Exploring cheat code opinions
Sorschasmom
I'd like to explore the topic of cheat codes. Our family uses them often
and we choose to view them as 'helps' or 'special codes to create more fun'.
We know a family who does not believe in cheat codes and this has spilled
over into the childrens conversations regarding cheating, dishonesty, and
not 'truly' winning the game if a person uses them. These conversations are
becoming more and more heated. I've explained to both children that the
cheat code conversation can be like religion - you can agree to disagree.
These conversations have caused Tails to ask me more and more questions
about my opinions on cheat codes. I tell her I use them and I don't have a
problem using them.
I'm not asking for any advice on how to deal with the kiddo situation
(handled), but more for personal opinions to expand my viewpoint on cheat
codes so that I can give Tails different opinions regarding them. I'm
hoping that by giving her more information that she can feel comfortable in
whatever decision she chooses. Right now, I'm seeing that these
conversations have made her question herself.
Thanks in advance,
~Crystal in Albuquerque~
http://livingtheliquidlife.blogspot.com/
and we choose to view them as 'helps' or 'special codes to create more fun'.
We know a family who does not believe in cheat codes and this has spilled
over into the childrens conversations regarding cheating, dishonesty, and
not 'truly' winning the game if a person uses them. These conversations are
becoming more and more heated. I've explained to both children that the
cheat code conversation can be like religion - you can agree to disagree.
These conversations have caused Tails to ask me more and more questions
about my opinions on cheat codes. I tell her I use them and I don't have a
problem using them.
I'm not asking for any advice on how to deal with the kiddo situation
(handled), but more for personal opinions to expand my viewpoint on cheat
codes so that I can give Tails different opinions regarding them. I'm
hoping that by giving her more information that she can feel comfortable in
whatever decision she chooses. Right now, I'm seeing that these
conversations have made her question herself.
Thanks in advance,
~Crystal in Albuquerque~
http://livingtheliquidlife.blogspot.com/
Sandra Dodd
-=-These conversations have caused Tails to ask me more and more
questions
about my opinions on cheat codes. I tell her I use them and I don't
have a
problem using them.-=-
Most board games have more than one version of play. You can play
Monopoly without mortgaging things. You can play cribbage or poker
without betting money. When you play rummy, Aces can be 5 points if
played as a 1, or 15 points. People just decide before they start
playing.
I think the problem is the word "cheat." But a video game isn't
entrance exams to Cambridge. A video game isn't even federal income
tax, and lots of people cheat on income taxes if they can figure out
a way, and "legal tax loopholes" are like cheats you need to research
or pay professionals to find for you.
How could one "cheat" a single player video game? Out of WHAT?
We owned a stand-up arcade game years ago, and just used to leave it
unlocked and click the counter up to 99 once in a while. People
played for free. Was that "Cheating"? Were we going to charge our
friends a quarter to play a game!??
Some of the "cheat codes" are codes programmers use to test the parts
of the game they're working on, so a guy who's building the end part
of some portion of the game doesn't have to play up to it (or his
beta testers don't have to play up to that point, they can just start
there). It's not "cheating," except it's a different place to start
the game.
Backgammon starts with pieces already on the board, in a certain
formation. There's another game played with the same pieces and
board called "Acey-Deucey," and the pieces start off the board. So
is backgammon a "cheat code" version of "acey deucy"?
Keith points out that most games, and backgammon particularly so,
were gambling games. Gambling is calmly accepted in England. In the
U.S. it's one of the puritanical sins, and so that might also add to
the "cheat code" prejudice in some people. It goes against hard work
to reach a goal.
Dan Vilter wrote about helping make video games easier for kids.
That might be a good read for this topic.
http://sandradodd.com/game/cheats
Oh! And there's something there specifically about cheat codes.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
questions
about my opinions on cheat codes. I tell her I use them and I don't
have a
problem using them.-=-
Most board games have more than one version of play. You can play
Monopoly without mortgaging things. You can play cribbage or poker
without betting money. When you play rummy, Aces can be 5 points if
played as a 1, or 15 points. People just decide before they start
playing.
I think the problem is the word "cheat." But a video game isn't
entrance exams to Cambridge. A video game isn't even federal income
tax, and lots of people cheat on income taxes if they can figure out
a way, and "legal tax loopholes" are like cheats you need to research
or pay professionals to find for you.
How could one "cheat" a single player video game? Out of WHAT?
We owned a stand-up arcade game years ago, and just used to leave it
unlocked and click the counter up to 99 once in a while. People
played for free. Was that "Cheating"? Were we going to charge our
friends a quarter to play a game!??
Some of the "cheat codes" are codes programmers use to test the parts
of the game they're working on, so a guy who's building the end part
of some portion of the game doesn't have to play up to it (or his
beta testers don't have to play up to that point, they can just start
there). It's not "cheating," except it's a different place to start
the game.
