Games
Discover facts about games. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Games
Twilight Princess flipped its whole world for right-handed players
The Wii version mirrored the GameCube game's world, turning the usually left-handed Link into a right-handed swordsman. That made his sword hand match the…
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Why some wooden pieces are cut at odd angles
If a piece’s center of mass would otherwise tip it face-first, manufacturers angle its edges so it can stand upright—until a bump knocks it over.
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PlayStation 2 memory units store precisely eight megabytes
With only 8 megabytes, players sometimes had to delete old saves to make room for a new game.
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Why motion-capture actors sometimes hold it in
The suits’ zippers, reflective markers, and cables make changing a multi-person chore, so performers may hold it rather than pause production.
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Why the Dreamcast launched on 9/9/99
The all-nines date was a memorable marketing stunt, but it couldn’t save the innovative console from its eventual failure.
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Old maid revolves around dodging one unmatchable card
Players pair off cards and pass the one unmatched queen around, trying not to be left holding it at the end.
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Twister became a hit after Eva Gabor played it on TV
In 1966, Milton Bradley was close to pulling the game because of poor sales and moral outrage. Johnny Carson's live-TV match with Eva Gabor sparked a rush to…
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Link was inspired by Peter Pan
Shigeru Miyamoto drew on Peter Pan for Link’s pointed ears and green tunic, giving the hero a look that nods to Neverland’s boy who wouldn’t grow up.
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EverQuest II had a command for ordering real pizza
In 2005, typing /pizza linked players to Pizza Hut's ordering site. A command entered inside a fantasy world could start a delivery to your actual front door.…
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Why crossed legs make your feet tingle
Crossing your legs for a long time can compress the peroneal nerve, causing the pins-and-needles feeling when you stand.
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This speedrun waits two weeks for better hair
In the original Baten Kaitos, the Shampoo item takes about 336 hours to turn into Splendid Hair. A full-completion run needs that transformation, so knowing…
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Why actors avoid noisy fabrics on camera
Sensitive microphones can pick up even the faint swish of corduroy, denim, or a windbreaker, ruining a take. Actors may have to change clothes or stand very…
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Among Us characters wear tiny suits and toilet paper hats
The ridiculous costumes add a bit of absurdity to a game built around constant suspicion and accusations.
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Why roulette balls are coated like frying pans
A slick polymer coating makes the ball’s path less predictable by reducing friction—much like the nonstick surface on a frying pan.
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League of Legends once had feet so chunky that even Riot joked about them
When updating Singed, Riot described his old model as having pizza feet. The team could keep his usable animation rig while replacing the dated model and…
Discover moreMortal Kombat lets you turn rivals into babies
A special button sequence triggers a move that turns a defeated opponent into a diaper-wearing baby—a deliberately humiliating alternative to a finishing move.
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Grand Theft Auto IV allows players to get completely drunk
At a bar, drinking too much makes the camera wobble and walking difficult, so even crossing the street can turn into a challenge.
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In strategy games, stealing resources can starve an army
By taking over the map's resource-gathering points, you can cripple an opponent's military production without firing a shot.
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Codenames uses a grid of twenty-five single word text cards
Each spymaster gives a single clue meant to connect several words, while teammates try to guess which cards they mean—sometimes agonizingly picking the wrong…
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Risk began as a French game called The Conquest of the World
Filmmaker Albert Lamorisse created La Conquête du Monde, later adapted and sold as Risk. Its map turned world conquest into a contest of armies, dice, and…
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Building intricate prisons that operate worse than dungeons
In Prison Architect, a missing solitary-confinement door or an underfunded cafeteria can turn a carefully planned prison into a riot.
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RollerCoaster Tycoon lets you trap guests forever
Delete the path back to the entrance, and guests can wander through the park without finding their way out.
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Mouse Trap makes a chain reaction part of the game
Players assemble a sprawling mechanism whose movements eventually drop a cage. The suspense is not only whether the mouse is in the wrong place; it is…
Discover moreTony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 let Spider-Man ride a skateboard
Spider-Man appears as an unlockable skater, bringing a superhero into the game's ramps, rails and trick combinations. His presence turns a secret character…
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