Short Game: Dreidel 6000

Dreidel 6000 is a game within the “Arcade Games” section of Babaganewz.com where players can “play dreidel in outer space with up to three opponents whether they be your friends or computer players!” (1) The mechanics of the game do not differ much from the traditional game of dreidel: a group of players spin a dreidel--inscribed with the traditional Nun, Gimel, Hei, and Shin characters--and exchange objects with the communal “pot” based on the outcome of your spin until one player is left with all of the objects. For seemingly aesthetic purposes (perhaps to seem “novel, hip, fun, thought-provoking, and exciting,” as Babaganewz “About” page suggests is their goal) (2), Dreidel 6000 changes the basic structure of the Dreidel game in a few minor ways. Most noticeably, of course, is that the game is set in space: astronauts float by the “windows” of the interface, as do moons and stars and planet earth in quick succession. Similarly, the objects which the player has at his disposal to gamble with are referred to and drawn as “space rocks.” This choice may seem curious due to the fear that these “space rocks” will not hold as much sway over players of the game as does "pennies, nuts, chocolate chips, or raisins" (the traditional gambling tokens of Dreidel) (3) and reveals a dependance on the virtual medium that traditional players of dreidel need not confront: playing Dreidel in real life potentially earns the player a physical reward, whereas Dreidel 6000 offers nothing for the player’s victory other than the chance to play again. The game, in other words, must be worth it for its own sake and not for the sake of the possible physical reward. Other minor differences include the ability for each player to select his/her own dreidel (out of a possible five color choices) and the lack of being required to deposit a “space rock” into the communal pot at the beginning of each turn, as is custom. The sum effect of these changes is to establish a feeling of cooperation and a sense of “group” play. It is not possible to skip over computer players (each will have their own colored dreidel and their turns must be observed) and even if the player loses, he/she is still encouraged to sit and watch the end of the game as it plays out and an eventual winner is found. In this way, the traditional dynamic of dreidel as a “group game” is preserved, even when a player is playing alone.



(1) http://babaganewz.com/games/dreidel-6000

(2) http://babaganewz.com/about

(3) http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Jewish_Holidays/Hanukkah/At_Home/Dreidel/How_To_Play.shtml