Games
Discover facts about games. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Games
Boggle began with a frustrated TV producer
A television producer was staring blankly at a screen of randomized letters when he suddenly realized humans love finding patterns in chaos. He shoved…
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Dead Space hides its interface in the game world
Nothing ruins a tense atmosphere like a floating health bar. The developers brilliantly projected ammo counts directly onto the weapons and placed the health…
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Why ping-pong paddles have red and black sides
The distinct color coding indicates completely different rubber textures and spin properties, giving you a wonderful excuse for missing an easy volley. Most…
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How to spot a mimic before it attacks
You can absolutely avoid getting chewed on by a wooden chest if you just stop and look at it. The developers subtly animated the fake chests to expand and…
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EA once hired actors to protest its own game
Because if there's one thing capitalism excels at, it's manufacturing fake outrage to drive sales. To promote their 2010 hack-and-slash game 'Dante’s…
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Twenty-sided dice are perfectly mapped icosahedrons
The geometry relies on twenty identical equilateral triangles to ensure statistical fairness. It is a beautifully precise platonic solid dedicated entirely to…
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Why hide-and-seek searches form spirals
Without realizing it, searchers naturally adopt an outward expanding spiral to maximize grid coverage. It is an incredibly sophisticated geometric algorithm…
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Game composers sometimes write themes before seeing the game
Inspiration is apparently optional when there's a strict deadline. Composers are regularly hired to write sweeping, emotional main themes based on nothing but…
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The party game that turns Roxanne into a drinking cue
Ivan Pavlov used bells to condition dogs, but modern partygoers use an iconic song to condition themselves. By assigning specific drinking commands to the…
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Finding simple keys is a global scavenger hunt
The key to the local bakery is inexplicably hidden at the bottom of a monster-filled abyss three towns over.
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The hidden snail maze in the Sega Master System
If you powered on the console entirely without a cartridge inserted and held down an obscure button combination, you were treated to a rudimentary labyrinth…
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D&D's armor class was borrowed from naval battles
Before nerds were calculating how hard it was to strike a goblin, entirely different nerds were calculating how hard it was to sink a battleship. The entire…
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The terrifying survival horror masterpiece Resident Evil was actually supposed to be a modern remake of what weird media?
The terrifying survival horror masterpiece Resident Evil was actually supposed to be a modern remake of what weird media?
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Why did acquiring the rights to the original Tetris almost trigger an international political crisis in the 1980s?
Why did acquiring the rights to the original Tetris almost trigger an international political crisis in the 1980s?
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In 1995, Bill Gates personally filmed a video holding a shotgun to promote Windows. What deeply embarrassed Microsoft?
In 1995, Bill Gates personally filmed a video holding a shotgun to promote Windows. What deeply embarrassed Microsoft?
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For decades, the peaceful leader Gandhi was notorious in Civilization for launching nuclear bombs. What caused this?
For decades, the peaceful leader Gandhi was notorious in Civilization for launching nuclear bombs. What caused this?
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Animal Crossing is a wholesome escape, but the creator actually designed it to cope with a very depressing life event. What?
Animal Crossing is a wholesome escape, but the creator actually designed it to cope with a very depressing life event. What?
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The mathematical layout of Scrabble wasn't created by a linguist, but by someone desperate for cash. Who invented it?
The mathematical layout of Scrabble wasn't created by a linguist, but by someone desperate for cash. Who invented it?
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Space Invaders accidentally pioneered one of the most important mechanics in gaming history because of bad hardware.
Space Invaders accidentally pioneered one of the most important mechanics in gaming history because of bad hardware.
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In the year 2000, the Japanese government actually placed strict export limits on the PlayStation 2 for a wild reason.
In the year 2000, the Japanese government actually placed strict export limits on the PlayStation 2 for a wild reason.
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Animal Crossing's real-time clock isn't just a gimmick. The creator designed it to solve a depressing modern problem.
Animal Crossing's real-time clock isn't just a gimmick. The creator designed it to solve a depressing modern problem.
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The ability to chain attacks into massive 'combos' in modern fighting games wasn't an intentional design choice.
The ability to chain attacks into massive 'combos' in modern fighting games wasn't an intentional design choice.
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The supposedly paranormal Ouija board wasn't invented by mystics or cultists, but by someone entirely unexpected.
The supposedly paranormal Ouija board wasn't invented by mystics or cultists, but by someone entirely unexpected.
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Dungeons & Dragons popularized the 'Lawful Good to Chaotic Evil' system, but where did the creators steal it from?
Dungeons & Dragons popularized the 'Lawful Good to Chaotic Evil' system, but where did the creators steal it from?
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