Thinking About Life as a Game

Lately I've been doing a lot of thinking about school, the summer, my future, etc. I always found it hard to think a week in advance, let alone a whole lifetime, but I have nonetheless done a lot of thinking about my life in the present and where I want to take it in the future. Like everyone I am focused on working during the summer, gaining work/internship experience. But I am also starting to think more about my future. Graduation is not to far away, which means the LSAT is near, a career is near, a family is near, and all that other good stuff. For me, it has always been hard to imagine how the future would take shape because I have always embraced the spontaneity of life. Just as important, I am scared about what the future holds. Will I succeed?will I fail? What happens if I fail? How will I live a life worth living? All these questions and many more have got me thinking about the fears of growing up.

Despite the concerns I have about my future, I have started to view my life in different manner and it has been eye-opening and liberating. Lately I have begun to think of life as a game, more specifically video games.

One of the main features of video games is that their are multiple lives. When video game character dies, he is instantly able to respawn and the player is able to attempt to reach his goal. If a character runs out of lives, the player is simply able to restart the game and try to reach his goal.

Obviously life cannot operate like a video game, and it would certainly be less interesting if it did. But, what if the mentality of video games could be applied to life; the carefree and risk taking mentality of video games. If we as humans could live life knowing that everything that happens in life pales in comparison to death, think about how fun and exciting life could be. If in every death (i.e. failure) there was a rebirth (i.e. a new opportunity) we would be able to enjoy the richness and pleasures of life without worrying nearly as much about failing. Steve Jobs talked a little bit about this idea in his 2005 Stanford Commencement address. If you get a chance you should watch his speech.

In any case, life ought not be taken so seriously. The pressures and expectations of life can be daunting at times, but if we think of life as a game (only to a certain extent) maybe we will be able to live a life without the pressure and hopefully that would be a life worth living.

Delicate Games

For the past three years, I have worked with an organization called Sunrise Day Camp. Sunrise is a nonprofit organization that offers free summer camp to any child with cancer and their siblings. If you think the camp is a gloomy, slow paced, sad environment, YOU ARE WRONG. This camp is quite the opposite.

The campers look forward to coming all year and act is if each day is a whole new adventure. The staff and directors of the camp constantly program exciting volunteer guests and activities that the campers really look forward to. At camp, basically everything that is done is a game. However, sunrise is different since it is considered to be a medical camp. The counselors and nursing staff need to be fully attentive at all times to ensure the safety of each and every camper. While we do play games, the games are altered to be safe and fun for all. Last year, one camper in my group, Emmanuel, was in a wheel chair and had very weak bones due to his extensive chemotherapy. Watching the campers rally around Emmanuel each day was truly inspiring. One particular time that was memorable was when we were playing baseball for the first time (we play with a foam ball and plastic bat). Baseball is Emmanuel’s favorite sport and on this day, he was determined to participate. A particularly thoughtful camper took it upon himself to help Emmanuel stand up and hit the ball. Every camper then cheered and high-fived Emmanuel as he gleamed from ear to year. He was ecstatic throughout the day and could not wait until the next time we played.

The camp taught me many things about children and games. Games are what keep these kids alive, so Sunrise came up with a way to take this camp one step further. For many of the campers, they spend countless hours in hospitals receiving treatment or in waiting rooms anxiously waiting to see the doctor. Sunrise on Wheels is an organization that brings camp into the hospitals. Sunrise on Wheels goes to various hospitals in New York each month and brings board games, arts and crafts, video games, and numerous other stimulating games for children. When the campers get to see their counselors with their sunrise shirts on, it immediately brings a smile to their face, even in such difficult circumstances.

Games are everywhere. By seeing the campers at Sunrise Day Camp interact with each other through games, I truly was able to see how impactful games are on our lives. Although the campers do have cancer and are fighting terrible illnesses, I guarantee there are more smiles and happiness at this camp than any other.

For more information about the camp: www.sunrisedaycamp.org

Intra-team Dynamics and the Use of Language

A while ago we discussed the use of language, language games, and competition through language. This past weekend demonstrated to me the importance of language in shaping our relationships, and defining us. Last Thursday, early in the morning, I left with the Mock Trial team to compete in the National Championship Tournament in Minneapolis, MN. We had a great weekend, and did very well, however the circumstances of us going were what interested me the most. At our previous tournament we got 5th place which earned us a bid, however "we" are the Michigan B team. I am a co-captain of a team of technically "second tier" competitors. Over the course of the semester our team as been change, people have been moved between teams, and we have been forced to be very adaptable. At our last tournament we did not expect to earn a bid, we were happy that we came as far as we did, so when they called our name we ecstatic. However, our "A" team got 12th place, their name was not called, and it was their last tournament.

Ultimately we filled up the two extra spots on our team with two members from our A team. We told our friends and family, and all got ready to go to Nationals. My friend that was on our C team came to support us and noticed something very interesting, the original members of our team called it "our team" while the new members called it "this team". Additionally, the members of the A team that did not make it to Nationals told everyone "our team is not going to Nationals". Even more, the new members told their friends "my team did not make it but since another one did, and they are taking me, I get to compete still".

Now this is not that surprising, except for the juxtaposition with the members from our C team. The members of our C team, whose season has been over for time, told friends and family "our team is going to Nationals". Since our entire program consists of only 30 members, we are all very close friends. We support each other and understand we are all on the same team. At the end of the day, whether on A, B or C team, we are all representatives of Michigan Mock Trial. If we all understand that we are one team, then why does this difference in language occur? It is understandable that the members of the best team in our program not competing at Nationals would be upset, but the type of language used shows the divide between our teams. This language is not direct, snide or mean. Instead it is, subtle and unconscious. However, the small change from "our team" to "this team" has huge implications to the team dynamic. It reveals the underlying competition and jealousy between the members in our programs. The same members that are all best friends. Anytime teams are in competition with each other, there will be competition between individuals as well. Is there a way to combat this in the future? Is there a way to keep our team united and proud of our program no matter the outcome? Over the last few weeks I have tried to find this, but this subtle language reveals it will never be complete.

