Race game is a large category of board games, in which the object is to be the first to move all one's pieces to the end of a track. This is both the earliest type of board game known, with implements and representations dating back to at least the 3rd millennium BC in Egypt, Iraq, and Iran; and also the most widely dispersed: "all cultures that have games at all have race games".[1] Race games often use dice to decide game options and how far to move pieces.
Race games may be categorized[2] by their ratio of luck to skill. Other classifications include geographical distribution or derivation; and shape of track (including spiral, cross and circle, and square—either boustrophedon as in Snakes and Ladders or "labyrinthine" as in Thaayam).
Simpleedit
Simple race games involve pure luck. Each player has only one piece to move, and the outcome of the game thus depends solely on chance. The Game of the Goose is the progenitor of most simple Western race games, whereas Snakes and Ladders is descended from simple race games originating in the Indian subcontinent. The ancient Egyptian game Mehen was likely a simple race game.
Complexedit
Complex race games combine chance and strategy, but still emphasize more on the former. Each player often has more than one piece to move (typically four), and so choices of move can be made that will put a player in advantageous positions. Complex race games include those from the cross and circle game family. Many of these games, such as Ludo, Parcheesi, Trouble, and Sorry!, ultimately derive from the ancient Indian games Pachisi and Chaupar.
Multiplexedit
Multiplex race games prioritize the role of strategy while retaining the element of chance. Each player has more than one piece to move as in complex race games, but every choice of move greatly impacts the outcome of the game. Multiplex race games include the many varieties of the tables game family, of which Backgammon is the most well-known representative. Others include Trictrac,[3]Nard, and Acey-deucey. The ancient Egyptian game Senet and the ancient Mesopotamian Royal Game of Ur were almost certainly race games, and may belong in this category.
Strategicedit
Strategic race games eliminate (or render trivial) the element of chance. Examples include Bantu[4] and Hare and Tortoise.
Non-race gamesedit
Many board games share some characteristics with these games, but are not categorized as race games. For example, the characteristic roll-and-move mechanism of race games is also found in running-fight games (such as Coppit), but here the object of the game is not to finish first, it is to capture and remove enemy pieces from the board. Similarly in games as diverse as Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit, players roll-and-move to spaces which may help or hinder their progress, but there is no physical "finish line": a win is not attained positionally, but rather by the collection of assets.[5]
It is possible to broaden the definition of the term "race games" to comprise all board games in which the winner is the first to attain a specified position.[6] In addition to the race games specified above, the category would then include games such as Hex, Agon, Chinese Checkers, and Tic-tac-toe. However, board game surveys generally follow Murray in assigning games played on two-dimensional fields to a separate category, such as Murray's "Games of Alignment and Configuration",[7] keeping only linear games (as defined above) in their "race games" category.
^For example in Trivial Pursuit, while the final question, for the win, must be answered in the center space, it is not the attainment of this position, but rather the correct answer (an "asset") that wins and ends the game.
^Murray (1951, pp. 4, 37–52). Cf. Bell's "Games of Position" (1960, pp. 91–112; 1969, pp. 55–70), and Parlett's "Space Games" (1999, pp. 8–12, 109–182).
