Gapers Block has ceased publication.

Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
 Thank you for your readership and contributions. 

TODAY

Tuesday, March 19

Gapers Block
Search

Gapers Block on Facebook Gapers Block on Flickr Gapers Block on Twitter The Gapers Block Tumblr


Fuel

Spookisanidiot / August 24, 2006 10:31 AM

Madden, Madden, Madden!

Kellyg / August 24, 2006 10:33 AM

Clue!

Y A J / August 24, 2006 10:44 AM

-dominos
-I got dangerously addicted to Baldur's Gate on PS2 for a while
- and Tetras stops me from being a jittery passenger on
longish car rides
-various word games on line and live, very good for a recovering dyslexic

girl / August 24, 2006 10:44 AM

Mind.

Lawrence / August 24, 2006 10:56 AM

I'll tell you what I play, man . . . two chicks at one time, man.

Josh / August 24, 2006 10:59 AM

I visit a gun range weekly for target practice, even though I've never bought a firearm. Playing Uno is a lot of fun too. My DNA is missing the video game gene.

anne / August 24, 2006 11:06 AM

I play a lot of "travel size" games in the summer while sitting around outside with friends. Favorites are Trouble, Battleship, Connect Four, and Uno. Most are teeny tiny versions of themselves. Adorable!

Me / August 24, 2006 11:06 AM

'Gay or Eurotrash?" Actually, I just heard of it yesterday, but I plan to play soon.

I like "murder, sleep with or marry?" too. That one gets lots of laughs.

-Me

sky / August 24, 2006 11:07 AM

*Kickball-practice during the week, games on Sundays. Both involve drinking.
*Catch Phrase-I could play this for hours!
*Bejewelled-cell phone and work computer.

annie / August 24, 2006 11:07 AM

Bean Bags, foose ball, darts, ping pong and pool. Pretty much anything I can play with a beer in my hand. (except maybe the foose ball, pretty tricky with only one hand but an enjoyable game while drinking)

leah / August 24, 2006 11:08 AM

Poker, Trouble & Trivial Pursuit 1990s edition.

Oh & Boggle & Webboggle.

Hollar.

shermann / August 24, 2006 11:11 AM

Texas no hold'em!

and First Person Shooters on the PC (Half Life and Half Life 2, Prey, etc.)

amyc / August 24, 2006 11:18 AM

I am a goddess at Trivial Pursuit -- I know so many useless things! The fella and I also like to unwind with Boggle, Scrabble, and Super Scrabble (quadruple word scores, people!)

I've never been much for actual sports (although I do like bowling) or video games.

Steve / August 24, 2006 11:31 AM

There was a time not all that long ago when you could sit in Lincoln Square and play "New Wave or Eastern European?" as the chicas walked by. Now, the game afoot there is "Baby Carriage or Big Dog?", though there's no real mystery with that one.

I have a bad habit of buying games for the PC and PS2 and then never playing them. No matter how much they dummy them down, I still seem to have too long a learning curve.

Then when I do play them, I get bored in a hurry. Like yesterday I popped in a Lord of the Rings game for the first time on the PS2 that someone bought me for my birthday more than a year ago. A few hours in, I was bored enough with it to put it up for resale on Amazon.

That said, Empires: Dawn of the Modern Age seems to tie up a lot of my time on the 'puter. And I have a bad feeling I'll go on another Civilization 2 jag come the winter weather.

And poker, oh yes. The one with other people, not the Internets variety. Scrabble, too.

Eamon / August 24, 2006 11:32 AM

Traditionally football, though that's been completely derailed by my roller derby schedule.

Other than that: Guitar Hero, baby!

Blagg the Axman / August 24, 2006 11:48 AM

As a lad, a favorite pastime amongst the mischievous rogues with whom I ran was playing split-the-kipper with our daggers—if possible, while standing over a dung-heap, into which the beaten boy would fall. In my tender years knights-and-knaves was a popular fantasy as well.

Nowadays, upon finding myself idle in a friendly tavern and possessed of a sporting mood, long-dice and knucklebones are the most common pursuits—I am proficient at both, though none would mistake me for a sharp. I do, however, know better than to gamble against gnomes, for they are wily players, and the barbarians of the north, who simply cheat.

One of the great shames of an axman’s life is not learning to play lords’ chess. His Majesty Kind Mandrake once endeavoured to teach me but I confess that I was unable to grasp the pieces’ movements.

