Football Saturday - is it really about the game?

To this day, I am not a sports girl. I never have been, and to be honest, doubt I ever will be. I came close to sports two times in my life. First, on the 1st grade soccer team. I participated in the rec. soccer league in my town. I decided to call it quits after our second game when the ball was kicked to me and I screamed and ran away. The second time was when I participated during my freshman year on the freshman volleyball team. I dreaded the practices, enjoyed being "benched", and would secretly root against our team during matches. To put it simply - I am not meant to play sports. However, I came to a university with one of the biggest sport fan bases in the country. So, I decided: I can be a sport FAN. And that I call myself. I root for the wolverines on every occasion. I get a thrill out of a Denard Robinson spotting. I purchase maize and blue fan clothing. And of course, I live for football saturday. 

Yet a good friend of mine (who doesn't attend this university) always questions, "How many of the games do you ACTUALLY attend?" My falsified answer - "all of them!" The true answer - 50%. How can I call myself such a fan when I do not attend half of the home football games. When I do attend, I rarely stay until the completion of the match. Am I giving letting down my team? Can I even call myself a Michigan fan?

To ensure some peace of mind, I decided to conduct a survey with a random sampling of Michigan students. I surveyed 30 individuals, randomly assorted on the basis of gender, age, greek/nongreek. I asked each individual two questions:

         1. Are you a Michigan Football season ticket holder?

         2. What percentage of the home football games do you attend? 

**Note: The word attend implies going to the big house and does not indicate length of time remaining at the game. 

The results of my survey are pictured below: 

While I am proud to see that the majority of the responses did attend close to 100% of the football games, I am relieved that I am not alone with my 50% response. In fact, the category of 41-60% was the second most frequent response category. I conclude that 100% of my participants consider themselves to be Wolverine fans as they all purchased the season ticket package. And therefore I wonder, what does it really mean to be a fan? Does a 100% attendance record indicate you are a "true fan"?  

For all you "True Fan" readers: Click here to go to our athletic homepage where you can view rosters, schedules and buy tickets! 

Apple: Video Game Industries' Worst Enemy?

Apple's iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch products have already completely wiped out the popular use of the Walkman or any other alternative mp3 player. And now it seems Apple has its predacious eyes targeted on the video game industry. With new fab games such as Angry Birds, Words With Friends, Temple Run ect., the use of apple tablets for game play is being seen more often. 

While the technology in apple products, such as the iPad 3, continues to advance, it is still far off from the depth of gameplay available on video game consoles. Not only do they provide a larger screen, but also more variability in possible player "moves" and being able to play live with other players. However, now many apple games allow gameplay with fellow friends via Google accounts or Facebook. Also, with Apple products, one can play while sitting on the bus or waiting for class to start, whereas use of video games requires restricts game play to a set up television in your room. 

So what do you think? Is the video game industry doomed? Do you see any necessary radical changes being made by the video game industry in the future in order to stay in the game?

-Jen Joseph

"Forced Win" Games

Have you ever played a suit of Tic-Tac Toe games with a friend, and lose every single game? If so, this could possibly be because the game is considered a "solved game". In a solved game, the win or loss can be anticipated ahead of time from a either player in the game. This feature of a game is more common in two paler games. In order to reach the predicted "endpoint" of a game mentally, the most useful strategy used is reverse logic, in which one puts themselves in the end-game position( most commonly the "winning position"), and then figure out the steps back to the beginning point of the game. 

One well known solvable game is "Connect Four", where the first player of the game can always force a win. James D. Allen published an article providing behind the logic of this force win, provided via this link. Mind you, this article is terribly long and complex. I commend you if you actually take the time to read and understand this written game theory. "Chopsticks" is another solved game, where instead the second player can always force a win. 

Most computer programs utilize the strategy of "reverse logic" when a computer is the opponent against a solo player. Digitized chess games usually have an algorithm in which the "computer player" can evaluate all the pathways to a "win" or "loss" endpoint position. Do you think these games are considered "flawed" if they adopt this feature? Can you think of any other solved games? 

-Jen Joseph

The Fantastic Four

Who Dunn It?!

My absolutely favorite board game as a child was the board game Clue. I was a child obsessed. Every snow day, rained out day-camp day, sunday night-  really any chance I could, I always begged my family to play clue. And not only did I play clue, I was an EXPERT at clue. 

Wait, let me first explain the rules before I can go into my strategy. To begin: there are three types of cards - a person, a place, a weapon. The board is a mansion with many different rooms and a murder has taken place. One person committed the crime, with one weapon, in one room - Who dunn it?! The decks are divided by category and one card from each deck is place in a concealed envelope as the solution to the game. All decks are shuffled. The remaining cards are even distributed to the players. Players move around the board and once they enter a room, make an accusation. (I.E. Mrs white, in the ballroom, with the revolver). They pose to the player right of them, "can you prove me wrong?". That player will then show them ONE of their cards that can prove the accusation from as it is held by the player, rather than in the concealed folder. The game continues until an accusation is accurate and the player cannot be proved wrong.