Backgammon starts with pieces already on the board, in a certain
formation. There's another game played with the same pieces and
board called "Acey-Deucey," and the pieces start off the board. So
is backgammon a "cheat code" version of "acey deucy"?
Keith points out that most games, and backgammon particularly so,
were gambling games. Gambling is calmly accepted in England. In the
U.S. it's one of the puritanical sins, and so that might also add to
the "cheat code" prejudice in some people. It goes against hard work
to reach a goal.
Dan Vilter wrote about helping make video games easier for kids.
That might be a good read for this topic.
http://sandradodd.com/game/cheats
Oh! And there's something there specifically about cheat codes.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
When Dave and I were growing up with video games (Pong, Atari,
Intellivision, etc.), there were no cheat codes-at least not that we've ever heard of. So,
when Nintendo got popular and companies started producing cheat cartridges,
it was kind of bizarre.
In my years of videogaming before our kids came along, I refused to use
cartridges or codes the first time through a game. There was one (Populous) that
I had either finished or almost finished that I had to leave on all the time,
because it didn't save progress. It also skipped many levels, depending on
your score, when you finished a level. When I found a code for that one, it
let me shut the game off and start up again next time from where I left off (I
think 1000 levels, so we're talking many hours of play, here), minus the
score-which I didn't really care about. It also allowed me go to back through and
play it over again playing each level instead of skipping them. It made my
gameplay fuller and more challenging, rather than annoying or boring or quick.
Since my kids have been born, I just don't have the time to immerse myself
in a game the way I used to, so I sometimes take advantage of cheat codes or
(more often) walkthroughs, to zip through those parts that I know I could
accomplish without help, but it makes it much quicker. I often play open-ended
games where there might be a lot of searching for the next clue or person you
need to talk to or item that needs found, so a walkthrough helps me skip the
long hours of searching.
Wyl, 9, loves looking up help on the computer. Sometimes, he prefers to do
it himself, but sometimes he has a goal he's aiming for and the codes or
walkthroughs get him past the "small" (to him), and sometimes the frustration is
too much and a code or walk through will end the frustrating part, so he can
move on.
Isn't that kind of like picking up the house or some big thing that is
easier done with help? If my kids asked me to help them clean up something and I
couldn't do it, I'd try to find something or someone who could help them. With
video games, I can often help them (and do, much to their admiration), but
when I can't, I find someone who can with a code or walk through or tip or
even playing it to get them over a hump or to a place they want to be.
Peace,
De
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Gmail, and Yahoo Mail. Try it now.
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Intellivision, etc.), there were no cheat codes-at least not that we've ever heard of. So,
when Nintendo got popular and companies started producing cheat cartridges,
it was kind of bizarre.
In my years of videogaming before our kids came along, I refused to use
cartridges or codes the first time through a game. There was one (Populous) that
I had either finished or almost finished that I had to leave on all the time,
because it didn't save progress. It also skipped many levels, depending on
your score, when you finished a level. When I found a code for that one, it
let me shut the game off and start up again next time from where I left off (I
think 1000 levels, so we're talking many hours of play, here), minus the
score-which I didn't really care about. It also allowed me go to back through and
play it over again playing each level instead of skipping them. It made my
gameplay fuller and more challenging, rather than annoying or boring or quick.
Since my kids have been born, I just don't have the time to immerse myself
in a game the way I used to, so I sometimes take advantage of cheat codes or
(more often) walkthroughs, to zip through those parts that I know I could
accomplish without help, but it makes it much quicker. I often play open-ended
games where there might be a lot of searching for the next clue or person you
need to talk to or item that needs found, so a walkthrough helps me skip the
long hours of searching.
Wyl, 9, loves looking up help on the computer. Sometimes, he prefers to do
it himself, but sometimes he has a goal he's aiming for and the codes or
walkthroughs get him past the "small" (to him), and sometimes the frustration is
too much and a code or walk through will end the frustrating part, so he can
move on.
Isn't that kind of like picking up the house or some big thing that is
easier done with help? If my kids asked me to help them clean up something and I
couldn't do it, I'd try to find something or someone who could help them. With
video games, I can often help them (and do, much to their admiration), but
when I can't, I find someone who can with a code or walk through or tip or
even playing it to get them over a hump or to a place they want to be.
Peace,
De
**************One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL Mail,
Gmail, and Yahoo Mail. Try it now.
(http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000025)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Robyn L. Coburn
For a long time Jayn wanted me to play an X-Box game, Haunted Mansion, for
her. She just liked to watch the game play. It was often very frustrating
for me because so much of it was finger drills on the controller, and much
less of it was mental puzzle. I prefer the latter. That darn Zeke kept
getting dead. Then I found the code for immortality and I was able to learn
the tricks of each room (it's a great really long game) and fight the big
monsters and learn the tricks for that, and eventually get to the end - to
Jayn's delight.