Emily / August 24, 2006 11:52 AM

GIN!!!!!!! (& gin rummy), Cribbage, Golf (or try to at least), tennis, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit.

alan / August 24, 2006 11:55 AM

Games people play, you take it or you leave it
Things that they say, honor brite
If I promise you the moon and the stars, would you believe it
Games people play in the middle of the night

dick / August 24, 2006 11:56 AM

The Gay Gaymes, of course

jen / August 24, 2006 12:04 PM

--trivial pursuit pop culture edition, vol. 2
--mind / dating
--final fantasy II & III for the SNES
--soon, the new Mario game for DS (early birthday present from the sister!)
--drinking until my next paycheck (although i got paid on tuesday and that game is supposed to be over...)
--guessing which stop on the blue line people are going to get off at (it's getting harder to tell who will be division, damen, or western)
--hour of power (courtesy of dimitri's accompanying mix)

Greg / August 24, 2006 12:05 PM

Lots and lots and lots of board games. From quickie party games like Catchphrase to family "Euro games" (examples include Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, Puerto Rico) to 8-hour backstabbing sessions of Diplomacy.

And then of course there is the curling from October to April.

Loadzone / August 24, 2006 12:10 PM

Analog Games:
Dominoes, Cribbage, Scrabble, Chess, Mandinka, Sorry, Various Card Games.

Gambling Games:
Black Jack, Poker, Roulette, but never again Casino War.

Public Time Killers:
- Sit and watch traffic blow trash down the street and hopefully past a "goal."
- Pick the person on the El who might cede his/her seat to you at a common transfer point.
- See how many cars you pass on foot while they sit in traffic during a rush hour.
- Will the panhandler approach everybody around you, but not you, because he/she doesn't think you speak english?
- Smile at a stranger. Based on their reaction, pass judgement.

...etc, etc.

Spook / August 24, 2006 12:12 PM

Long-Dice and Knucklebones, yo!

It don't get no better than this!

Blagg for 2008!
The Axman Ticket!

holden / August 24, 2006 12:15 PM

ah, jen, i used to play the 'which stop' game on the blue line all the time. Loved it!

Sudoku & crosswords.
Chess, UNO, memory and Egyptian rats with the afterschool kids.
FIFA06 on the xbox.
volleyball, soccer, basketball in real life.
I still love minesweeper on the ol' PC.

Lori / August 24, 2006 12:15 PM

Scrabble is my game

I play online against my pals at the pixie pit

I think you get one freebie, then you have to pay a one time $10 fee to continue, totally worth it.

mary / August 24, 2006 12:17 PM

i also like the game "screw, kill, or marry"

along with dr. mario on originial nintendo (although gameboy will suffice), scrabble, and cranium

Lori / August 24, 2006 12:17 PM

the online Scrabble link that did not work is
http://thepixiepit.co.uk/scrabble/

Tagger Repent! / August 24, 2006 12:17 PM

No time for games...too busy tagging....

mary / August 24, 2006 12:19 PM

oh yeah, also i love bowling and volleyball as long as i dont play with people who take the game too seriously

ap / August 24, 2006 12:22 PM

On my blog, I play "Pretend That People Give A Crap About Local Politics." I also play "Pretend That I'm Funny." So far, neither has turned into reality.

Grover / August 24, 2006 12:26 PM

Trivia games. Ding!

jen / August 24, 2006 12:32 PM

mary! we call that the cliff game. hanging out in a group, someone picks three people, and you have to decide who you'd: fuck and never see again, throw off a cliff, and live with for the rest of your life (platonically).
i can't believe i forgot that game!!! so good. and usually upsets someone, but, enh...

forgot i'm good at cranium for no reason, too. :)

missmolly / August 24, 2006 12:54 PM

SORRY! (the game, it's super fun).

that is the best game EVER!!

kate / August 24, 2006 1:11 PM

I play most frequently:
Pool
Softball
Dr. Mario
FreeCell

I play less frequently:
Contra
Battleship
Spades
Trivial Pursuit
Catch Phrase (LOVE this game)

carrie / August 24, 2006 1:18 PM

Weboggle
Uno
This fun game that I don't know the name of that lives at Happy Village. It's the one where you roll the dice and then knock down the numbers on the board that are the total of the dice. Very bad description, but it's super fun- esp when money is involved
Bowling
Scrabble
Slot machines. ha, yesssss

printdude / August 24, 2006 1:31 PM

Boy do I ever Play:

Golf, video games (ALL of them), softball, baseball, bocce, petanque, croquet, Wiffle ball, darts, frisbee, boggle, scrabble, dominoes, cards, cards, cards, minesweeper, catch, the stereo, tunes, bowling, pool, cornhole, marbles,
And I have just gotten started...
I play.

p / August 24, 2006 1:34 PM

I Want To Play Contra Right Now! Too many Contra references this week. Other throw-backs: lagging quarters, businessman chicken (maintain eye contact with a brief-cased hard charging individual in the loop and keep walking towards one another- see who diverts path first), count whitey (count the crackers at the ep plaza), block it, skeeching, skating, shoes (swing on swing until desired speed, then attempt to kick a shoe into tennis court), shoplifting swedish fish, try to give a hickey without making a fart noise on neck, fort building. Currently I like crosswords, quiz-bowls, and bartering for goods in central-american markets.

benschomatic / August 24, 2006 1:38 PM

Poker, Wizard, Scrabble, Carcassonne, Dice Wars, World of Warcraft.

Damn, those last three make me sound like such a nerd.

What about dodging idiot motorists while riding a bike? Is that considered a game or is it more of an extreme sport?

sky / August 24, 2006 1:53 PM

We call the sleep with, marry, or get rid of game, "Fuck, Chuck, Or Marry".
We also play This or That at the bar. Basically one person says something like hard or soft and everyone goes around and picks one of the two. If your answer doesn't match with the original person you drink. It's actually tons of fun....

michelle / August 24, 2006 2:19 PM

I LOVE playing board games, but my friends are all losers and won't play with me. Uno and Yahtzee are good too, and Hold'em are up there as well.

Online I play Farm Hustle (like Bejewled but with cartoon animals), and the game I made up for when I'm on the bus is counting the number of cars that pass in the other lane that I would own (make, model & color are the prerequisites).

At any rate, I need to get out more, I think.

k / August 24, 2006 2:19 PM

Euchre.

going alone / August 24, 2006 2:35 PM

EUCHRE!!!!

Alison / August 24, 2006 2:38 PM

Scrabble and Echure: always

Alphabet game: in the car

Silver Strike Bowling: at the bar

eep / August 24, 2006 2:48 PM

As for board games, Life is my favorite. Though I really enjoy Zobmondo when playing with friends. I also have the Saved by the Bell board game, which was a birthday gift from the awesome Greg. Will you get a date with Zack or Slater, or end up with Screech? Oh, the suspense!

Online I'm all about Snood, Chopper, Bejeweled, and the always-popular Tetris. And Death is Not an Option never fails to entertain people. Good times.

Hal / August 24, 2006 3:11 PM

I'm currently addicted to the Trib crossword and Freecell on my Treo.

We used to play a lot of Cranium and various forms of Trival Pursuit. Dominos was a big favorite in our building for a few years and I hope to play more this winter.

Though it only lasted one day, my favorite sittin'-on-the-stoop game was Will The Car Bottom Out? We got a new speed bump in front of our house and they hadn't yet painted the stripes on it, so it was new and hard to see. So, that Sunday, I''m getting my paper and notice that cars speeding down Kenmore (the reason we asked for the speedbumps in the first place) would hit and scrape the bottom of their engines. So, I sat myself down with the paper and spent a couple of hours guessing who would hit and who would get by unscathed. Good times.

leah / August 24, 2006 3:57 PM

p, my sister (carrie w/ the gambling problem I just learned about--thanks gapers!) & our famliy were profesh shoe flingers. we had prizes and everything.

I think one summer I might have even had special shoe flinging shoes. Those with heavy rubber soles fly the best.

roderick / August 24, 2006 4:09 PM

Gapers Block should have a game night, that would be awesome. Until people started arguing. That would suck.

Other than that...

- Catch phrase!
- Soccer
- Final Fantasy

Crap, I need to have more fun.

annie / August 24, 2006 4:18 PM

I forgot about people watching games. Currently I like to sit on my stoop and play "Who will trip and fall on the huge crack in the sidewalk"

Allan / August 24, 2006 4:27 PM

I recently have become infatuated with the online game Zambonie. Which really surprised me because the only other computer related game I have played was Solitaire but Zambonie has got me by the balls. I checked my log-in profile and I clocked in at an astonishing 80 hours of game play in the last week and my Zambonie accout has like 50,ooo Zambucks in it so tonight I am going shopping on level 8.

Allan / August 24, 2006 4:32 PM

I also really enjoy making up shit in online forums etc. Before becoming "Allan" I was known as "Professor Hotdog" of Q101's movie review fame.

