Wikipedia talk:Wikifun

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✘ This Wikipedia page is currently inactive and is retained as a historical archive.
Either the page is no longer relevant or consensus has become unclear. If you want to revive discussion regarding the subject, you should seek broader input via a forum such as the proposals page of the village pump.
Miscellany for deletion This page was nominated for deletion on 7 May 2008. The result of the discussion was Keep as historical.

Contents

[edit] Task 2

Task 2 is worded confusingly. It mentions the "Latin alphabet" and then mentions the "system of writing" not the "letters". Doesn't "alphabet" constitute a set of "letters"? Wouldn't "system of writing" imply the "Latin language"? Jeff schiller 21:55, 2004 Oct 7 (UTC)

sorry i'll work on changing that. however the answer is in wikipedia somewhere.--Larsie 22:49, 7 Oct 2004 (UTC)

ok i've changed it and people should be able to find the answer by going to the latin page and looking around... try some links on that page too--Larsie 15:18, 14 Oct 2004 (UTC)

i do realize that the second task may be difficult but rest assured the answer is in wikipedia, and does NOT happen to relate to any middle-earth language as the base for most of Tolkeins fictional languages were Welsh and Finnish.--Larsie 18:16, 14 Oct 2004 (UTC)

[edit] New Tasks

Can anyone put a task/question up here? dpen2000 10:01, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC)

no, the winner of each round will be able to assist in the next round--Larsie 16:23, 27 Oct 2004 (UTC)

[edit] WTF?

So, I completed Task 1 and my answer was deleted. Why is that? How is one supposed to know that a task is completed? RickK 18:57, Oct 11, 2004 (UTC)

sorry about that Rickk. make sure you read the instructions above the tasks carefully. next time when you want to post an answer post it where says to in the instructions paragraph. (i meant to send a message to you but forgot). --Larsie 19:34, 11 Oct 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Ideas

Please place any ideas you have here


[edit] Task 2 (Round 2) removed

I don't like the removal of task 2 just because it was posted by someone else than Larsie or Ravn. Rmhermen's question wasn't bad at all, and the answer wasn't that easy to find. This is a Wiki after all, so you'll have to deal gracefully with some third party posting questions. If you don't want that, move this "Wikifun" thing to your own user space: there, you can enforce such rules. But here, in general Wikipedia: space, you really should be a bit more open-minded. Lupo 06:39, 28 Oct 2004 (UTC)

I understand that, and that's why I left Rmhermen's question there at first. However, open posting of tasks could spoil some of the fun in wikifun. On the one hand, it will become difficult to keep a slower pace in posting new tasks with everyone participating. On the other hand it is an extra incentive to win the round, at least for the average wikinerd ;) I am not against the idea of an open game, but I think it collides with the ten-task round-based concept. Ravn 08:46, 28 Oct 2004 (UTC)
I don't quite see why it would spoil the fun - I had fun trying to find the answer to both questions :-) Lupo 09:04, 28 Oct 2004 (UTC)
There will be more to come ;-) The point is, when we had posted ten tasks at a time, you'd have had your fun answering the ten, but other people in different time zones would be left with no chance. That's why Larsie had the intention to control the posting interval. Ravn 10:36, 28 Oct 2004 (UTC)

the main goal of wikifun is for a person to try and get as many correct answers as possible so that they win the chance to be able to post the tasks for the next round. if one wants to post tasks freely they have to win the chance. so therefor it is not only as controlled as you may think. ravn will have to give up his so called 'control' to the winner of the round, and then if he wants it back, he must win again. in that regard technically anyone does have the ability to post tasks. --Larsie 21:43, 31 Oct 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Round 2

Erm—is anybody else participating in this contest? I feel lonely... :-/ Maybe you should have advertised it more widely, e.g. on Wikipedia:Recentchanges. Something to consider for the next time. Lupo 16:14, 2 Nov 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Rearanged answer section to prevent accidentally seeing previous answers

I moved the answer's answers to separate sub pages so that I could change the "answer this question" links below the tasks to bring up "comment" type edit boxes on for each task, so tasks can be answered without seeing other answers. It also has the helpful benefit of requireing two clicks from Wikifun to reach anctual answers, rather than one. Hope you like it. JesseW 07:51, 3 Nov 2004 (UTC)