So for me the code was a very useful learning tool. Plus I can play the game
again without it if I want the challenge of saving Zeke - it seems to be
about reaction time to avoid dying, and finding all the secret cards which
give lives hidden in the rooms.
There are times when I am playing a game with a lot of "walking around" when
I wish for a code that will let my jump from location to location. I think
it's OK to skip the boring parts! Is it cheating to skip the commercials in
your recorded tv show or jump over the previews in a dvd? Right now I'm
playing a Wii game that has a diabolically difficult safe to open with tiny,
s-l-o-w motions of the remote. I'd love a code.
Robyn L. Coburn
www.Iggyjingles.etsy.com
www.iggyjingles.blogspot.com
her. She just liked to watch the game play. It was often very frustrating
for me because so much of it was finger drills on the controller, and much
less of it was mental puzzle. I prefer the latter. That darn Zeke kept
getting dead. Then I found the code for immortality and I was able to learn
the tricks of each room (it's a great really long game) and fight the big
monsters and learn the tricks for that, and eventually get to the end - to
Jayn's delight.
So for me the code was a very useful learning tool. Plus I can play the game
again without it if I want the challenge of saving Zeke - it seems to be
about reaction time to avoid dying, and finding all the secret cards which
give lives hidden in the rooms.
There are times when I am playing a game with a lot of "walking around" when
I wish for a code that will let my jump from location to location. I think
it's OK to skip the boring parts! Is it cheating to skip the commercials in
your recorded tv show or jump over the previews in a dvd? Right now I'm
playing a Wii game that has a diabolically difficult safe to open with tiny,
s-l-o-w motions of the remote. I'd love a code.
Robyn L. Coburn
www.Iggyjingles.etsy.com
www.iggyjingles.blogspot.com
Laura Beaudin
One way to think of it is that if cheat codes were so wrong, they
wouldn't exist. Secondly, I enjoy cheat codes, especially in games
like the SIMS where they allow me to be super-creative without
restrictions. Some like them, others don't...a case of "to each their own".
Laura
Practical Homeschooling: http://www.practical-homeschooling.org
Works in Progress: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Laura.Beaudin
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
wouldn't exist. Secondly, I enjoy cheat codes, especially in games
like the SIMS where they allow me to be super-creative without
restrictions. Some like them, others don't...a case of "to each their own".
Laura
>I'm not asking for any advice on how to deal with the kiddo situationDon't let school interfere with your education!" --Mark Twain
>(handled), but more for personal opinions to expand my viewpoint on cheat
>codes so that I can give Tails different opinions regarding them. I'm
>hoping that by giving her more information that she can feel comfortable in
>whatever decision she chooses. Right now, I'm seeing that these
>conversations have made her question herself.
Practical Homeschooling: http://www.practical-homeschooling.org
Works in Progress: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Laura.Beaudin
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Margaret
I remember using a cheat code on the sims to get enormous amounts of
money and for me it just wasn't fun. I haven't used them since that
time because I think that part of what enjoy is the challenge of the
game. Games are supposed to be fun and if it is more fun to use a
code, then use it. You aren't hurting anyone else, you are just
making it a slightly different game that is more enjoyable for you.
If she uses the cheat codes to beat the game and her friends didn't
they may say she didn't really beat the game. And, in a way, she
didn't. She beat a slightly different game that she enjoyed more.
She didn't do the same thing that they did and it is ok for them to be
proud of what they did and to think that it isn't the same as using a
code. They aren't the same thing, but they are both fine.
Margaret
On Mon, Dec 22, 2008 at 10:26 AM, Sorschasmom
<willowsfortress@...> wrote:
money and for me it just wasn't fun. I haven't used them since that
time because I think that part of what enjoy is the challenge of the
game. Games are supposed to be fun and if it is more fun to use a
code, then use it. You aren't hurting anyone else, you are just
making it a slightly different game that is more enjoyable for you.
If she uses the cheat codes to beat the game and her friends didn't
they may say she didn't really beat the game. And, in a way, she
didn't. She beat a slightly different game that she enjoyed more.
She didn't do the same thing that they did and it is ok for them to be
proud of what they did and to think that it isn't the same as using a
code. They aren't the same thing, but they are both fine.
Margaret
On Mon, Dec 22, 2008 at 10:26 AM, Sorschasmom
<willowsfortress@...> wrote:
> I'd like to explore the topic of cheat codes. Our family uses them often
> and we choose to view them as 'helps' or 'special codes to create more fun'.
> We know a family who does not believe in cheat codes and this has spilled
> over into the childrens conversations regarding cheating, dishonesty, and
> not 'truly' winning the game if a person uses them. These conversations are
> becoming more and more heated. I've explained to both children that the
> cheat code conversation can be like religion - you can agree to disagree.
> These conversations have caused Tails to ask me more and more questions
> about my opinions on cheat codes. I tell her I use them and I don't have a
> problem using them.