The Worst Game in the World: Registration

            After fighting through the frustrations of registration for the Fall Semester, I gave myself some time to reflect on the entire process. Ultimately, what I realize, like with many things over the majority of this course, is that registering for classes is just one big game. I mean think about it. People sit at their computers days before their registration date, making their ideal schedules with no Fridays, and no early mornings, only to learn two days before you register that half of those classes are filling up. So you begin to panic and scurry around for other classes that fill certain requirements and fit in your schedule enough that you don’t need to tweak it enough. And then, when you finally find the right combination of classes the night before registration, odds are, in the morning, one of those classes will be wait-listed. It truly is a game, as students must find classes that fit in their time schedules, fill specific requirements and are in specific subject area and at the same time, compete with 20,000 other students to get in the class.

            While Michigan’s process of class registration is very similar to a game, the difference between signing up for classes in the fall and winter is the fact that there is a whole summer before classes begin. Those who take more credits are in turn rewarded by getting earlier registration dates, just like in a game, the more you do, the better options you have as the game progresses. However, in the summer, it is all up to the player whether or not his or her schedule will change. Four months is a long time away from school and many students will find that they forget about the upcoming semester to focus on other things like summer jobs and internships or other things to occupy time. However, the university begins to open seats in classes which, for those paying attention to Wolverine Access allows students a second chance into classes that might have been filled up when they registered, almost like a respawn in a shooting game. Students will check daily to see if they moved up slots on the waitlist or if new seats opened up. Sometimes the university even opens new sections, which allows for a group of students to get into the class. As long as you are willing to wait out the waitlist, generally, you will be rewarded. However, there are those times where the waitlist just doesn’t work out and alternatives must be put into effect.  Overall, while it is a stretch, registration for classes certainly does resemble many aspects of gaming and in order to win, you must find multiple sets of the best schedule for yourself and just pray that you have enough credits to beat out the other person with the same exact set of classes. 

 

            However, even when it seems as though you have failed, and you waited throughout the whole summer, checking everyday to see whether or not you have moved up on the waitlist and never did, there is still one more option. For those students outgoing and ambitious enough to do it, like in all games, there is one cheat code in the system of registration. Students who show up on the first session of classes, even if he or she is still on the waitlist or not even enrolled often times can talk to the professor after class and will be granted an override slip, and ultimate acceptance into the class. This is truly the final chance a student has to get enrolled as the professor ultimately hold all the power in this game. So for those who are number 78 on the waitlist for a class in Fall of 2012, wait it out for as long as you can bare, and I wish you the best of luck.

The Game of Picking Classes

Everyone who goes to Michigan knows how intense backpacking and registering can get sometimes. You are a week away from your registration date, and you go to Wolverine Access to check out the classes you backpacked. A week ago, every class was open with plenty of seats. Obviously now half of the classes you were planning on taking were full and you have to scramble to fill your schedule. It seems like there are no available classes to fill your requirements, and you may start to panic.

Picking your schedule is a talent. You need to see how many credits you need, allocated to what departments, and then you pick the (easiest) best classes to fill the time slots. Of course, you make sure to avoid Fridays, and attempt to wake up as late as possible. Then you magically mesh the classes together to fill the perfect schedule. I don’t know about everyone else, but when it is my time to register, I am staring at the clock ready to click “proceed to next step” and finish registering.

It is a game, sort of. You have a list of choices, put them in a shopping cart, and then either take your chances on a wait list, or fit the right pieces together covering a full semester of classes. There are ways to essentially “cheat” in this game too. If you only plan on taking 15 credits, but want to get on some wait lists to see if you get into a preferred class, you can backpack multiple classes and just wait on the wait list to see if a spot opens up. Or, you can take a class pass/fail that you need for requirements, and put more effort into other classes to raise your GPA.

What I am trying to say is that scheduling in college has many aspects of game theory. There are rules, restrictions, requirements, time constraints, objectives, and opponents (other students competing for the same spots in classes). By being savvy and experienced in this game, you can find ways to get the schedule you want, with the classes you need. As of now, I have 8:30 a.m. classes Monday-Thursday next semester; hopefully I will be able to use some game theory to change that up.

Shopping Game

As a guy who doesn't do a whole lot of shopping I am not sure how qualified I am to even write this post, but I am going to attempt it anyways. Shopping is a part of everyone’s life, but if you think about it there is actually a lot of strategy involved. First, you have to budget your money. People save up to buy a new pair of shoes or a new shirt, etc. It gets harder though, not only do you have to save up for these items, you have to use your money strategically. People put items on hold to make sure they aren't buying a shirt at one store when then might like another one better at another store. However, if you do happen to buy something you don't want you can always go back in return it. In addition, shopping can be like a game of hide and seek. Some stores are so big you have to go through it in order so you don't miss anything. Lastly, this part pretty much only applies to girls, but shopping can almost sometimes be like a race because once your friend buys something you can apparently no longer buy that same article of clothing or accessary. My girlfriend and her friends for example always send each other pictures of clothes after they buy them to make sure no one else buys the same thing. This all seems very silly, and that last part to me sounds the most outrages (that’s probably just because I am a guy and just don't understand) but it is a very real and potent game everyone seems to play. Shopping has a lot of strategy involved in it. While there aren't really any winners or losers except your wardrobe, it still takes careful planning at times and to relate even more back to this course has its own magical circle in that of the store, mall, or online shopping website. In addition, taking this one step further, shopping has even branched off to form other games such as raffles for shopping sprees and free clothes giveaways. Shopping doesn't seem like much, but there is definitely more to it than meets the eye.

Drinking Games

As college students, I’m sure most of us are familiar with drinking games weather we should be or not is a different story. Anyways, drinking games are probably one of the most dangerous games people can play. Most of these games force people to drink fast, even it if is small quantities. However, after a while those small quantities add up and the player most likely starts to become very drunk. It is one thing to get drunk, but more often than not I have found people get drunk quicker by playing these games than by just drinking casually or taking a couple shots. These games also differ in that many of these are races and the point is to drink quickly which in it of itself is not safe. I find that most college students play these games, but there are a lot of students that don't know when to stop and become belligerent, putting themselves and their peers at risk. I am sure almost all college students can attribute a night of drunkenness or a terrible hangover to playing that one last game of beer pong or flip cup. It seems like every Sunday afternoon I hear someone saying "I shouldn't have played that much flip cup, I feel like shit." I am probably a hypocrite for writing all of this, but I find it necessary to reflect on some of my mistakes I suppose. Anyways, while drinking games are fun and are part of college life and the experience of college, I encourage everyone to not play that last game of beer pong or flip cup that puts them over the edge. Thus, everyone stay safe and drink responsibly.