K2 / August 24, 2006 5:38 PM

Crazy making is a super fun game.

In all seriousness, Gin Rummy is a winner every time.

fluffy / August 24, 2006 6:27 PM

I used to play "guess what I'm slapping" with my sister.

Allow me to explain: When I was about 10 years old, I went through a phase where I was scared of taking a shower by myself. I must have seen a scary movie or something. So, my older sister would accompany me, but we would face opposite directions cause, you know, we were self conscious or whatever. So, I'd slap a song, like say, hard days night, by slapping my hand against the wet tile. She would try to "guess what I was slapping".

Yes folks, although the name of the game sounds like it's something pervy, it was totally innocent. And yes, this is a true story.

Now, I like to play Collapse! while at work (computer puzzle game on msn. hey, it's free), I like to play pool, bowl, and some of the guessing games that have been mentioned like 'at which train stop will that guy get off ' ...blah blah...

printdude / August 24, 2006 7:14 PM

I really love Othello (Reversi)
Can't get enough.
I will dominate the world through Othello.

Mainly because people won't play the wifester and I as a team in Cranium anymore. It was truly silly, the way we ruled that game.

tony / August 24, 2006 7:37 PM

I've seen maybe just one person say they play World of Warcraft. I'm going to chalk up the lack of responses to the fact that they're all probably too busy playing to read Gapers Block.

JB / August 24, 2006 8:01 PM

Though I'm too old to get anyone to play with me now, I love that drinking game Asshole. I don't know why God blessed me with only that one gift, but for a six-year stint in college, I OWNED people.

Justin / August 24, 2006 8:24 PM

Hmm... game? Hmm... programming's kind of like a game, right...? No...? Well, there's... that one... Wait... no... Maybe that... no... hmm... um... Damn it...

Mikey / August 24, 2006 8:36 PM

My favorite online game is chess....

My favorite board game is Monopoly...

My favorite outdoor/drinking game is baggo (AKA cornhole)...
My favorite addiction is fantasy football (I run a league)...

My favorite video game is/was Mario Carts...

My favorite spectator sport is NFL football...

And I played soccer in high school--too small for football :( ...

Alex / August 24, 2006 10:29 PM

F, marry, or kill. Very immature, but it sure makes for a fun lunch.

Let's Play the Game / August 24, 2006 11:23 PM

Card games: Hearts, but I've gotten so good and jaded about the only way you'll stop me from attempting to shot the moon is to pass me the 2 of Hearts.

Phase 10

Board Games: These were like mother's milk to me as a youngster. Our family played any and all.
Risk I believe is the only board game which if you play correctly you can loose your best friend at.
I've got a Risk game with the original wooden army pieces set.

Fantasy: Baseball: either Strat-o-Matic, or Rotisseerie.

As a youngster I loved the Battle Cry series put out by Milton Bradley. The Civil War board game was the best, followed by the WW1 airwar game.

In our younger days my brother and I would always attempt to change rules to make board games more fair. As opposed to real life, I'll use any means necessary, especially psychological, to win at a board/card game.

Eamon / August 24, 2006 11:30 PM

Huh. My Wednesday night beer club calls it "Food, Sex, or Enemy".

Most of you would be food. No offense.

J / August 25, 2006 8:48 AM

Betrayal at the House on the HIll is a very fun board game. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=ah/prod/betrayalhouse

Killer Bunnies is a very fun non-collectable card game (though there are many expansions if you like). www.killerbunnies.com

J / August 25, 2006 8:49 AM

For your clicking laziness: http://www.killerbunnies.com

Bill V / August 25, 2006 10:19 AM

Right now it's Goblet. Scrabble too. I'm real good at Scrabble vs. my friends. I have a feeling if I ever played with good players I'd get killed!

Emily / August 25, 2006 11:21 AM

Totally forgot to mention that my friend, Nick, holds a Family Feud night. Really, he surveys 100 people & puts it into a computer program game board & everything. It is some of the most fun I've ever had in my life.

sabrosa / August 25, 2006 11:31 AM

I love me a good game of badminton. I will kick anyone's ass who challenges me. You don't mess with this girl who went to conference in high school.

Oh, shush and let me brag. It's the only thing I can brag about!!! Ha!!!