>
> I'm not asking for any advice on how to deal with the kiddo situation
> (handled), but more for personal opinions to expand my viewpoint on cheat
> codes so that I can give Tails different opinions regarding them. I'm
> hoping that by giving her more information that she can feel comfortable in
> whatever decision she chooses. Right now, I'm seeing that these
> conversations have made her question herself.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> ~Crystal in Albuquerque~
>
> http://livingtheliquidlife.blogspot.com/
>
>
raisingexplorers
Cheat codes are awesome. I can beat the original super mario bros in
like 10 minutes if I use the warp zones LOL, it takes 45 minutes to
play the entire game.. but, my sons like to beat the last level
Bowser. The amount of cheats for the original Mario game can turn it
into an entirely new game. There are cheat codes that make you able to
Air Walk, and other cool stuff. Once you beat the game, it's over..
until you go back and look for all the cheats and secrets you didn't
know about before.
I remember one of the most useful cheats, when I was young, was the
infinite lives on Contra (an original NES game). Without that cheat
code, the game was impossible for us as 11, 12 yr olds to beat...
well, maybe we could have done it if we didn't have to go to school.
But, with school in the way.... the infinite lives cheat code was the
way to go. LOL
I like to play games without cheats and with cheats. They change the
game, sometimes giving an advantage to me.. other times, just doing
something silly or fun and interesting. Like the secret codes for
blood on Mortal Combat, or curse codes, etc. Sometimes, I just like to
play it through without any help from outside sources. I think cheats
and other types of codes enhance games, add something to them so they
have another dimension beyond just playing through the game, then it's
over... nothing to see here, folks! But, there is something.. lots of
things. :D And there better be for the price of games, today LOLOL
like 10 minutes if I use the warp zones LOL, it takes 45 minutes to
play the entire game.. but, my sons like to beat the last level
Bowser. The amount of cheats for the original Mario game can turn it
into an entirely new game. There are cheat codes that make you able to
Air Walk, and other cool stuff. Once you beat the game, it's over..
until you go back and look for all the cheats and secrets you didn't
know about before.
I remember one of the most useful cheats, when I was young, was the
infinite lives on Contra (an original NES game). Without that cheat
code, the game was impossible for us as 11, 12 yr olds to beat...
well, maybe we could have done it if we didn't have to go to school.
But, with school in the way.... the infinite lives cheat code was the
way to go. LOL
I like to play games without cheats and with cheats. They change the
game, sometimes giving an advantage to me.. other times, just doing
something silly or fun and interesting. Like the secret codes for
blood on Mortal Combat, or curse codes, etc. Sometimes, I just like to
play it through without any help from outside sources. I think cheats
and other types of codes enhance games, add something to them so they
have another dimension beyond just playing through the game, then it's
over... nothing to see here, folks! But, there is something.. lots of
things. :D And there better be for the price of games, today LOLOL
guideforthree
=== I'm not asking for any advice on how to deal with the kiddo
situation (handled), but more for personal opinions to expand my
viewpoint on cheat codes so that I can give Tails different opinions
regarding them. I'm hoping that by giving her more information that
she can feel comfortable in whatever decision she chooses. Right
now, I'm seeing that these conversations have made her question
herself.
====
In our family it depends on whether you are playing a single player
or multiplayer game.
If you are playing a single player game, then exactly who are you
cheating? It doesn't affect anyone besides yourself. Besides, as my
11yo says, the programmers wouldn't have written the codes into the
game if they didn't want you to use them. Some of those codes are
highly entertaining. I watched my son use a monster truck to run
over the enemy army and town in Age of Empires, and it was pretty
funny.
In our family multiplayer games are a whole different animal when it
comes to cheat codes. We consider it unsportsmanlike to use
cheatcodes to beat another person, unless everyone has access to the
same cheatcodes and everyone agrees it is ok to use them.
This debate is very similar to the "Free Parking" debate in
Monopoly. My dh swears it is cheating to to get money from the free
parking space because it is not in the rules, but I think it makes
the game more fun and interesting. We don't play Monopoly much these
days ;)
Tina
situation (handled), but more for personal opinions to expand my
viewpoint on cheat codes so that I can give Tails different opinions
regarding them. I'm hoping that by giving her more information that
she can feel comfortable in whatever decision she chooses. Right
now, I'm seeing that these conversations have made her question
herself.
====
In our family it depends on whether you are playing a single player
or multiplayer game.
If you are playing a single player game, then exactly who are you
cheating? It doesn't affect anyone besides yourself. Besides, as my
11yo says, the programmers wouldn't have written the codes into the
game if they didn't want you to use them. Some of those codes are
highly entertaining. I watched my son use a monster truck to run
over the enemy army and town in Age of Empires, and it was pretty
funny.
In our family multiplayer games are a whole different animal when it
comes to cheat codes. We consider it unsportsmanlike to use
cheatcodes to beat another person, unless everyone has access to the
same cheatcodes and everyone agrees it is ok to use them.