Fantasy Sports

Over the past several years, one game as clearly stood out in my life among all others, fantasy sports. Originally it was just fantasy football, but now it is also basketball, the NCAA tournament bracket, and NCAAF bowl pick'em. Some of these (especially basketball) is actually kind of hard work. Also, for those of you who play fantasy baseball or hockey too will know this. You have to check your lineup every day and look for injuries, constantly dropping and adding players from your roster, and just overall managing your team. These games have become a main topic among me and my friends who have small amounts of money on these fantasy sports along with the bragging right which comes with winning. The amount of time I spend managing my team and checking scores online actually somewhat start to rival the amount of time I spend on Facebook. These games are so time consuming it is almost like a sport but without the physical labor. Fantasy sports are becoming so popular that there are specific shows now on ESPN and other networks that only talk about who to play on your fantasy team. Even athletes play these games (some debate if this should be allowed or not though). My friend who is a ball boy for the Detroit tigers said that one day over the summer Justin Verlander and Austin Jackson were yelling in the locker room asking if anyone wanted to take part in a fantasy football league with them. Other people such as Maurice Jones-Drew for the Jacksonville Jaguars publicly apologized to his fantasy owners after a game because he took a knee at the goal line in order for time to run out rather than scoring a touchdown. Fantasy sports are a lot of fun and anyone can play, it is a great game and is slowly starting to weave itself into American culture and social life.

How Much More Fighting Can We Take?

            Don’t get me wrong; I am the last one to complain when a fight starts in the middle of a hockey game. Mostly because I don’t really like the game and I don’t think that it has any hope in the United States to become the NBA or NFL. However, after watching today’s joke of a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers, I must react to this debauchery. We’re talking a 4 vs. 5 seed first round playoff match between two bitter rivals who already had several altercations during the regular season against each other. THIS IS THE NHL PLAYOFFS!!! THE PLAYOFFS!!! Not some big joke of a game that means nothing. It features the return of Sydney Crosby, the figurehead for athletes who can’t avoid concussions a bunch of heavy hitters looking to give their team the edge in the series. During today’s game, there were some words between Crosby and several Flyers players and following a stoppage of player, Claude Giroux of the Flyers went after Crosby and a brawl ensued. While Crosby appeared to stay out of violence during the first round of punches, several players did not and were ejected after heavy blows to the head of Flyers players and Penguin gloves and helmets hit the ice. After it seemed the storm was over, Crosby began throwing punches to the head until referees were able to break it up. So here I sat, wondering one of two things.

            The first was how big of a joke is hockey. Here I though I was watching two of the premier teams in hockey battle it out in the first round of the playoffs, but instead what I was getting was a really really bad Paperview fight, that still had commercials (at least I didn’t have to pay extra for it). I mean really guys. I understand that the league must protect Sydney Crosby because he is one of their best players who is prone to serious head injuries. However, by letting 3 out of 4 refs keep their eyes on Crosby, it gives the other players enough time to drop their gloves and really go at it with intent to kill. How can the league allow for players to just throw punches at eachother, when the spotlight is on the league. This is the only true time the sport gets national recognition and instead of putting on a performance of superb hockey, they give us a bunch of fighting chickens with their heads cut off.

            The other thing I thought was it is completely on the players. Yes, emotions run high on the ice, especially during playoff time. But, you are on national television and look how you are representing yourself in postseason hockey. It is no surprise that double-digit goals were scored in the game by both teams combined, because there was no sense of defense, just hard checking and if that didn’t work, just throw off the gloves and go for the head. This is how real injuries happen. I don’t know what the league can do to limit the fighting during the playoffs, but something must be done because the flow of the game today was unbearable to watch, good players were forced to sit out because of pure stupidity and most importantly, unnecessary blood was shed during a game of utmost importance.

A Game of Numbers, Small Numbers

Usually, the top players in a game have the best chance of winning. That’s why when picking teams in a schoolyard game; the best players tend to get selected before the weaker less experienced ones. Prior to reading Michael Lewis’ Moneyball, I believed that this remained true at all levels of games through the professional leagues. As someone who grew up in New York, watching the all powerful and might Yankees win World Series after World Series, it seemed pretty instinctual to me as a sports fan to realize that teams who have money to spend on talent are successful, end of story. While there are certainly several instances where that very basic formula fails, for the most part, success is achieved by the teams with the most amount of talent. So, the question remains, how can small market teams in professional sports stand a chance to compete with the wallets of GMs in places like Boston, New York or Los Angeles? Generally, the answer is not well, as the majority of big time sports dynasties have come from big time cities across the United States. 

            However, after reading about the 2002 Oakland Athletics and the brilliance behind Billy Beane’s methods and strategies, I realize that there are ways for these out-of-market teams to compete, it just takes a lot more brains to make up for less talent or really lack of capital. Throughout the novel, the reader learns of several methods that Beane and his management staff use to attempt to rate incoming players and free agents from around the league. No method however, has anywhere near the success as the revolutionary sabermetrics. This system of statistics takes into account different aspects of the game of baseball than traditional statistics does. Sabermetrics essentially created the categories of slugging and on-base percentage, as it has become one of the firm foundations of MLB statistics. As the book continues, different players who seem to shine in sabermetrics categories are able to be signed for much cheaper than their value according to the scouts new methods of statistics. By strictly abiding by a new revolutionary way of player judgment, Billy Beane took a big chance in complete and utter failure. But, instead, he assembled a very cheap and very ambitious group of young players with nothing to lose and found a formula to create winning baseball. The 2002 A’s went on to have a magical year that year, using their $41 Million salary and taking that group of guys and challenging the high powered $125 Million Yankees for the league pennant. 

