The Allusionist 16. Word Play
Aug 12, 2015
Leslie Scott, game designer and founder of Oxford Games, inventor of Jenga and many word games. She talks about what makes word games fun: bluffing, mischief and pace. They explore tempo in games like Boggle and Scrabble, how naming and trademarks shape a game’s identity, and why a catchy, protectable name matters.
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Why Meat And Animal Words Differ
- After the Norman invasion meat names (beef, pork, venison) came from French while living-animal names stayed Anglo-Saxon.
- This split reflects social class: aristocrats ate the meat and their language shaped culinary vocabulary.
Roadtrip Word Games Aren't Always Fun
- Helen describes childhood car-trip games like I Spy, The Minister's Cat and number-plate games as dull filler pastimes.
- She jokes only replacing words in songs and trying to outtalk drivers are genuinely entertaining options.
Competition Fuels Game Fun
- Leslie Scott believes a good game needs competitiveness and a bit of viciousness to make it fun.
- She argues jeopardy and the risk of being judged 'the worst person in the room' create excitement.