commongames

<div class= "booktitle">''The Book of Common Games''</div> by Kyle Latino <div class= "nav">(display: "Nav")</div>

<div class= "gametitle"> <div class= "nav">[[Home]]</div> --- ''LIFE'' --- [[To Be->1]] [[The Curiosity->2]] [[Water->3]] [[Haunt->4]] [[Blank Like Blank->5]] --- ''FRIENDS'' --- [[Breath->6]] [[Bird and Mountain->7]] [[I Was Here->8]] --- ''FEELINGS'' --- [[Take It For A Walk->10]] [[Park It->11]] [[How Do You Feel->12]] --- ''MAKING'' --- [[Secret Tomato->13]] [[Trip Contriver->14]] [[I Could Do That->15]] [[Be Flat->16]] [[Memory Golf->17]] [[Tounges of Fire->18]]

<div class= "gametitle"> //“All play means something.” ― Johan Huizinga// </div> At the time of this writing, my university has shut down all in-person meetings for a month because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Classes are all online now, even painting and ceramics. Telecommuting tools are suddenly the only answer for maintaining society and education. And here I am with all my games about going places and meeting people. These games were written in the simple, bygone days of two weeks ago, when asking friends over to your house wasn’t against the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Until there is a treatment, the only prescription is social distancing. The US has been told it will be at least twelve to eighteen months until a vaccine. How deeply will society be traumatized in that time? How will we remember how to live with our neighbors again? How will we recover from the heartbreak of quarantine? I hope analog games, like those in my book, will be part of the answer. I hope that corporate digital tools will not have reprogrammed my country into a cowardly and irritable rabble by then. I hope we can retain the wisdom of love. ==> Kyle Latino Cincinnati, Ohio March 13th, 2020 <== --- <div class= "nav">[[Home]]</div>

<div class= "gametitle"> --- ''TO BE'' the game of living --- Rule 1: //try//</div> --- <div class= "nav">(display: "Nav") [[Next->2]]</div>

<div class= "gametitle"> --- ''THE CURIOSITY'' the mars rover role playing game --- </div> The Curiosity is a role playing game for one player. The player takes on the role of the Curiosity Mars Rover Robot. * On August 5th, no matter the weather, go alone to somewhere you’ve never been and where no human structure or object is visible. * Slowly and quietly, turn around and take in your surroundings. * Hum the Happy Birthday Song to yourself. --- <div class= "nav">[[Back->1]] (display: "Nav") [[Next->3]]</div>

<div class= "gametitle"> --- ''WATER'' the game of returning and leaving again --- </div> * Return to a place you’ve only been once before that you’d like to see again. * Bring a piece of paper, a pen, and a small bottle of water with you. * Find a spot to be comfortable. * Drink your water one gulp at a time. * With each gulp, write down something that was true about you the last time you were in that place. * When you have run out of water or paper, leave the paper behind and go home. --- <div class= "nav">[[Back->2]] (display: "Nav") [[Next->4]]</div>

<div class= "gametitle"> --- ''HAUNT'' the game of poltergeists --- </div> The Haunt is a game for one or more players who play the roles of ghosts. This game is to be played in someone’s home. There is no turn structure or scoring system, only a list of actions. The game begins when the player(s) enters a home. The game ends when they leave. ''Ghost Actions'' * Walk, sit down, or stand wherever you please. * Arrange items you find in the home in anyway you please. * Cook, serve, and eat food whenever you please. * Turn on and off electronics and lights whenever you please. * Contemplate grudges, regrets, or people you miss. * Say whatever is on your mind without explaining yourself. --- <div class= "nav">[[Back->3]] (display: "Nav") [[Next->5]]</div>

<div class= "gametitle"> --- ''BREATH'' the game of tandem respiration --- </div> * Gently place your hand on a pet’s torso. * Breath in time with them for five minutes. * This works best if they are asleep. --- <div class= "nav">[[Back->5]] (display: "Nav") [[Next->7]]</div>