General Manager of the Oakland Athletics Billy Beane

            After reading, while still being amazed by the ideas behind sabermetrics and the ways of the Oakland A’s front office, I began to wonder why this formula worked for the A’s. I then thought back to a lecture by Brian Coppola, in which he explained how in his opinion, the most successful way for a game to work is by using statistics with small numbers. Applying that to the novel, the A’s decided that rather than focusing on the 30+ categories worth of statistics that are currently recorded and used to determine player talent, they would rely on strictly two categories that took about ten different aspects of the game into account. What this allowed for was for the management to focus on the aspects they felt needed improvement on their ball club and then had the ability to pick out the best suitable players for their situation. Moreover, by assembling a team made up of guys with smaller salaries and in accordance, smaller egos, the A’s were able to build up team chemistry unlike any other team in the league because they lacked the superstars who butt heads with each other over the spot light. By combining smaller pieces together, especially in a game in which depth and chemistry is of utmost importance, it is possible to compete with teams with three times the payroll and double the talent. This book provides evidence that an underdog story is possible when the right small pieces are put in place. While teams fight in free agency over the top $100 Million per year players, maybe they should take a look back at what Billy Beane has accomplished in Oakland, especially when they first began to turn around in 2002 and they implemented the system of sabermetrics into their scouting resources. If not, maybe they should call Brian Coppola a call, because he at least convinced me that the most vital aspect of a game is statistics of small numbers and that will lead to ultimate success.

Community Service

While there are many great and noble ways to help people, some of the best community service (in my opinion) involves playing games with children. There is nothing like reaching out to a child and brightening just an hour of his/her life. Because of this, I've spent the majority of my time at University of Michigan playing child-games.


The first service project I got involved in on campus is literacy tutoring through America Reads. This program is special due to the creative ways they encourage tutors to teach first, second, and third graders how to read and write. Many days, I found myself playing spelling tic-tac-toe where I would make the traditional tic-tac-toe grid and choose two letters that the student was having trouble with. One of my tutees had trouble differentiating between "i" and "e," so instead of using "x" and "o," we used these letters on the grid. Each time one of us made a turn, we had to say the name of the letter and the sound it makes. By teaching the kids through a fun and simple game that they know and love, I was able to effectively help them differentiate between difficult letters.

After starting this experience, I was hooked. I signed up for a class that involved going to an after school program in Detroit and just spending time with the kids there. Day after day we would play tag, kickball, dodgeball, hide and seek--you name it. However, I found myself becoming upset that I wasn't fundamentally doing anything to help these kids' lives. After discussing this with my group, I realized that these kids who (many) undoubtedly come from difficult walks of life, were really enjoying their time with me. I may not have been solving all of their problems, but I was giving these kids a chance to be kids--to enjoy a part at least one part of their day. I was also serving as a role-model, which is something that can be extremely influential to a young kid.

I see now that playing Barbie for three hours/week was more than just a game. I was giving these kids a friendship that they surely appreciated. These playful experiences have fueled my drive to one day be a child's therapist and to continue with my community service with children. Even if I'm not moving mountains or making life-changing contributions, these games that I so happily play are special moments that every child needs.

To get involved with child-oriented community service, I highly suggest applying to America Reads Tutoring Corps, Jumpstart (through Americorps), taking Psych 211, Soc 389, Psych 317/319, and getting involved with the Detroit Partnership and Circle K. Put your love of games to good use!

The Game of Getting Ahead

From time to time I have to step back and ask myself....Why do I make the career choices that I do? Coming from a low-income family, I've found myself very driven to do the best that I can to ensure that I have a prosperous future. Like many college students I have a deep competitiveness inside of me when it comes to academics. After a while I have to wonder, is all of this so that I can receive the highest paycheck? Is that what will truly make my life fulfilling? Regardless, I'm in the majority when I say, I'm not just in college, I'm in the game of getting ahead. Ahead of what? Getting into the best college, earning the best grades, getting the best jobs and internships, having a strong resume and grad school application--ahead of the other brilliant people in the world who are working to take one of those coveted middle class to upper middle class distinctions.

Looking around in my 400-level Psychopathology of Childhood class, I see nothing but competitors. We all want the same thing--to be a child-therapist. We're all applying to the same graduate schools, the same internships, and eventually the same jobs. With that said, Psychology is tame compared to other concentrations where it really seems like professors are pairing students up against each other, like classes that have (actual) curves with very few at the top of the class. Starting at a younger and younger age, parents are doing whatever they can to make ensure their child eventually wins at the game of getting ahead--by one day being rich and successful.

This clip shows how important ensuring a prosperous future for children is to parents. Many parents go to great lengths to provide a preschool education, that will eventually lead to impressive higher education, that will eventually lead to financially successful adults.

But as I alluded to, I don't think being financially successful is the equivalent to being happy and fulfilled. Too many times have a heard neighbors in my dorm saying "I'm going to the B-School/medical school/law school so that I can get rich, but what I'd really like to do is [fill in the blank]." Hearing such a statement once isn't enough to make me go on a rampage, but this kind of thing is said all the time! Entering University of Michigan as Freshman year, I knew exactly what I wanted--to be a clinical psychologist. This means graduating with a gpa of 3.5 or above (preferably above), having extensive extracurriculars, being deeply involved in research, and presenting an honors research project to be competitive. After this, you may get into a clinical psych doctorate program if you're lucky. Usually, 200-300 students apply to a given school and 5-10 are accepted, making a program extremely competitive. That's right, more competition. Once in, you're committed to 5-8 years of intensive research and studies. This year, I began my research endeavor and realized that...I really am not a research fan. But I want to be successful and make money...so I have to be a doctorate, right? Well, I found that pursuing a social work degree as a therapist would allow me to accomplish my dream--however there's a significant pay decrease.  Eventually I decided that social work would be the better option for me, because that's what would make me happiest--not the richest.

After a while, everyone has to ask themselves: What does "getting ahead" mean to me? And, is this a game I want to play?

A Degree of Separation

As I began studying for my my Psych 280 (Social Psychology) final, I came across something very interesting.  It involved what psychologists call the mere exposure effect.  This term, which is defined by my textbook as a finding that the more exposure we have to a stimulus, the more apt we are to like it, relates to the lecture we were given be Mark Newman about networks.  As I read further into my textbook, it discussed how we can get to know people who are very far away physically but very close in cyber-space.

This whole idea of connecting to people in cyber-space is a completely new revelation to our generation.  Never before did people have the opportunity to communicate so easily with one another, let alone connect with so many people.  As I continued to read about this phenomenon, I decided to do some research on my own to what I could find.  I found one very interesting article from the Washington Post discussing some research done by Microsoft in 2006.  Researchers at Microsoft recorded 30 billion electronic conversations among 180 million people on all of the Microsoft Messenger instant-messaging networks from around the world.  From this they concluded that the average two people are distanced by 6.6 degrees of separation. 

