Playing Games Is Good For You--You Should Try It

Winning Image Round #7
Candidate for Round #8

We've been playing the Association Game here at Open Museum for about a week or so, and one thing is clear: Open Museum members are really creative. The rules of the game are really simple--one image starts the game, and players post another image that reminds them of the original image in some way. Any registered member of Open Museum can vote on the image they like the best, and the image with the most votes after a certain time period (we usually do it on a 24-hour cycle) wins the round. That winning image is the starter image for the next round. In theory, the object of the game is to eventually circle back so that the winning image of the last round is also the first image that started the game. We aren't nearly there yet, but it will be interesting to see how long it takes us to finish one full game. Several members of Open Museum are playing individual one-on-one games, too, which go a bit faster (see Maureen's wall for an example of a finished game).

To make the game easier to find, we've created a new navigation button called "Play." It's at the top of the screen as part of the main navigation bar on every page on Open Museum. Just click the Play button and you'll be taken right to the game.

We have had a couple of questions about image use. Although we maintain a certain preference for the use of public domain and creative commons licensed images in this game on esthetic grounds, we believe that the use of this image qualifies as Fair Use under United States copyright law. Let us know your feelings on the matter.

And finally, one thing we are working on now is a new name for the game. "The Association Game" seems kind of lame. One Open Museum member suggested the name "T.A.G." (Among other things, an acronym for The Association Game). We like it--but would also like to know what you think. Any other suggestions? Join in the conversation here.

Do you like this new play option? Let us know--and join in the game!