This debate is very similar to the "Free Parking" debate in
Monopoly. My dh swears it is cheating to to get money from the free
parking space because it is not in the rules, but I think it makes
the game more fun and interesting. We don't play Monopoly much these
days ;)
Tina
lyeping2008
This is like using the calculator to do maths, isn't it? Well, why
not? My kid uses the calculator to help him solve maths problems in
his pc games to gain speed. To me, I don't call it cheating. I call
it being smart.
My son loves cheat codes. In Star Wars, it gaves him infinite lives,
so that he can continue learning to play and xplore the game without
the frustrations of being killed off. In Grand Theft Auto, it spawn
different characters, different cars, different planes or tanks,
different environment settings and many more funny things like
flying cars and everyone's a clown. They are called Mods.
He can play the same games in his psp without cheat codes. So i
guess for him, cheat codes is just a different way of playing a
game. It just makes the game more fun becuase it "accessorize" the
standard game.
Hope this helps.
SharonBugs.
not? My kid uses the calculator to help him solve maths problems in
his pc games to gain speed. To me, I don't call it cheating. I call
it being smart.
My son loves cheat codes. In Star Wars, it gaves him infinite lives,
so that he can continue learning to play and xplore the game without
the frustrations of being killed off. In Grand Theft Auto, it spawn
different characters, different cars, different planes or tanks,
different environment settings and many more funny things like
flying cars and everyone's a clown. They are called Mods.
He can play the same games in his psp without cheat codes. So i
guess for him, cheat codes is just a different way of playing a
game. It just makes the game more fun becuase it "accessorize" the
standard game.
Hope this helps.
SharonBugs.
Sandra Dodd
-=-This debate is very similar to the "Free Parking" debate in
Monopoly. My dh swears it is cheating to to get money from the free
parking space because it is not in the rules, but I think it makes
the game more fun and interesting. We don't play Monopoly much these
days ;)-=-
Here's why tradition is stronger than rules:
People have collected the pot for landing on Free Parking since
before I was born, and I'm 55 years old. If it were in the rules, it
could be changed. If it's not in the rules (and I'm taking your word
for it, I'm not going to check) then the tradition can't be changed.
It's old, it's real, and I bet if you polled 100 people the vast
majority of them would say that Free Parking means collecting money.
I don't remember which pile, but one of those piles....
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Monopoly. My dh swears it is cheating to to get money from the free
parking space because it is not in the rules, but I think it makes
the game more fun and interesting. We don't play Monopoly much these
days ;)-=-
Here's why tradition is stronger than rules:
People have collected the pot for landing on Free Parking since
before I was born, and I'm 55 years old. If it were in the rules, it
could be changed. If it's not in the rules (and I'm taking your word
for it, I'm not going to check) then the tradition can't be changed.
It's old, it's real, and I bet if you polled 100 people the vast
majority of them would say that Free Parking means collecting money.
I don't remember which pile, but one of those piles....
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Schuyler
We totally play that you collect the money from the free parking. It's a lottery that pays off and you don't have to pay to win. I really enjoy the random infusion of cash in the game. It feels so much less rigid.
Schuyler
________________________________
From: Sandra Dodd <Sandra@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, 23 December, 2008 9:43:29 PM
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] Re: Exploring cheat code opinions
-=-This debate is very similar to the "Free Parking" debate in
Monopoly. My dh swears it is cheating to to get money from the free
parking space because it is not in the rules, but I think it makes
the game more fun and interesting. We don't play Monopoly much these
days ;)-=-
Here's why tradition is stronger than rules:
People have collected the pot for landing on Free Parking since
before I was born, and I'm 55 years old. If it were in the rules, it
could be changed. If it's not in the rules (and I'm taking your word
for it, I'm not going to check) then the tradition can't be changed.
It's old, it's real, and I bet if you polled 100 people the vast
majority of them would say that Free Parking means collecting money.
I don't remember which pile, but one of those piles....
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Schuyler
________________________________
From: Sandra Dodd <Sandra@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, 23 December, 2008 9:43:29 PM
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] Re: Exploring cheat code opinions
-=-This debate is very similar to the "Free Parking" debate in
Monopoly. My dh swears it is cheating to to get money from the free
parking space because it is not in the rules, but I think it makes
the game more fun and interesting. We don't play Monopoly much these
days ;)-=-
Here's why tradition is stronger than rules:
People have collected the pot for landing on Free Parking since
before I was born, and I'm 55 years old. If it were in the rules, it
could be changed. If it's not in the rules (and I'm taking your word
for it, I'm not going to check) then the tradition can't be changed.
It's old, it's real, and I bet if you polled 100 people the vast
majority of them would say that Free Parking means collecting money.
I don't remember which pile, but one of those piles....