While most people already know this, as Mark Newman told us there are six degrees of separation between ourselves and anyone else, there is something more interesting about this finding.  What the researchers concluded here was that is basically a "connectivity constant for humanity" and this number is 6.6.  Just like any other constant that we use (pi, the speed of light, etc.), this is something that is just as fixed. 

After doing this I decided to see what kind of games there were out there to play to see the connections between people.  I found a fun website called "The Oracle of Bacon".  This website allows you to type in any famous actors or actresses and it will show you their connection.  With the first one I typed in, I found a pretty close connection:

As I played around a little more, I started to create a game with myself.  I tried hundreds of combinations to try and find one that was "6 degrees" apart.  After playing for about 15 minutes, I could not find anything more than 3 degrees away.  This makes more sense as the movie industry is a lot more connected than the average human.

Overall, it is very interesting to see how far the internet can take us these days.  When thinking about the amount of Facebook friends you have, and how many friends they have, and how many each of their friends have, the list just goes on an on.  Especially now, when we are all at a time in our lives where social networking plays such a prominent role in how we communicate with one another.  I am not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but it is definitely something that is extremely prevalent.  What do you think? Do you think that we are too reliant on social media these days?

Game of Thrones

While I will be the first one to admit that I was a hater from the start, three days after I decided to finally dive in HBO's new hit show Game of Thrones, I was caught up to this current season. Through these 11 hours of mystic battles and back stabbing, I sat there, completely engaged and infatuated by the story of the 7 Kingdoms. While the scenery and costumes are spectacular and the casting could not have been more appropriate, the plots within plots of this show is truly what has intrigued me to watch up until the point where I could only wait until Sundays at 9 to watch a new episode.

I feel that while there are too many subplots for anyone to keep track of, the ultimate theme of this show is exactly what we have spoken about in this class; that life is truly a game. Throughout Season 1, each of the four major families back stab and scheme there way around their land and every single action they take has a strategic reasoning behind it. Each family has aspirations of gaining the throne and marriages are set up and prisoners are taken in order to secure a chance at taking the throne. Relationships are made and are broken all because of the "game of thrones", every single decision must be well thought out to make sure that nobody is outwitting or outplaying them in the ultimate game of power. On top aspect of the show is the lengths at which the "players" of the show will go to assure victory or at least maintain the status quo. The directors do a fantastic job of showing just how brutal the game of thrones can be in medieval times as they have no mercy in getting rid of or killing off major characters of the show.

What nobody knows is who will win this game, or how long it will last. But what we do know is war is coming and the Starks, Lannisters, Targarians and Baratheans better get their armies ready because based on just the first 12 episodes of the show so far, I can guarantee that the game of thrones takes precedent over everything and all decisions and all other aspects of life revolve around the throne, directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally. The only question that remains is who has the strategy and capability to win the game of thrones and take over the 7 kingdoms.

The Infatuation of Playoff Beards

Don’t get me wrong; when I say something like, “This Michigan weather has been great so far,” I always knock on wood right after. Sometimes, when passing a cemetery, I will hold my breath, hoping to not breathe in “dead spirits.” I would not say I am particularly superstitious though. Some athletes take superstitions to a new level. The playoff beard is one particular example of how superstitions and specific rituals have an impact on various games.

Maybe it is meant to get in the other teams head and distract them, or maybe it is just meant to keep the lucky streak alive. Regardless of the circumstance, playoff beards have become a nationwide phenomenon when athletes decide to grow one. The tradition of growing a beard and not shaving it throughout the playoffs started in the 1980’s with the New York Islanders. The idea of a playoff beard has expanded beyond just the NHL. Now, players in the NBA, NFL, MLB, and even collegiate/high school athletes participate in the trend. It is also a sign of support to your team if a fan participates and grows their own playoff beard.

Now, here are some pictures of some great playoff beards. This is an example of a playoff beard by Detroit Red Wing Henrik Zetterberg. In the Red Wings 2009 playoff run, many of the players grew beards as they adopted the saying, “The beard is back.”

Here is a picture of Mike Commodore of the Carolina Hurricanes. Commodore’s wild beard and crazy hair definitely pay tribute to the playoff beard tradition. It is clear that he was on a mission this year, and I am sure it intimidated many opposing players.

Nothing screams I am willing to do whatever for my team more than this

next picture. Larry McDonald is shown holding up the Stanley Cup celebrating his victory with one of the most intimidating, intense red beards (to match the jersey) I have ever seen. With that beard, it looks like no one can, or is willing to, stop him from getting that trophy.

Superstitions play a big part in some sports. Many athletes buy into some superstitions, especially during playoff time. A playoff beard is a sign to your team that you are willing to sacrifice to get the upper edge on the opponent. Games are affected by countless factors, and by growing a fierce beard, you can help your team to gain confidence and ultimately win a championship.

Got Game?

I’m not sure where it started exactly, but people always say: “Don’t hate the player, hate the game,” implying flirting is a game. On paper, flirting is just a way get to know someone you are in attracted too. However, it is much more complex than that which is when flirting and dating becomes a game. People are they “players” and trying to pick up a date is the “game.” Much like a game there are techniques, some better than others. You can use pickup lines, you can creepily text and call someone over and over that you just me the night before, you can buy someone a drink, or very simply be yourself. The list of ways goes on and on and some work and some don’t.  Also like a game, there are winners and losers in the sense of if you picked up a date. More directly, dating has turned into a more obvious game in trying to find someone online and meeting up in person. In addition, there are speed-dating events to try and help people get a date and supposedly find love.

So, with all these techniques out there and dating being such an intrinsic part of our culture, is the “player” really the one to blame? I think not. Humans are biologically wired to be attracted to the opposite sex. The game is instilled within everyone from the moment they are born. Thus, in that sense, “having game” can almost be seen as genetic. Which of us are given the best genetic tools (looks, personality, etc.) to succeed in flirting and finding a date? Therefore I propose the quote should really go “Don’t hate the player, hate genetics and American culture.” There would be no more cheese pickup lines if everyone had arranged marriages like in other cultures, and there would be no mating at all if humans weren’t wired to want to reproduce. It isn’t really anyone’s fault if they seem like they are trying to hard or are making a fool of themselves, it isn’t there fault. It also isn’t your fault if you say “yes” to the wrong person. It is the fault of genetics and culture that is pushing us to act the way we do. That’s why I say “Don’t hate the player or the game.”

