When mobile phones first became popular, we all thought that we were entering a world of new and exciting technology. We were definitely correct. However, some of the things we use our phones, for now, are slightly ironic, considering the fact that we could always do those things before technology took over.
For example, using our notes app has taken over from writing physical notes, and in many cases, games that have been played for centuries on tables, using cards and boards, are now played virtually on our phones.
Here, we are exploring five table, board, and card games that were wildly popular in the pre-smartphone era, which have made their way into our devices and taken on a whole new life.
Poker
Though poker may have started in some form before it came to America, it was around 200 years ago that the game was first played in a form resembling what we see today.
Few games have been through the kind of evolution that we have seen poker experience. Texas Hold ‘Em is now the most popular variety of the game but it wasn’t played until the 1920s.
Though poker has long been played for money in Las Vegas and lots of other regions where there is a regulated gambling market, it is a relatively recent concept to be able to play online poker for real money. Though the first poker sites can be dated back to the 90s, poker on smartphones has only been an option for a fraction of the history of this card game.
Scrabble
Scrabble is a hugely popular board game played in many countries around the world. It was originally called Lexiko and was first released back in 1938.
The game was eventually bought by a man called James Brunot who would change the name and manufacture the game, but he was making a loss through his company, and Scrabble as we know it nearly didn’t come to be so popular. When Jack Straus who was the president of a chain of stores called Macy’s discovered the game he loved it so much he carried it in their stores, and it would soon be a smash hit.
The game is relatively simple and consists of players making words from a random selection of letters, all of which have their own points value. They can be laid strategically on the board on double and triple squares which can also lead to more points being scored. The game is great for lovers of words, and with the Scrabble GO app, you can play it anywhere.
Go
A game that is thousands of years old has now been modernized and put onto phones. Apps like OnlineGo let you take on others around the world at this ancient game but be warned that this is not the kind of thing you can complete in 20 minutes. You can also play against the AI and pick up your game whenever you like.
The basic premise of the game is to use black or white counters to surround more of the “territory” (the board) than the opposition. It is thought to have existed over 2,000 years ago when the game was played in China, and is still popular today, both across Asia and in the rest of the world.
Some studies show video games can make you smarter and playing ancient strategy games like this is certainly a way to give your brain a workout.
Patience/Solitaire
The game that keeps your brain active even when you are on your own. There aren’t too many different card games that you can play on your own and still stay engaged throughout, but Solitaire has a way of keeping you hooked as you try and solve the puzzle.
For those who haven’t played this game, it is a game where you are trying to arrange the cards into a specific order, or possibly even create different pairs out of the cards.
It may not sound like much but the game is actually a popular way to pass the time and has been taken from a simple game you play with a physical deck of cards, and turned into an online game and even numerous apps for your phone. This means while you’re on the train or in a waiting room you can play the game to keep yourself amused and keep your brain sharp.
Conclusion
When the ancient Chinese invented the game Go, or even when Scrabble started to be sold in Macy’s nobody could have predicted what smartphones had in store for the world. Now, we can access virtually every popular game that was made in the age before the smartphone whenever we want to.
This is proof that sometimes the old classics are still the most enjoyable games.