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Joyce Fetteroll
On Dec 23, 2008, at 4:43 PM, Sandra Dodd wrote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopoly_(game)
Parker Brothers' official instructions have long encouraged the use
of House Rules, specific additions to or subtractions from the
official rule sets. Many casual Monopoly players are surprised to
discover that some of the rules that they are used to are not part of
the official rules. Many of these house rules tend to make the game
longer by randomly giving players more money. Some common house rules
are listed below:
� At the start of the game $2000 is given out to each of the players
instead of $1500. Each player gets 2 500s, 4 100s, 4 50s, 6 20s, 8
10s, 10 5s, and 10 1s
� Free Parking jackpot, which usually consists of an initial stake
(typically $500, or $5 million in the Here & Now Edition) plus
collections of fines and taxes otherwise paid to the bank. A player
who lands on Free Parking wins the jackpot, which may then be reset
with the initial stake (if any). The jackpot is usually put in the
center of the board. Since the jackpot forms an additional income for
players in this set of house rules, games can take a much longer time
than under normal rules.[18]
� Eliminating the auction if a player decides not to purchase a
property.
� Requiring that every property be put up for auction (this
eliminates some of the luck in the game of landing on particular
squares and forces players to strategize more).
� Allowing an unlimited number of houses to be available from the
bank. When this house rule is implemented, substitute counters or
written tallies are often employed to allay the actual shortage of
house tokens in a standard game box.
� Agreeing that each player be allowed to collect all of a color
group once they have 'staked a claim' by buying only one of those
properties. The same agreement may or may not be carried over to the
rail stations and utilities.
� Players in jail cannot collect rent, build houses, or conduct
trades. This can be combined with increasing the price to get out of
jail considerably (normally $50, or $500,000 in the Here & Now
Edition). Together, these rules make jail a far more significant
burden than that listed in the normal rules. Other players may bail
the player out of jail but only if the player agrees.
� A bonus for landing directly on Go by dice roll (commonly an
additional $200 or $500). This may or may not include cards that send
the player to Go.[18]
� Delayed Start: Players must pass Go (or circle the board at least
once, or rarely twice) before they can buy property.[18]
� Only allowing houses (or hotels) to be built when the owner lands
on the group
� A bonus for rolling snake eyes (a pair of ones), often $500, $100,
or one of each bill.[19][20]
� All properties are handed out evenly to all players before the
game begins, or one or two are dealt to each player. This variation
is in the official US and UK rules as a short game option.
� In trades, players may offer "rent immunity" from their own
properties (someone does not have to pay rent for landing on that
property) as part of a deal (this can be good for a certain number of
landings or the entire game).[18]
� Unlimited amounts of hotels on each space.
House rules, while unofficial, are not wholly unrecognized by Parker
Brothers. George S. Parker himself created two variants, to shorten
the length of game play.[clarification needed] Video game and
computer game versions of Monopoly have options where popular house
rules can be used*. House rules that have the effect of randomly
introducing more money into the game have a side-effect of increasing
the time it takes for players to become bankrupt, lengthening the
game considerably, as well as decreasing the effects of strategy and
prudent investment. House rules which increase the amount of money in
the game may change the strategies of the players, such as changing
the relative value of different properties- the more money in the
game, the more one may wish to invest in the higher value properties.
* On the Wikipedia video game page it says the Free Parking jackpot
is one of the house rules allowed:
"Some versions however, like the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation
versions, do allow the most common "house rules" (Free Parking
jackpot, no collecting rent in jail, unlimited houses/hotels, etc) to
be turned off or on."
Which makes it an officially recognized house rule, which wouldn't
change tradition if they decided not to include it as an allowable
house rule.
There's a more extensive list of house rules at:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Monopoly/House_Rules
Joyce
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> People have collected the pot for landing on Free Parking sinceThis is from the Wikipedia article on Monopoly:
> before I was born, and I'm 55 years old. If it were in the rules, it
> could be changed. If it's not in the rules (and I'm taking your word
> for it, I'm not going to check) then the tradition can't be changed.
> It's old, it's real, and I bet if you polled 100 people the vast
> majority of them would say that Free Parking means collecting money.
>
> I don't remember which pile, but one of those piles....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopoly_(game)
Parker Brothers' official instructions have long encouraged the use
of House Rules, specific additions to or subtractions from the
official rule sets. Many casual Monopoly players are surprised to
discover that some of the rules that they are used to are not part of
the official rules. Many of these house rules tend to make the game
longer by randomly giving players more money. Some common house rules
are listed below:
� At the start of the game $2000 is given out to each of the players
instead of $1500. Each player gets 2 500s, 4 100s, 4 50s, 6 20s, 8
10s, 10 5s, and 10 1s
� Free Parking jackpot, which usually consists of an initial stake
(typically $500, or $5 million in the Here & Now Edition) plus
collections of fines and taxes otherwise paid to the bank. A player
who lands on Free Parking wins the jackpot, which may then be reset
with the initial stake (if any). The jackpot is usually put in the
center of the board. Since the jackpot forms an additional income for
players in this set of house rules, games can take a much longer time
than under normal rules.[18]
� Eliminating the auction if a player decides not to purchase a
property.
