Games
Discover facts about games. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Games
Guitar Hero note charts are completely mapped by hand
Human musicians placed each note by hand to match the songs’ guitar parts, including the rapid strumming in blistering solos.
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The NBA game that ended 186–184
In December 1983, Detroit and Denver combined for 370 points over three overtimes, still the NBA record for a game.
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Tomb Raider II let players lock the butler in the freezer
Winston follows Lara around the mansion with his rattling tea tray. Lure him into the walk-in freezer, leave, and close the door, and the persistent follower…
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Why Bethesda is called Bethesda
Christopher Weaver founded the company in Bethesda, Maryland, and kept the name after moving operations to Rockville.
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Blank Scrabble tiles give zero points despite high utility
A blank can stand in for any letter, helping you play a difficult word, but it adds nothing to your score.
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Ganon's full name sounds oddly ordinary
The official A Link to the Past manual names his human form Ganondorf Dragmire—a name that sounds more like a substitute teacher than a world-conquering…
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GTA V's map is bigger than real Manhattan
The map stretches from Hollywood-inspired hills to remote desert, with hours of driving between very different landscapes.
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Why Halo ringworlds would tear themselves apart
A rotating ring would need impossibly strong material to withstand the forces acting on it; without that, it would break apart.
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A paper game map can make exploration feel like an expedition
Skyrim's physical map gives players a view of the province outside the screen. Looking between that object and the world on the monitor turns navigation into…
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I Spy appeared in print as early as 1928
The game was documented as a free way to pass the time, long before it became a familiar road-trip distraction for parents.
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Why cats attack things moving behind screens
Cats react to the sudden, darting movement on a screen much as they would to a small animal. The glass keeps them from reaching what they see.
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Why voice actors chew green apples
Voice actors chew tart green apples to help clear their palates and reduce sticky mouth noises picked up by studio microphones.
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A game character's invisible body can be simpler than its visible one
Many games use a capsule or another simple shape for collision checks instead of testing every fold of clothing and limb. That invisible shape can slide past…
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EVE Online added Excel to the game
EVE Online's complex in-game economy led players to rely on spreadsheets, so its developers partnered with Microsoft to bring Excel integration into the game.
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Audio diaries are scattered terribly
Some facility workers’ final recordings ended up in remote air vents, making the audio diaries difficult to find.
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Breath of the Wild makes every good weapon temporary
Most weapons wear out through use, so finding a powerful sword doesn't end the search for equipment. You weigh spending it on this enemy against saving it for…
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Fire marshals threatening to shut down crowded halls
At crowded preview booths, fans can block aisles; fire marshals may order them cleared or threaten to shut the event down.
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In games, fire obeys the plot
A flamethrower may leave a timber cottage untouched; the building burns only when the game’s script calls for it.
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South Korea’s military team for pro StarCraft players
The Air Force ACE team, formed in 2006, let elite StarCraft players complete their military service while competing in tournaments instead of stepping away…
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Shadow buff requires identifying friends by silhouettes
A sheet hung over a light turned guests into distorted silhouettes, making noses, hairstyles, and posture the clues.
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River cards provide the final chance to ruin hands
In Texas hold ’em, the river is the fifth and final community card dealt; it can turn a strong hand into a loss at the last moment.
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Tilting the world to guide singing blobs through tight gaps
Players use the bumper buttons to tilt the screen and roll the singing blobs through the landscape. As the blobs get happier, they sing more.
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Sudoku columns mandate digits one through nine
Each column must contain the digits 1 through 9 exactly once; one duplicate breaks the rule.
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A repeat Yahtzee can count as a straight without a sequence
Under the joker rules, once the relevant upper box is filled, five identical dice can score in an open lower category—including a straight. If the Yahtzee box…
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