Patrick / August 25, 2006 12:31 PM

I play old-school pen-and-paper roleplaying games...like D&D, except without the social stigma attached. I do, for example, bathe regularly, and I live with my girlfriend and enjoy being outside frequently. Unlike most "gamers." :)

I also play tabletop miniatures wargames and a variety of boxed wargames. Nerd alert!

printdude / August 25, 2006 12:37 PM

Ooooooh EMily!

Can be friends with Nick, too?

The wife won't sit on the couch with me as I watch FAmily Feud incessantly, even in Spanish, a language I barely understand.

Flynn / August 25, 2006 1:13 PM

tony, I'm going to chalk up the lack of World of Warcraft players to a demographic. Considering the amount of "Screw, Dump, or Marry" variations we've seen, I think the Warcraft crowd doesn't frequent GB that much, at least on the message board.

nico / August 25, 2006 1:13 PM

literati!

jen / August 25, 2006 2:02 PM

flynn - in addition to saying i enjoyed the cliff game, i said i liked the final fantasy games. close enough, eh?
don't stereotype. it only makes you look bad.

miss casual / August 25, 2006 2:30 PM

i have played a variation on the cliff game only its 'best friend, dinner guest or lover'.

also ...beach utlimate and any number of drinking games such as flippy cup, walking beer schitck or asshole. youre never to old to live the high life.

Baldeesh / August 25, 2006 3:10 PM

The variation I played was "Stern, Fuck, or Marry." I played it with coworkers. Sadly, I only played it once, but it was a scream. I doubt I could play it again, just because it wouldn't be as awesome as it was that one time.

aj / August 25, 2006 3:19 PM

Sabrosa, you're on!

I love badminton, played in HS as well (don't want to think about how long ago that was) and whenever I can now.

Of course, now that my game is mostly euchre + beer, I'm pretty sure you could indeed kick my ass.

Has anyone else played Cluzzle? The clay game? It's awesome.

printdude / August 25, 2006 3:38 PM

I am not allowed to talk about my fascination with WoW in public after I bored a table to tears with my dissertation on Orcs.

I play in the middle of the night, when the do-gooders sleep.

Spook / August 26, 2006 1:51 AM

Knucklebones, what!

Amy / August 26, 2006 1:43 PM

I'm such a bad loser but I love games. The boyfriend and I have played a lot of games in the past couple weeks: bacce ball, badminton, poker, LOTR trivial pursuit, various card games, Taboo, Scattergories, etc... I don't think I've won a single one. He tried to get me to learn how to play Risk, I don't think so.

Atul / August 26, 2006 2:37 PM

Mostly World of Warcraft. Went geocaching with some friends recently and that was a lot of fun. Guess Where Chicago is pretty awesome too.

Board games like Scrabble, Clue, Settlers of Catan, and others are always fun, though I don't play them very regularly.

I hate Trivial Pursuit with a passion that few mortals can muster.

Brandy / August 26, 2006 4:38 PM

Rail Barons: pretty much Monopoly with railroads instead of real estate - but WAY better. It takes several hours to play, so it's a great game for BSing with friends and eating snacks.

Sudoku

(No Scoring)Mini Golf

Car Model Name as Sex Toy Name

steven / August 26, 2006 10:23 PM

Lately it's been Uno (X-Men edition), Connect Four, Operation, Trivial Pursuit.

Video games take wayyyy too much time. Too many 4am mornings.

Sally / August 27, 2006 1:28 PM

Bocce Ball on the boulevard!

anna / August 27, 2006 8:12 PM

From more to less frequency:
1. Text Twist
2. "if i make this green light, today will be a good day"
3. Solitaire
4. Dominoes
5. History Jeopardy with the students

Emily / August 28, 2006 2:27 PM

Printdude: absolutely. I know that he's going to hold one again soon (late sept/early oct). Hit up my email & I'll keep you informed.

I, too, have the Family Feud obsession, even in Spanish, which I like better than the English one. That game is so awesome it's indescribable.

useph / February 11, 2007 1:07 PM

i love the game love

useph / February 11, 2007 1:09 PM

i

i love the game love
so kiss your ass

GB store

Recently on Fuel

Urban Ethos [26]
What is Chicago's "urban ethos"?

Cool Glass of... [16]
What're you drinking?

Supreme Decision [22]
What's your reaction to the Supreme Court's decision on the Affordable Care Act?

Taking it to the Streets [20]
Chicago Street Fairs: Revolting or Awesome?

I Can Be Cruel [9]
Be real: what is the meanest thing you've ever done?

View the complete archive

GB Store

GB Buttons $1.50

GB T-Shirt $12

I ✶ Chi T-Shirts $15