Holiday Games

When you think about it, many holidays (or at least mainstream Christian holidays) are almost games in and of themselves. Think about Christmas: You choose whether or not to celebrate it, if you celebrate it then you likely enjoy it, you receive prizes for celebrating it (presents), and you may feel competition to purchase or receive the best gift, etc. At the same time, there are usually games played within holidays.

Let's look at Easter. There are two main games children play on this holiday (egg hunts and basket hunting). These games, while rudimentary at the least, are a signature part of Easter. Children look forward to the hidden basket full of candy all year, and are truly excited to go searching for it Easter morning. Egg hunts, for example, have competition, prizes, a time component, a setting, etc, culminating in a fast-paced, exciting game for little kids and adults.

With such excitement over games like this, I can't help but wonder....are there games in holidays, or are the holidays themselves games? We also have to wonder, how much importance are we putting on these holiday games? Yesterday my 13-year-old sister asked my mother why Friday is called "Good Friday" (we obviously don't go to church very much), yet she knew that her day would be filled with searching for candy. Likewise, the parents in the video above have put so much attention on the egg hunt, it was canceled due to aggressiveness. Are these mainstream, traditional games really adding to the experience of the religious holidays, or are they detracting?

Perhaps we need to ask ourselves if such holidays are truly religious anymore. While the date (generally) is of religious significance, the holidays seem to be getting farther and farther away from their true meanings. If society looked at these days as more cultural games, would it be more politically correct to incorporate them into schools? At my school teachers had to call Thanksgiving Break "Fall Break" and Christmas Vacation "Winter Break," so a change of thinking like this could really make an impact on the way schools are run. In relation, many families who I know aren't Christian, still celebrate popular Christian holidays. This supports my thought that maybe holidays are slowly becoming more game-based than religious based. It's something to think about.

Don't Play with Your Food!

A phrase we all know. Yet, popular culture seems to want us to do just the opposite. If you've ever watched Food Network, then you know all about food games. Just to name a few programs with this gaming theme: "Chopped," "Iron Chef America," "Cupcake Wars," "Throwdown with Bobby Flay," and the list goes on. With a never-ending list of shows encouraging food games I can't help but think, maybe there's more to food than just something to eat.

Take a look at this clip of Food Network's hit show "Chopped"......

In the first 30 seconds, you can see that this isn't your midday Rachel Ray episode.This show has intense competition complete with judges, a countdown clock, stiff competition, elimination rounds, and a huge cash prize. "Chopped really pushes the envelope on what we consider to be normal cooking television. What it's doing is showing the world how rewarding (and exciting) playing with your food can be.

Let's think back to grade school. Have you ever played with your food in the school cafeteria? I bet you have. While many of us have experienced less than savory school lunches, it's likely that we've also raced our friends to the lunchroom in hopes of winning the first spot in line or the best lunch table. Pretty exciting, right? Well, I would argue that the most exciting lunchroom game of all is the infamous food fight. We've all heard of it, most of us have seen one, and many of us have partaken in the food game of all food games. I mean, look at how much fun they are...

We've been exposed to games like this for our entire lives, and really, they look like a lot of fun! So, why wouldn't we play with our food? They're some of the most fulfilling games to play!

The Statistics of Small Numbers and Why We Love Sports

Last Wednesday Professor Brian Coppola introduced an idea new to our course. Professor Coppola introduced the idea of "the statistics of small numbers." At first I was a bit confused as to what Professor Coppola meant, but as he went on lecturing, I began to get more of an idea. As I understood it, sports/games are unique because they deal with the statistics of small numbers, which in turn requires more of a leap of faith if you will. In Professor Coppola's field of chemistry he deals with the the statistics of large numbers which allows him to make conjectures with relative certainty. The more I thought about his theory, the more it began to make sense.

Today I was watching the Bulls vs. Knicks game. Down the late stretches of the game the score was close and both teams were jockeying for an edge. with less than 30 seconds left, and the Knicks down by 3, Carmelo Anthony came down and hit a contested 26 foot three pointer to tie the game and send it into overtime. At that moment I was cheering and clapping with joy, not because I am a Knicks fan, but because the play was really freaking exciting. Then I thought about why the play was exciting. For the game, Carmelo Anthony finished 16-31 shooting, 4-5 from 3-point range. In this situation we are most certainly dealing with the statistics of small numbers. So, when dealing with the statistics of small numbers we are never fully certain about which outcome will prevail. Will Carmelo miss, or will he make the shot? The suspense and anticipation build until ultimately the shot is hoisted and we are left watching and waiting to see what outcome will result. In that period of waiting so many thoughts run through the mind of a fan, that once the outcome is reached there is nothing left to do but cheer with joy, or sulk in the agony of defeat. The feeling is thrilling not because of the result, but because of the uncertainty of the result, and that is what makes sports fun.

Whether playing a sport, or simply taking it in as a fan, we are all aware that nothing is guaranteed. Every last bit of determination is needed in order to reach a goal established at the beginning of a game, series, or season. Even then, despite all the practice and competition, there is the element of not knowing that makes sports that much more fun and exciting. For anyone who has ever watched a close, hotly contested game you know exactly what I am talking about. And if you have ever watched a game where the outcome was never in much question, you really know what I am talking about.

So, maybe Professor Coppola is on to something. Maybe the statistics of small numbers is what makes sports/games unique from anything else we as humans enjoy. If the Bulls vs. Knicks game is any indication, then I think we are all pretty lucky.

March Madness

This is the best time of year. Finally, winter is over and the sun is out. School is coming to an end and everyone is gearing up for summer. This time of year also means the annual March Madness NCAA basketball tournament is amongst us. Widely considered to be the greatest sporting event of the year, the NCAA basketball tournament is invigorating and exciting day in and day out. The media and sport analysts hype up the tournament for weeks prior to the event, as people across the country try to fill out the perfect bracket. The phenomenon of filling out a bracket with hopes of filling out the first ever perfect bracket has become such a big part of our nation, President Obama even fills out a bracket on the air for all to see.

It is very interesting to think about what is going on with the NCAA basketball tournament. The whole nation tunes in to watch 64 college teams compete over a 3-week period. But this raises the question, how are these athletes supposed to be focusing on schoolwork during the course of the tournament? The NCAA is an educational administration, yet they rarely demonstrate educational values. With longer seasons and more weeknight games, universities across the country are taking athletes out of the classroom. College sports have become so dependent on bringing in sufficient revenue that the administrators have forgotten about the educational values set forth by the NCAA.

