What: A
Browser Race is a game my friends and I created in high school, around 1995-1996. We still play occasionally, and every so often I introduce the idea to others.
Players: The game is best suited for 2 players, but any range from 0-
i will work.
i players would be tricky to organize, and 0 players isn't too fun. 1 player work is usually prone to cheating, 2 is good for communication, I personally have played with up to 5 people at one time. The game is indended for 2 player
simultaneous play, but it can also be timed with a
stopwatch to be turn-based or for record-setting-runs.
Required:: You need a
web browser, preferably a graphical one with a mouse, but text-browsers are also allowable with some concession to the rules. You will also need an active
internet connection.
Objective: Be the first to cross the finish line! It's
that easy.
Setup: Setup is easy. Contact your
playmates and pick a website to start your browser at. This is the starting line. This website should be scouted out at first to determine the
skill level. It is generally a good idea to pick a random address that no one knows - such as "
DontDoDrugs.Com" or "
WhereAreMySocks.Com". For an easy game, pick "
Yahoo.Com" or "
MSN.Com."
Now pick a finish line. This is the fun part. I have used such things as "a picture of a
Colt Vista (car)," "an
anime fan site," or "
linux.com." Note that the starting line and finishing line determine the skill level required to win the race, and the time involve - going from dontdodrugs.com to linux.com - two completely different and irrelevant topics - may take a while. Adjust to taste.
Rules: The number one
rule is no
keyboard. That means no typing into
search engines, no typing
URL's into your address bar, no cutting and pasting. The main idea is to use the left-mouse-button exclusively to
surf your way from the starting line to the finish line. No right-clicking to cut 'n' paste, no cheating!
Tips: When playing more difficult games, look for "this site is best viewed with MSIE"-type-links, as they will eventually take you to sites like Yahoo or MSN - giant clickable databases of
everything. If the game is too easy or you are completing races too quickly, try making the finish line a
picture of something
rare - such as
dirty dishes... as opposed to a general
website. I once played a 2 hour game - it was very
frustrating to say the least.