Games in Popular TV Shows and Movies
When you look at trends that come and go, and even those that stand the test of time, you have to stop and ask yourself one question. Does reality interpret art, or does art interpret reality? No matter which side of the spectrum you stand on, one thing is certain: the popularity of games from Monopoly to poker, determined by the general population’s desire to play the game, is closely connected to those games’ portrayal in movies and TV shows.
For example, Monopoly began as a game designed to help people better understand the single tax theory of the early 1900s. As time progressed and the game’s popularity grew, it turned into an international phenomenon that even today may be found in almost every family’s game closet. ESPN broadcasts the Monopoly World Championship, which began in 1973, to millions worldwide, further contributing to the game’s popularity.
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Bingo, which is typically depicted onscreen as a game for senior citizen, can be traced back to the 1500s. Bingo is one of the few games that can be played with one or one hundred people and can take anywhere from five minutes to an hour for one game. Due to the overall longevity and feel-good vibe shared by bingo lovers worldwide, the game has been featured repeatedly both the big and small screen.
Mahjong is an ancient game that is beautifully and creatively designed. A tile game, it requires each player to rely on wit and memory. The game is simple, but challenging to master and highly addictive. Fans of traditional martial artist movies often see characters playing mahjong, which has significantly increased the game’s popularity in the West.
Checkers is considered by many to be the ultimate board game for lazy afternoons. Characters can be found playing it in movies that range from old westerns to newer comedies like The Barbershop. Appreciated for its simplicity, checkers is a classic two player game loved by kids and adults alike.
Checkers has a sophisticated big brother by the name of chess. A chess board and a checker board are identical, but that is where the similarities between the two games end. Chess is a game of strategy and complexity. In movies and TV shows, therefore, it is often shown being played by both heroes and villains who are clever or intellectual.
However, with the help of the internet and its ability to make someone a millionaire in one game, poker is becoming the world’s most watched game. Such organizations as the World Poker Tour, Full Tilt Poker, and the World Series of Poker have taken playing poker to a whole new level. Texas Hold’em, one of the most popular forms of the game, has taken the world by storm. Now millions of people tune in to various channels daily to watch people compete for millions of dollars playing poker. Poker is also portrayed extensively in movies, most recently as a major plot point in Casino Royale, a James Bond film. This movie helped further establish poker as a game of danger, sophistication and intrigue, boosting its popularity even more. With poker leading the way and games like chess and checkers following closely behind, it seems likely that the relationship between a game’s popularity and its visibility in the media will continue to be a close one.
Author Bio:
Guest post contributed by Ashley Coxx for PoshBingo.co.uk – A popular website to find the best free bingo games in the uk.