Teams have recently been realigning more often to conferences that geographically DO NOT make sense. There is no reason that schools from the Northeast should be relocating to play games in a conference like the Big 12, for example. It is important to question whether these schools are actually looking out for the best interest of their athletes. If they were, then they would remain in conferences that consisted of teams geographically close to them. Instead schools are playing teams that are very far away, thus needing more travel days. This results in taking the athletes out of the classroom for more days, further lessening the educational values of the NCAA.

The NCAA March Madness tournament accounts for most of the revenue for the NCAA. A tremendous amount of money pours in from this tournament due to expensive sponsorships and advertising space. Don’t get me wrong; I love college basketball and especially March Madness. I have been following college basketball for as long as I can remember and can vividly recall watching the tournament at very young ages. Even though I love the tournament so much, I can still easily see its flaws and where it needs improvement. It is important to question whether or not these athletes are being given an equal shot in the classroom, not just the court.

How to Look Pretty

The other day my friends and I were discussing how much competition (conscious or not) there is in looking pretty. The goes for both sexes, but for women especially it seems as if there is an ongoing, lifelong battle to look your absolute best. There are products that promise beauty and youth, and clothes that shape your figure or hide any flaws. A large market of the consumer market feeds off of a woman's desire to be beautiful. 


The "winners" of this competition are usually young, wealthy (or so they seem) women with nice hair, good skin, impeccable makeup and the most stylish clothes. Because of this the media becomes obsessed with starlets caught in sweatpants without makeup. It seems as if they are off their game. With these pictures some stars fall off their pedestal, if they turn out not to be attractive without the glamour. Others will skyrocket even higher because it is obvious they are beautiful even without a makeup artist and stylish behind them. One such example is of Jennifer Lawrence, a rising star from her lead role as Katniss Everdeen in the international sensation The Hunger Games. In these pictures she is caught on a grocery run without makeup. Because she is so beautiful without makeup, she has been talked about in the media even more. This has won her, and her movie, even more attention.

The competition of beauty has turned into a game for some. Mark Zuckerberg's initial website Facemash, a preemptor to Facebook, was designed to have Harvard students vote on which students where the hottest by comparing their student ID pictures. Today, Facebook profile pictures are usually a person's most attractive picture they can find. This is because we know we are being compared against our friends, and our friends' friends everyday online. 


There are many jokes about the game of looking good. For example the Jenna Marbles video with over 38 millions views "How to trick people into thinking you're good looking" is a hilarious example of people who try a little too hard with their hair and makeup, and instead go from looking attractive, to just plain ridiculous. 


If you Google search "how to look pretty" you will get 2.4 billion hits. This is an incredible obsession with beauty, and the game of pursuing it. TV shows, magazines, websites, movies, and entire books focus on how to make yourself the best version of you, to put you into competition with the rest. I am not saying this is good, or bad, but a fact of life that dominants many of our daily decisions. The competition of beauty should not be taken lightly, but as a serious game we all play every single day. 

Why the NBA Age Requirement Stinks

Last night the Kentucky Wildcats won the National Championship with a team that featured 3 Freshmen. All three are likely to go to the NBA and make millions of dollars. Many say that their one year stay in college will help them transition to the next level, and they may be right, but I still think the NBA age requirement sucks and prevents players from reaching their dreams and potential economic gains. In 2005 the NBA enacted a age requirement for draft eligibility that mandated 19 years of age and a one year gap from the end of high school. Prior the 2005 players were free to jump straight from high school to the NBA and many made the jump. Some more successfully than others, much to the dismay of the NCAA. In an effort to give young players more experience and prevent them from invading the the more talent rich NBA, the NBA enacted an age requirement, but I believe it has hurt the NCAA and the college athletes forced to wait a year.

For starters, many of the players who earn scholarships to play college basketball come from financial hardship. Many players go off to college hoping to one day play in the NBA and provide a better life for their family, but that one year in college has the possibility to hurt their future economic opportunities. Injuries are part of sports, and the more games you play the more likely you are to injure yourself. At the amateur level, where players are receiving no pay, the consequence of an injury is even greater. Say a potential lottery pick tears his ACL and loses some of his vertical leap and lateral quickness. Instead of being a #1 pick straight out of high school, he may drop to the middle of the 1st round which in the long run could cost him millions of dollars. If any player feels that his talents are sufficient enough for him the make the jump to the NBA, then he should have no barriers preventing him from making that life decision. It is the responsibility of the player to surround himself with the best advice possible and make a decision that is best for him and his family. The NBA's age requirement prevents him from doing that, and I see that as a problem.

Second, having players stay in college for a minimum of 1 year is of no service to the institution which they attend. Universities spend a lot of time and money to ensure that student athletes have the best services to help them succeed academically, but all of it is for not if a player leaves for the NBA. If I am not mistaken, the NCAA only checks academic eligibility at the beginning of terms. As a result, a player destined for the NBA only has to give effort during his fall semester. Once winter semester rolls around, a player can slack off knowing that his eligibility is safe and that his draft status will be safe as well. This is a disservice not only to the player "receiving" an education, but to his fellow students and to the institution. If someone is not serious about their studies, they should not be forced to attend college when those resources being used on him could be used on someone more deserving and someone who will make the most of the opportunity. Now, some may say that the NBA age requirement doesn't require high schoolers to attend college, just take a year off, and these people are correct. However, practically speaking, how many 18 year olds do you know willing to leave everything behind to play overseas or in the NBA Development League for a year. College is a fun and much simpler route to take, and that is important to keep in mind.

Now, you may be wondering why I decide to talk about the NBA age requirement, and there is a simple reason why. Today on espn.com I came across an article saying that NBA Commissioner David J. Stern would like the age requirement upped to 2 years. As I have shown, I am not a fan of the 1 year requirement so I would obviously not like to see a 2 year requirement. In the article Commissioner Stern talks about the NFL's 3 year age requirement and how it works for them. What he fails to realize, however, is that the nature of the sport of football is completely different than basketball. Football requires a level of physical strength that only time, preparation, and competition can build. Basketball, on the other hand, doesn't require such physicality, thus the jump from high school to the professionals is much easier. So, hopefully, I have given a compelling case as to why the NBA age requirement is a bad rule, and maybe if he's listening, Commissioner Stern may change his mind too.