<div class= "gametitle"> --- ''BIRD AND MOUNTAIN'' the conversation game --- </div> When you are on the phone with someone, each caller chooses to play as either the Bird or the Mountain. ''Bird Player'' <div class= "indentedtext">You love all Mountains, but you know you cannot stay. Whenever you land on a Mountain, you ask many questions about their home and all the things they have heard and seen.</div> ''Mountain Player'' <div class= "indentedtext">You love all Birds, but you know all Birds must leave. Whenever a Bird visits, you ask many questions about their home and all the things they have heard and seen.</div> Players are not allowed to reveal if they have chosen to play as a Bird or a Mountain. --- <div class= "nav">[[Back->6]] (display: "Nav") [[Next->8]]</div>

<div class= "gametitle"> --- ''I WAS HERE'' the game of encounterism --- </div> * Go for a long walk or ride, drawing a map of your path. * Mark on the map anywhere you encounter something that is beautiful but not permanent. * For these encounters, write down a brief statement with a description and why you think it’s beautiful. * Give each encounter a title and add it to your map. * Give copies of the map to other people, asking them to revisit your encounters. Encourage them to add their own encounters to the map. --- <div class= "nav">[[Back->7]] (display: "Nav") [[Next->10]]</div>

<div class= "gametitle"> --- ''SEE FEEL WONDER'' the game of aesthetic attunement --- </div> * Share an image made by a stranger you know nothing about. * Invite a small group of friends to view the image and talk about it. * Ask your friends to study the image for one full minute without talking. * Ask your friends to take turns talking about the image by completing these statements: <div class= "indentedtext"><div class= "indentedtext"> //“I see…” “It makes me feel…” “It makes me wonder about…”// </div></div> * If a friend is curious about a statement someone has made, they may ask for more detail. * Keep taking turns making these statements and asking questions until every friend has had three turns. (display: "Nav")

<div class= "gametitle"> --- ''TAKE IT FOR A WALK'' the Charles Mingus appreciation game --- </div> For this game, you’ll be listening to Moanin’ by Charles Mingus all the way through twice. ''During your first listen'' * Write down all the names of each instrument as it comes in. If you don’t know, guess or make up a name for the instrument. * When the double bass comes in, CRANK UP THE VOLUME! * Try not to tap your foot or nod your head to the music. ''During your second listen'' * Try to pick out and listen only to the drums. * Write down any words that come to mind while listening. * Write down any flavors or food that come to mind while listening. --- <div class= "nav">[[Back->8]] (display: "Nav") [[Next->11]]</div>

<div class= "gametitle"> --- ''PARK IT'' the game of stillness --- </div> * Drive a car to a nice place to watch the sunrise, sunset, moon, or stars. * Try to sit as still as you can as the Earth spins one thousand miles per hour. * Watch the sky while hurtling around the sun at sixty-seven thousand miles per hour. * Hold down your vomit as the whole solar system orbits the galactic centrifuge at forty-seven thousand miles per hour. * Fasten your seatbelt and cling to your steering wheel as the Milkyway Galaxy blazes through the cosmic void at one point three million miles per hour. * Listen to some soothing music as the one point three trillion-trillion electrons in your body spin at five million miles per hour. * When you can’t sit still any longer, drive back to your life. --- <div class= "nav">[[Back->10]] (display: "Nav") [[Next->12]]</div>

<div class= "gametitle"> --- ''HOW DO YOU FEEL'' the emotional visualization game --- </div> When you can’t name what emotion you are feeling, answer the following questions. <div class= "indentedtext">//What color is it? What is it made of? How does it move? What sounds are around it? Where does it live? How long does it have?//</div> --- <div class= "nav">[[Back->11]] (display: "Nav") [[Next->13]]</div>

<div class= "gametitle"> --- ''SECRET TOMATO'' the game of fruitful conversation --- </div> * Grow some tomatoes. * While watering your tomatoes, tell them your secrets, shames, dramas, and anxieties that seem too much to hold onto. * When the tomatoes are ripe, pick them and eat them. * Take back your secrets. Invite them all back as part of yourself. --- <div class= "nav">[[Back->12]] (display: "Nav") [[Next->14]]</div>

