The First Ever YouTube Challenge. I Lost

You can only play so many games of Scrabulous, right? I mean, I’m usually bored after the first five or six words. What our generation needs is a new era of board games that fit with our socially networked, web 2.0, hyper-connected selves.

I played such a game with a friend earlier today. We came up with the rules together. Let’s call it the YouTube challenge. Here’s how you play:

You want to play over gchat. One person picks a video they really like that they think the other person hasn’t seen, and sends them the link.

If the other person has never seen it, then the sender gets a point. If they have seen it, then it’s minus a point. If the receiver likes the video, then they put the link in their status message. If any friends comment positively on the video, then that’s another point for the sender.

Next, the receiver picks out a response. It might be related to the video they just received, or it might be completely different.

The game then proceeds back and forth. So you score points every time you send a video that the other person hasn’t seen, and more points every time that video elicits comments from the receiver’s friends. Bonus points can be awarded if the video is so good you feel compelled to change your facebook message status.

An example is in order:

CC starts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0LtUX_6IXY

New video, 1 point
Comment from NM, “that’s a great video”, 1 point
Score: CC 2-Dr 0

Dr: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo

Previously viewed video, -1
Score: CC 2-Dr -1

CC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5MLNMgpywk

New Video, 1 point
Comment from NM, “you are way better at youtube than i am”, 1 point
Score: CC 4-Dr -1

Dr: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx1XIm6q4r4

New Video, 1 point
Score: CC 4-Dr 0

CC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h-RhyopUmc

New Video, 1 point
Score CC 5-Dr 0

Dr: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_RpbaUU7NI

New Video, 1 point
A change of Facebook status due to awesomeness, 1 Bonus point
Score: CC 5-Dr 2

CC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpmvFK02jY8

New Video, 1 point
Score: CC 6-Dr 2

Dr: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHF06w-6xPk

New Video, 1 point
Final Score: CC 6-Dr 3

And that’s how you play the game. The best part is that you got to share your favorite YouTube videos with your friends. Every one is a winner. Now that’s a game for the 21st century.

Lyric of the Day:

I’d rather dance with you than talk with you
So why don’t we just move into the other room
There’s space for us to shake, and hey, I like this tune

Even if I could hear what you said
I doubt my reply would be interesting for you to hear
Because I haven’t read a single book in years
And the only film I saw, I didn’t like it at all

The music’s too loud and the noise from the crowd
Increases the chance of misinterpretation
So let your hips do the talking

“I’d Rather Dance With You”
-Kings Of Convenience