Here's My Number, So Call Me Maybe?

For those of you that aren't into tween pop songs, haven't been to Skeeps in the last few weeks, and fail to look at iTunes top ten on a regular basis, it will be a surprise to learn that one of the most popular songs in the country right now is "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen.  This overly catchy song with a fast tempo beat managed to become a sensation overnight thanks to the one and only Justin Bieber.  Justin signed Carly Rae Jepsen in February to his new record label entitled "School Boy Records".  However, this was not the only reason this song became so popular so fast.  It wasn't until Bieber and his girlfriend Selena Gomez (another teen Disney star) filmed a music video with some friends and put it on YouTube.  If you aren't apart of the 29,251,401 people that have seen this video, here is what you are missing out on:

Anyways, you are all probably wondering why I am rambling on about a viral pop song and video.  Well, as embarrassed as I may be to admit it, I am a huge fan of both this video and song, which lead me to further investigate information in regards to this topic.  In doing so, I stumbled across a website in which viewers can create their own "Call Me Maybe" video.  After scrolling through 19 pages worth of videos and watching a few, I began to think back to what we learned about in the beginning of this class in regards to norms.

To some people, posting these videos may just be a fun thing to do with friends; however, to others it has become a game.  A game in which a constitutive norm has been put in place.  Yes, I understand that there are no "rules" as to what you can put in a make-your-own video, and there is no coined "winner".  However, as you look through all 19 pages of videos, almost all of them follow the same similar ideas.  They all play the song in full, do the same dance moves, and switch scenes often.  Therefore, even though there are no written guidelines to follow, there is a norm that is put in place.  This, in turn, lets viewers play in the game: to create the best video they can that is, in reality, most similar to the video put online by Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez.

Overall, as the semester has gone on, I have come to the realization that games are everywhere I look.  Whether from what I have learned in other classes, what I have found while spending mindless hours on the Internet, or just from talking with friends, I have begun to notice the importance of games in the world around me.  As John Mitani pointed out last class, primates are very competitive yet at the same time like to work together and cooperate.  This is the general basis for many games that we see in our everyday lives.  In addition, this class has made me aware of all the games we play in our society and how even something like making a video with some friends can, in reality, be just as much as a game as anything else.

Competition of Multiple Personalities

In class each guild presented one thing we have not learned about that deals with some aspect of games. I focused of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) in psychopathology, which is better known as multiple personality disorder. Since I am a BBCS major I have learned about this phenomenon a few different items, and every time I learn more, I am more fascinated.


DID is when a person has multiple personalities. This is not something you are born with, but instead a defense mechanism you brain creates to protect yourself from the memories from terrible experiences. It is unknown why one person will get this over another, but it is most common in people who have suffered from sexual abuse as children. When memories from the abuse come up, the person will unconsciously slip into a different personality. When they return to being "themselves" they will not remember what they talked about or did. A good way to think of it is like a mirror. Our personality is a mirror, but with DID the mirror is shattered into a bunch of smaller pieces to prevent it from being whole again. 


Some cases have 20 - 50 different distinct personalities. Each one is completely different in age, gender, habits, and even handwriting! I have attached a video from a documentary done on DID that we watched in my classes before. This section is about a woman named Barb who had ongoing abuse from her father, and has created many personalities. She becomes exhausted from competing with her personalities for control of her body everyday. Each personality has different memories. At 6:58, when she is in the personality of "Carrie", she explains how and when Carrie takes over the body by saying, "I'm only allowed out when it is something nobody else wants to handle. It's not fair." This shows that not only is Barb competing with the personalities, but the personalities are competing with themselves. Carrie is angry that she "lost" and had to take control of a situation. 


Here is the video if you are interested in watching it. Although this is certainly not a game, it definitely shows how some people have to deal with extreme competition within their body for control of who they are everyday. 

The Thrill of the Trade

Fortunes have been made. People have killed themselves. Reputations have arisen. Reputations have been crushed. Sounds like poker, right? Well, in many ways, it is. But the layman don't generally think of trading as a game. In today's financial markets, many assets can be traded, the most well-known of which are stocks. Did you also know it was possible to trade the weather? Kilowatts? Oil? Enron collapsed because of it. But enough romanticizing for now; this post will detail some of the ways how game mechanics can be found in trading.

1. The Magic Circle

While anyone can trade from their home computer, there are entire spaces dedicated to the craft. For example, in the trading space above, one row might be dedicated to trading commodities (corn, wheat, cows, orange juice) while another row is dedicated to trading stocks (MSFT, GOOG, XOM), and another dedicated to trading complex derivatives (mortgages, repurchase agreements, collateralized debt). The atmosphere and energy in such a "magic circle" is completely different from anything you'd find anywhere else. It's incredibly intense and rising tempers are not uncommon.

2. Language and Rules

If someone started talking about candlesticks, spreads, and contango, you'd probably think he was insane. There's no way a candlestick, strawberry jam, and some obscure dance form could possibly be mentioned in the same context. But in trading, these actually refer to a type of chart, a price differential, and a pricing condition respectively. Everyone in the know knows exactly what the trader is talking about when he mentions these terms. The better you know the rules, the more likely you are to minimize your risk and maximize your gains. Although, even some of the best traders have gone down in flames.

3. Players

There's got to be someone sitting behind that desk, after all. But instead of using a game controller, he might, for instance, be using a Bloomberg Terminal, which requires learning how to use. There are also different kinds of players. The stay-at-home trader, the swing trader, the corporate trader, and the buy-and-hold trader are several types of player types found in trading. Warren Buffet, for example, is a famous buy-and-hold while the people who had worked at Enron were swing traders, manipulating energy prices and readjusting trading positions dozens of times a day. Traders can also belong to different institutions, which can be thought of as guilds in a way. Goldman Sachs, Exxon Mobil, and Berkshire Hathaway all each have their own culture and trading practices. The first is an investment bank, the second an oil company, and the third a hedge fund.

As you can see, gaming frameworks are widely applicable to trading. In fact, many traders actually think of their job as a game. It's fun, it can be rewarding, it can be frustrating. Real-time money is at stake. Most never become superstars. However, they still enjoy observing the techniques of the titans.