Il Blog

How to think about completed-round patterns without pretending anyone can see a hidden throw.

Rock Paper Scissors rewards an even three-way mix; a penalty shootout rewards a weighted one. What transfers between the two, and how to measure your own predictability.

Cheating in Rock Paper Scissors is real but narrow: illegal throws, a delayed throw taken after seeing the opponent, and signals from a spectator. What each looks like and what a referee does.

Pokémon type matchups, the Fire Emblem weapon triangle, Alex Kidd boss fights and Super Smash Bros all run on a Rock Paper Scissors cycle. Why designers keep reaching for it, and where it limits them.

Hand games that need nothing but two players and their hands: thumb wrestling, finger spelling, the addition and multiplication games, Ninja, Concentration and more.

Who keeps score in a Rock Paper Scissors match, why it should not be the players, and the two methods referees use: an official score sheet and finger counting.

Rock Paper Scissors has fixed gestures, a referee, a rulebook and world championships. Working through the elements that separate a game from a sport, and why RPS answers to both.