings

Gender: Female

MadhattanJack wrote:

Look, if we can't have instant gratification, what's the point of having all these computers in the first place? I say we throw them all on the scrap heap as soon as possible.

It wasn't that I wasn't getting instant gratification, it's that I was being totally ignored. The game's host was responding to the others who posted in the thread but not to me.