h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: The Game - A807068
Author: Kuavea - U200651

I'd really like this to make the edited guide, I'm not sure that there's really that much more it needs to tell the truth, it's very simple really. Still, any suggestions (and reviews!!) are very welcome (especially the good reviews!) Thank you!

A bizzare game... no relation to the movie, I see.

Looks pretty complete - can't see what else it needs, to be honest. Good stuff

-Lucinda

I might be a bit dim but... I don't understand this at all.

My gut reaction is that this is not suitable for the Edited Guide. It appears to be something Kuavea has made up himself - which would mean it fails the 'factual and informative' requirement - and we've discussed personal theories and in-jokes in Peer Review before.

But the fact that I just don't get the point of this means I'm struggling to give clearer feedback.



Jimster

I've heard of this game before, and it is indeed called 'The Game'. YMMV

Is 'YMMV' part of this game, or are you making up abbreviations again?

Your Mileage May Vary...

Yep, you've definitely made that one up


Jims
WDYMKI?

Nope.

http://www.dictionary.com/search?r=67&q=ymmv

Ahhh

speak

If I understand it correctly, the game is trying not to remember the game exists. Doesn't sound like edited guide matirial to me.

That's right Tango. For example, you just lost.

Why don't you think it's EG material?

I'm curious to hear why you think it is, Lucinda.

Jims

Well, it is factual: I've heard of this game before reading the entry, from (IIRC) at least a couple of different sources. And the game really is that simple, so like I said, there's nothing more that needs to be said. Not every entry has to be an essay - it's good to have some short ones too.

Arguably you could include some deep analysis of the thing, perhaps comparing it to a zen koan or somesuch, but that'd be strictly optional. Up to Kuavea, really.

There's a touch of first person in it in the last para, which should be removed. And the formatting needs sprucing up. But that's pretty much it, IMO.

I think a problem with it is that it's still very exclusive; I don't think anyone would read this entry and be any the wiser.

Some kind of context would help, I suppose. Why is this a game? Is it just a way of saying 'Life's a game?' When and how did this 'game' first fall into (extremely limited) public knowledge?

Not every entry has to be definitive, but this doesn't make any attempt to explain itself.

- If it were to go into the Guide, would it be called 'The Game - the Game'?

> "When and how did this 'game' first fall into (extremely limited) public knowledge?"

Well, I did a google search for 'the game', but surprisingly was unable to find any useful information...

That's a surprise! How many million search results did you get?

I would actually be interested to hear more about where The Game came from, I heard about it nearly seven months ago now, but I know that it's been going on for quite a while longer. I have removed the 1st person from that last paragraph (sorry, I missed that one!) I know the entry is short, but it is really that simple, so there's not much else to say!

Do think maybe you could elabroate a litte more though, for instance... even with the words "the game is an incredably simple concept" for instance?

I think, for this to be considered Edited Guide material, we would need to have a lot more. At the moment it's very frustrating and exclusive because it seems to be hinting at a game, but really it's just a superficially clever paradox - you play the 'game' up until the moment that you remember you're playing a game, at which point you stop playing it. So the game is just that you have to forget that you're playing a game. Not much to it, is there?

While Edited Guide entries don't have to be definitive, they do have to give the reader some idea of what they're on about, so at the very least, it would need some kind of origin - where did this first come from? Perhaps those of you who've heard of this phenomenon could trace back from where you heard it until maybe there's a common thread?

I suggest posting this to Ask h2g2 (A148907) and seeing if anyone else has heard of it. Maybe you could get a Collaborative entry together?

Jimster

Although I have no strong feelings about this entry's merits for Edited Guide inclusion either way, I _do _ think it would form an excellent basis for a h2g2 cult to annoy nighthoover people with. Submit it for the Post and see how long it takes to catch on - I'll definitely play

B