SO - Most people take the juvenile route of simply checking the box of the card they have been shown. It sometimes works, but my strategy - there is SO much more to my strategy than that. I document every accusation and keep careful note of who showed the player that falsifying card. I compare the accusation with my own information to continue to deduce information about the true solution of the game. 

Now - my point: Much to my dismay, this game stopped being a family favorite when I was about 12 years old. But just last christmas break, our whole family was snowed in and I decided to begin my pleas. So - we played. And I used the exact same strategy. How is this game, that is for ages 8 and up, able to continue to be entertaining and thought provoking 10 years later? How does my strategy, constructed by  a small child, still work?! Is the game designed for mastery or is it the moving parts that change each game the aspect that appeals to all audiences, all ages? And why - do I STILL love it?! 

Physical or Digitized Board?

When it comes to games, board games are usually most commonly known in American culture. Though there are many different types and genres, all board games typically share common features of game pieces, and most importantly, a "board". However, these  universal elements of board games are currently being scrapped due to the recent rise of board games now available as video games. Classic games such as scrabble, monopoly, and chess are now accessible on computers, game systems (Playstation, X-Box), and mobile devices. 

The transfer from the classic "board" to the LCD screen has caused a some criticism among purists. Many of them say that it takes away the tradition of forming relationships with family and friends. Board games create an atmosphere of interaction. 

While digital board games diminish socialization, modern technology provides many other unique benefits. Board games played on the computer or gaming system can be done "live" through the internet, allowing one to interact with multiple of players in real time, either by immediately showing the opponent's move or sending an email notification. Also if you do not have time to finish a game, digital games allow you to put the game on "pause" and return later whenever your convenience. Digitized games eliminates the problem of keeping account of all the pieces of a board game, sometimes using DVDs, CDs, or software installation as an alternative. However, if you do want to play with a physical board, internet gives the option printing mock versions of the board from online, providing a much more cheaper selection. Most notably, technological board games allow solo play against a computer, and thus one is not dependent on finding another available person to play the game at any time. 

Some now think that board games are doom to be overthrown and replaced by digital board games, but others think that their unique trait of providing socialization will keep them alive. What do you think? And which do you prefer, physical or digital board?

Here is a link to a few board games made into Wii video games. 

-Jen Joseph

A Casino's Game

Photo Courtesy of http://howtowinatblackjackonline.com/winning-at-blackjack/

Hey guys! Over Spring Break, in the Bahamas, I had the opportunity to indulge in a very addicting game. No this game isn't the typical iPhone game of Scramble with Friends or Temple Run, but Blackjack. Blackjack is a very popular game to play (when you're legal) in the casinos. Gambling while playing Blackjack can be very risky if you do not know how to bet properly or more importantly know when to walk away from the tables. This Spring Break was my second time gambling in the Bahamas, and let's just say I remembered a tip or two from when my dad used to teach me when I was younger.

A game's competition appeal is very important. Some games you compete with yourself and other games you compete against another person or a team, but in blackjack you compete against the House aka the dealer and the casino. Winning money is always a fun feeling, and I have some tips for you on how to get that great feeling! But first, I suggest you read Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich or see the movie 21, which is based off the book. Both are based off of real events about a blackjack team from MIT taking their brains and skills to Vegas. Not only do both the book and the movie make your heart race, but they also teach you about gambling, math, and the effects of card counting.

Card counting is extremely difficult if you aren't one of those math whiz kids from MIT. I don't advise card counting. Although it is not illegal, it is frowned upon in all casinos, and the casino can turn you away. All games have rules, and blackjack is no exception. However these rules are more of guidelines. I am here to provide our readers with my top 10 tips for the next time you are feeling lucky in a casino.

1. always assume the dealer's faced down card is a value of 10.

2. double down when you have an 11 (you get an extra card and if you beat the dealer that means twice the money).

3. STAY when the dealer has a 2,3, or 4 showing (assuming the bottom card is a 10) and you have at least a 12.

4. always hit on a soft 17 (that means an ace with any number of cards adding to 17).

5. When you have a 16, HIT. More of a risky move but the right move to make when playing by the book.

6. When you start losing 3 or more hands in a row, LEAVE. Try your luck later or at a different table.

7. Start to raise your bet when you win consecutively.

8. If you lose a hand, return to the minimum bet.

9. Split 8s and Aces (double your chance of winnings), but not 4s or 5s and NEVER SPLIT a pair of 10s.

10. When you hit a winning streak, walk away when you are comfortable or after the next hand you lose.

Hopefully the next time you are in the tropical islands or Canada, heck even legal in the U.S. to gamble to remember these tips and I hope you do well in the Casino!

-Leah