<div class= "gametitle"> --- ''TRIP CONTRIVER'' the game of geographic curiosity --- </div> Plan a trip you’ll never take to a place you know nothing about. <div class= "indentedtext">//Where would you go? Who would you go with? How would you get there? Where would you sleep? What would you eat? What would you like to do and see?//</div> --- <div class= "nav">[[Back->13]] (display: "Nav") [[Next->15]]</div>

<div class= "gametitle"> --- ''I COULD DO THAT'' the art parody game --- </div> * Think of the most cynical parody of contemporary art that you can. * Write down every detail about it that comes to mind: materials, process, display, lighting, etc. * Actually make that work as close to your plan as you can. * Send images or samples of your work to friends. Talk about your work and take what they say about it to heart. * Call yourself an artist. --- <div class= "nav">[[Back->14]] (display: "Nav") [[Next->16]]</div>

<div class= "gametitle"> --- ''BE FLAT'' the game of musical necromancy --- </div> * Acquire a broken musical instrument. * Find a way to make music from it without repairing it. * Practice everyday for ten minutes, learning a simple song that you like. * Perform in a quite, echoing place. * Scratch the date of the recital into the instrument. * Display the instrument proudly. --- <div class= "nav">[[Back->15]] (display: "Nav") [[Next->17]]</div>

<div class= "gametitle"> --- ''MEMORY GOLF'' the anti-reading game --- </div> * Acquire a book you know nothing about. * Mark out every word or name you don’t know as you read. * Try to mark out fewer words on each page. --- <div class= "nav">[[Back->16]] (display: "Nav") [[Next->18]]</div>

<div class= "gametitle"> --- ''OZYMANDIAS'' the game of deep time --- Forget this game.</div> --- <div class= "nav">(display: "Nav")</div>

<div class= "gametitle"> --- ''BLANK LIKE BLANK'' the game of oblique poetics --- Answer one of the following questions in whatever way seems fitting to you. {(set: $x to (either: "a hot dog", "a journal", "a road", "a poet", "a river", "a prophet", "a city", "a heart", "a sun", "a painter", "a spider", "a violinist", "a tree", "a tomb", "a comet", "a waterfall", "an elephant", "a statue", "a bird", "a mountain", "a nightfall", "a wine", "a riddle", "an open hand", "a market", "a fountain", "a labyrinth", "a house", "a language", "an ocean", "a war", "a surrender", "a teacher", "a mother", "an S.O.S.", "a song", "a garden", "a prisoner", "a savior", "a theif", "a corpse", "an egg", "a wall", "a gate", "an emptiness", "a mirror", "a child", "a temple", "a greeting", "a game", "a goodbye", "an echo", "a body", "a virus",))(set: $y to (either: "a hot dog", "a journal", "a road", "a poet", "a river", "a prophet", "a city", "a heart", "a sun", "a painter", "a spider", "a violinist", "a tree", "a tomb", "a comet", "a waterfall", "an elephant", "a statue", "a bird", "a mountain", "a nightfall", "a wine", "a riddle", "an open hand", "a market", "a fountain", "a labyrinth", "a house", "a language", "an ocean", "a war", "a surrender", "a teacher", "a mother", "an S.O.S.", "a song", "a garden", "a prisoner", "a savior", "a theif", "a corpse", "an egg", "a wall", "a gate", "an emptiness", "a mirror", "a child", "a temple", "a greeting", "a game", "a goodbye", "an echo", "a body", "a virus",))} "How is ''$x'' like ''$y''?" //or// "How is ''$y'' like ''$x''?" --- [[Reroll->5]]</div> --- <div class= "nav">[[Back->4]] (display: "Nav") [[Next->6]]</div>

<div class= "gametitle"> --- ''TOUNGES OF FIRE'' the game of language craft --- </div> * Invite yourself to find your own language. * In a pile of letters, choose the first five words you see. * Read the words aloud and decide what they mean for the time you read it. <div class= "nav">Examples</div> <div class= "gametitle">RZO AGOK IPO MEA VEEX //“there is a season for rest”// TEELA ZA LEBA CORI HUBAE LA //“what is our language”//</div> --- <div class= "nav">[[Back->17]] (display: "Nav")</div>

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