Bibliography
Bell, RC (1960), Board and Table Games [1] (rev. 1969 and rpt. with vol 2 as Board and Table Games from Many Civilizations Mineola, NY: Dover, 1979 ed.), London: Oxford University Press, ISBN0-486-23855-5
Bell, RC (1969), Board and Table Games 2 (rpt. with vol 1 as Board and Table Games from Many Civilizations Mineola, NY: Dover, 1979 ed.), London: Oxford University Press, ISBN0-486-23855-5
Murray, H. J. R. (1951), A History of Board-Games Other Than Chess (rpt. Oxford: Oxbow Books, 2002 ed.), Oxford: Oxford University Press, ISBN0-19-827401-7
de Voogt, Alexander J. (1995), "A Classification of Board Games", in de Voogt, Alexander J. (ed.), New Approaches to Board Games Research: Asian Origins and Future Perspectives, Leiden: International Institute for Asian Studies, pp. 9–15, ISBN90-74917-10-0
October 29, 2023
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Not to be confused with racing game For other uses see Race Game disambiguation Race game is a large category of board games in which the object is to be the first to move all one s pieces to the end of a track This is both the earliest type of board game known with implements and representations dating back to at least the 3rd millennium BC in Egypt Iraq and Iran and also the most widely dispersed all cultures that have games at all have race games 1 Race games often use dice to decide game options and how far to move pieces Contents 1 Types of race games 1 1 Simple 1 2 Complex 1 3 Multiplex 1 4 Strategic 2 Non race games 3 ReferencesTypes of race games editRace games may be categorized 2 by their ratio of luck to skill Other classifications include geographical distribution or derivation and shape of track including spiral cross and circle and square either boustrophedon as in Snakes and Ladders or labyrinthine as in Thaayam Simple edit Simple race games involve pure luck Each player has only one piece to move and the outcome of the game thus depends solely on chance The Game of the Goose is the progenitor of most simple Western race games whereas Snakes and Ladders is descended from simple race games originating in the Indian subcontinent The ancient Egyptian game Mehen was likely a simple race game Complex edit Complex race games combine chance and strategy but still emphasize more on the former Each player often has more than one piece to move typically four and so choices of move can be made that will put a player in advantageous positions Complex race games include those from the cross and circle game family Many of these games such as Ludo Parcheesi Trouble and Sorry ultimately derive from the ancient Indian games Pachisi and Chaupar Multiplex edit Multiplex race games prioritize the role of strategy while retaining the element of chance Each player has more than one piece to move as in complex race games but every choice of move greatly impacts the outcome of the game Multiplex race games include the many varieties of the tables game family of which Backgammon is the most well known representative Others include Trictrac 3 Nard and Acey deucey The ancient Egyptian game Senet and the ancient Mesopotamian Royal Game of Ur were almost certainly race games and may belong in this category Strategic edit Strategic race games eliminate or render trivial the element of chance Examples include Bantu 4 and Hare and Tortoise Non race games editMany board games share some characteristics with these games but are not categorized as race games For example the characteristic roll and move mechanism of race games is also found in running fight games such as Coppit but here the object of the game is not to finish first it is to capture and remove enemy pieces from the board Similarly in games as diverse as Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit players roll and move to spaces which may help or hinder their progress but there is no physical finish line a win is not attained positionally but rather by the collection of assets 5 It is possible to broaden the definition of the term race games to comprise all board games in which the winner is the first to attain a specified position 6 In addition to the race games specified above the category would then include games such as Hex Agon Chinese Checkers and Tic tac toe However board game surveys generally follow Murray in assigning games played on two dimensional fields to a separate category such as Murray s Games of Alignment and Configuration 7 keeping only linear games as defined above in their race games category References edit Parlett 1999 p 34 Parlett 1999 p 34 106 The Trictrac Home Page by David Levy Bantu at BoardGameGeek Retrieved 13 January 2017 For example in Trivial Pursuit while the final question for the win must be answered in the center space it is not the attainment of this position but rather the correct answer an asset that wins and ends the game For example de Voogt 1995 Murray 1951 pp 4 37 52 Cf Bell s Games of Position 1960 pp 91 112 1969 pp 55 70 and Parlett s Space Games 1999 pp 8 12 109 182 Bibliography Bell RC 1960 Board and Table Games 1 rev 1969 and rpt with vol 2 as Board and Table Games from Many Civilizations Mineola NY Dover 1979 ed London Oxford University Press ISBN 0 486 23855 5 Bell RC 1969 Board and Table Games 2 rpt with vol 1 as Board and Table Games from Many Civilizations Mineola NY Dover 1979 ed London Oxford University Press ISBN 0 486 23855 5 Murray H J R 1951 A History of Board Games Other Than Chess rpt Oxford Oxbow Books 2002 ed Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 827401 7 Parlett David 1999 The Oxford History of Board Games Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 212998 8 de Voogt Alexander J 1995 A Classification of Board Games in de Voogt Alexander J ed New Approaches to Board Games Research Asian Origins and Future Perspectives Leiden International Institute for Asian Studies pp 9 15 ISBN 90 74917 10 0 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Race game amp oldid 1156500256, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
