It’s funny how life works. The challenge? Play an online game. Because I don’t play online games, two options existed: learn a new game or find an online version of a familiar game. I learned a game while avoiding practicing my saxophone in high school.
What did I play?
Chess: Chess.com.
What game genre?
Abstract Strategy. Chess is a two-player board game with chess pieces. A checkmate of the opponent’s king creates a win.
Where did I play the game?
Laptop.
What did I like / not like about the game?
I liked my opponent, Silas the Strong. Representing the computer, Silas made funny comments. There are options for beginning chess players. I also liked joining a large community.
I didn’t like the fact that one of my matches was a stalemate before I reached that conclusion. I was planning a celebratory “I beat Silas” dance when the computer decided we were done. The computer’s forecast accurately predicted there would be no victor.
Because I haven’t played chess in years, I wondered…
Who is playing this type of game?
Answers are found at http://tinyurl.com/29udwu9n
- 36.32% – Female
- 63.68% – Male
- Nearly 60% of players are between 18-34
- YouTube, Facebook, and Reddit (desktop) produce most of Chess.com’s social media traffic.
What social media aspects are woven into the game?
A sizeable community loves to watch chess matches and discuss them. Watching a Grandmaster results in high viewership. According to https://www.chess.com/social, Chess.com offers clubs, forums, blogs, and the opportunity to connect with friends.
The world of watching chess is exciting. http://tinyurl.com/3jtmu3za
How many times did I play?
Three.
Am I a regular player?
No.
Will I play it again?
Yes!
Why?
Playing online chess had me thinking about how relationships can be battles. Chess requires anticipating your opponent’s next move. The game is a constant assessment of risk and reward. Relationships shouldn’t be battles. In my relationship, I felt like I could never win. At least with Silas, I had a decent chance😊