� Requiring that every property be put up for auction (this
eliminates some of the luck in the game of landing on particular
squares and forces players to strategize more).
� Allowing an unlimited number of houses to be available from the
bank. When this house rule is implemented, substitute counters or
written tallies are often employed to allay the actual shortage of
house tokens in a standard game box.
� Agreeing that each player be allowed to collect all of a color
group once they have 'staked a claim' by buying only one of those
properties. The same agreement may or may not be carried over to the
rail stations and utilities.
� Players in jail cannot collect rent, build houses, or conduct
trades. This can be combined with increasing the price to get out of
jail considerably (normally $50, or $500,000 in the Here & Now
Edition). Together, these rules make jail a far more significant
burden than that listed in the normal rules. Other players may bail
the player out of jail but only if the player agrees.
� A bonus for landing directly on Go by dice roll (commonly an
additional $200 or $500). This may or may not include cards that send
the player to Go.[18]
� Delayed Start: Players must pass Go (or circle the board at least
once, or rarely twice) before they can buy property.[18]
� Only allowing houses (or hotels) to be built when the owner lands
on the group
� A bonus for rolling snake eyes (a pair of ones), often $500, $100,
or one of each bill.[19][20]
� All properties are handed out evenly to all players before the
game begins, or one or two are dealt to each player. This variation
is in the official US and UK rules as a short game option.
� In trades, players may offer "rent immunity" from their own
properties (someone does not have to pay rent for landing on that
property) as part of a deal (this can be good for a certain number of
landings or the entire game).[18]
� Unlimited amounts of hotels on each space.
House rules, while unofficial, are not wholly unrecognized by Parker
Brothers. George S. Parker himself created two variants, to shorten
the length of game play.[clarification needed] Video game and
computer game versions of Monopoly have options where popular house
rules can be used*. House rules that have the effect of randomly
introducing more money into the game have a side-effect of increasing
the time it takes for players to become bankrupt, lengthening the
game considerably, as well as decreasing the effects of strategy and
prudent investment. House rules which increase the amount of money in
the game may change the strategies of the players, such as changing
the relative value of different properties- the more money in the
game, the more one may wish to invest in the higher value properties.
* On the Wikipedia video game page it says the Free Parking jackpot
is one of the house rules allowed:
"Some versions however, like the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation
versions, do allow the most common "house rules" (Free Parking
jackpot, no collecting rent in jail, unlimited houses/hotels, etc) to
be turned off or on."
Which makes it an officially recognized house rule, which wouldn't
change tradition if they decided not to include it as an allowable
house rule.
There's a more extensive list of house rules at:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Monopoly/House_Rules
Joyce
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Sandra Dodd
-=-This is like using the calculator to do maths, isn't it? Well, why
not? My kid uses the calculator to help him solve maths problems in
his pc games to gain speed. To me, I don't call it cheating. I call
it being smart. -=-
Is it like using a computer to write? To type? I used to have to re-
type a whole page if I changed my mind about a phrase or had
misspelled a word in such a way I couldn't correct it with type-over
paper or liquid paper. I *know* how to type with "a real
typewriter" (and even how to justify margins, and how to make carbon
copies, and how to clean the keys, on things before Selectric IIs
with their jazzy little balls.
SO WHAT!? I'm thrilled with word processing programs and html to
change fonts and with the insertion of photos on blogposts. How on
god's green, blue and brown earth is that cheating? Is it cheating
to use an electric drill instead of a hand crank? Is it cheating to
use a washing washing machine instead of two tubs and a scrub board?
People who say cheat codes are cheating are being small minded and
showing a lack of analytical thinking skills.
All of them should be required to read Pigs is Pigs. Reading it
online is like using a cheat code, as opposed to finding a book that
has it in it. It's in several literary/rhetoric collections in the U.S.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2004/2004-h/2004-h.htm
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
not? My kid uses the calculator to help him solve maths problems in
his pc games to gain speed. To me, I don't call it cheating. I call
it being smart. -=-
Is it like using a computer to write? To type? I used to have to re-
type a whole page if I changed my mind about a phrase or had
misspelled a word in such a way I couldn't correct it with type-over
paper or liquid paper. I *know* how to type with "a real
typewriter" (and even how to justify margins, and how to make carbon
copies, and how to clean the keys, on things before Selectric IIs
with their jazzy little balls.
SO WHAT!? I'm thrilled with word processing programs and html to
change fonts and with the insertion of photos on blogposts. How on
god's green, blue and brown earth is that cheating? Is it cheating
to use an electric drill instead of a hand crank? Is it cheating to
use a washing washing machine instead of two tubs and a scrub board?
People who say cheat codes are cheating are being small minded and
showing a lack of analytical thinking skills.
All of them should be required to read Pigs is Pigs. Reading it
online is like using a cheat code, as opposed to finding a book that
has it in it. It's in several literary/rhetoric collections in the U.S.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2004/2004-h/2004-h.htm
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
raisingexplorers
The discussion of house rules in Monopoly reminded me of Scrabble. The
official rules say that the 'premium squares' such as "Triple Word
Score, Double Letter Score" etc.. are to be counted only the first
time they are played. But, we use them everytime. If someone covers a
"Triple Word Score" and then someone else makes a word coming off of
it that also uses that triple word score, we count it. The official
rules say not to. But, whatever. We've always played it like that.
official rules say that the 'premium squares' such as "Triple Word
Score, Double Letter Score" etc.. are to be counted only the first
time they are played. But, we use them everytime. If someone covers a
"Triple Word Score" and then someone else makes a word coming off of
it that also uses that triple word score, we count it. The official
rules say not to. But, whatever. We've always played it like that.
jenbgosh
--- In [email protected], Sandra Dodd <Sandra@...> wrote:
I *know* how to type with "a real
typewriter" (and even how to justify margins, and how to make carbon
copies, and how to clean the keys,
>
Impressive!
I have an IBM Selectric II I got from my mother in law...and I can't
even change the ribbon!! There it sits, all forlorn. Sad, really.
Maybe I should try to find a "how to" on the web, or would that be
cheating?
Jennie
diana jenner
Monopoly's Free Parking Money: We just played yesterday, it's NOT in the
rules (but the triple-doubles-go-to-jail, is in there!)
I think the "cheats" would be called "aids" 25 years ago, before the disease
became commonplace ... no one today would find Game Aids appealing, so
Cheats it is!
~diana :)
xoxoxoxo
hannahbearski.blogspot.com
hannahsashes.blogspot.com
dianas365.blogspot.com
rules (but the triple-doubles-go-to-jail, is in there!)
I think the "cheats" would be called "aids" 25 years ago, before the disease
became commonplace ... no one today would find Game Aids appealing, so
Cheats it is!
~diana :)
xoxoxoxo
hannahbearski.blogspot.com
hannahsashes.blogspot.com
dianas365.blogspot.com
On Tue, Dec 23, 2008 at 1:43 PM, Sandra Dodd <Sandra@...> wrote:
> -=-This debate is very similar to the "Free Parking" debate in
>
> Monopoly. My dh swears it is cheating to to get money from the free
> parking space because it is not in the rules, but I think it makes
> the game more fun and interesting. We don't play Monopoly much these
> days ;)-=-
>
> Here's why tradition is stronger than rules:
>
> People have collected the pot for landing on Free Parking since
> before I was born, and I'm 55 years old. If it were in the rules, it
> could be changed. If it's not in the rules (and I'm taking your word
> for it, I'm not going to check) then the tradition can't be changed.
> It's old, it's real, and I bet if you polled 100 people the vast
> majority of them would say that Free Parking means collecting money.
> I don't remember which pile, but one of those piles....
>
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
k
My opinion (haven't read the responses and hope I'm not repeating everybody
here) is that while there really are advantageous to playing games sans walk
throughs and cheat codes, there's a whole world of discovery to learn from
once you do pull out those things...
Like having the key to a test for peer grading assignments in school,
something which tended to clarify one or two things about the test I was
grading for someone else which I had also just taken. Sort of fun, if I
remember.
~Katherine
here) is that while there really are advantageous to playing games sans walk
throughs and cheat codes, there's a whole world of discovery to learn from
once you do pull out those things...
Like having the key to a test for peer grading assignments in school,
something which tended to clarify one or two things about the test I was
grading for someone else which I had also just taken. Sort of fun, if I
remember.
~Katherine
On Mon, Dec 22, 2008 at 1:26 PM, Sorschasmom wrote:
>
> I'd like to explore the topic of cheat codes. Our family uses them often
> and we choose to view them as 'helps' or 'special codes to create more
fun'.
> We know a family who does not believe in cheat codes and this has spilled
> over into the childrens conversations regarding cheating, dishonesty, and
> not 'truly' winning the game if a person uses them. These conversations
are
> becoming more and more heated. I've explained to both children that the
> cheat code conversation can be like religion - you can agree to disagree.
> These conversations have caused Tails to ask me more and more questions
> about my opinions on cheat codes. I tell her I use them and I don't have
a
> problem using them.
>
> I'm not asking for any advice on how to deal with the kiddo situation
> (handled), but more for personal opinions to expand my viewpoint on cheat
> codes so that I can give Tails different opinions regarding them. I'm
> hoping that by giving her more information that she can feel comfortable
in
> whatever decision she chooses. Right now, I'm seeing that these
> conversations have made her question herself.
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]