I do. Ravn 10:10, 3 Nov 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Round 5

Hi, I think Lupo is still away or something, could some kind soul, who has free time start round 5 of wikifun, it's long overdue... meanwhile, we could try to archive round 4. thanks loads! - fiveless 15:47, Feb 6, 2005 (UTC)

Archived... somewhat. New round up. -- AllyUnion (talk) 11:28, 14 Mar 2005 (UTC)

[edit] King Williams College Quiz

Just for those who are interested, the answers to the King William's College Quiz are released, in case you didn't know yet. [1]

[edit] Wikipedia:Wikifun/Template

A template has been created to make the rounds for the game. Please remember to use {{subst:Wikipedia:Wikifun/Template|num=#ofround}} instead of just {{Wikipedia:Wikifun/Template}}. -- AllyUnion (talk) 18:24, 14 Mar 2005 (UTC)

  • I changed it so the links to answers point to the corresponding section, like ...Wikifun/Answers/Round X/Question Y. Grue 20:04, 27 Mar 2005 (UTC)
  • PAGENAME = Wikifun when you use the template on Wikifun/Round_X. Plus, I've noticed that related changes doesn't work when you subpage the pages several levels deep. When I used it as Wikifun/Round X/Question Y, it was a lot easier and it showed up in the Related changes. Wikifun/Answers/Round X/Question Y is unusually complex. For your round, all the pages went to Wikifun/Round X/Answers/Round X/Question Y. I reverted your changes because of that. -- AllyUnion (talk) 11:24, 28 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Now I see Round 5 links to Wikifun/Round 5/Answers/ and Round 6 links to Wikifun/Answers/Round 6/. Very interesting... That probably confused me. And I didn't realize Wikifun/Round X is inserted in the main page as template. Grue 12:13, 28 Mar 2005 (UTC)

The problem is that links in Wikipedia:Wikifun and Wikipedia:Wikifun/Round X point to different places, because PAGENAME is different. I suggest dropping these fancy schmancy variables and make all links fixed, it's not like this template would be used in other languages Wikipedias. Grue 14:22, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Wikifun Watchlist

link --Alterego 21:43, Apr 5, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Round 8: we have a tie

Now that my twenty questions have been answered, there's a three-way tie:

How are we going to solve this? Would you three accept a joint victory? Or do you want to fight on, with a tie breaker question? I don't have one yet, but I'm willing to write one. Eugene van der Pijll 17:13, 13 May 2005 (UTC)

A joint victory is fine with me. Thanks, Eugene, for an excellent round of Wikifun! FreplySpang (talk) 19:44, 13 May 2005 (UTC)
I'm happy with a joint victory, unless Alphax really wants a tie-breaker. And yeah, great job Eugene, thanks for putting in the effort to provide us all with some quality entertainment (not to mention education ;) ). -- Thejesterx 03:35, 14 May 2005 (UTC)
I too am happy with a joint victory. Thanks for writing such interesting questions! -- Alphax τεχ 06:54, 14 May 2005 (UTC)
I suggest for the next round that the three of you each write 6 questions each, then collaborate via email for the last two questions or allow someone else to do the last two questions. Just a thought. -- AllyUnion (talk) 08:00, 14 May 2005 (UTC)

Intervention: I will be acting as a neutral party and posting the new questions from the three winners. I will indicate which questions were from who, in order to permit the three winners to play the round. The next round will feature 22 questions, with 7 questions from each of the above winners, and one extra bonus question from me... expect the question from me to be extremely cryptic and difficult. Don't worry, I won't pick a town this time... however, it will require some extreme creativity to figure out the question. -- AllyUnion (talk) 09:31, 2 Jun 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Round 9

Is now open. Good luck, have fun. -- AllyUnion (talk) 10:57, 12 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Okay... I'll admit one thing about the round. There is a theme to the round. Figure out the overall central theme to the round, and you'll get more an idea how the questions are asked and formed. -- AllyUnion (talk) 06:08, 22 Jun 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Announcement

I have taken over the duties of Wikipedia:Mind Benders, and the page will be updated soon. Mind Benders will feature a format similar to WikiFun, except with brain boggling questions and puzzles not found on Wikipedia. I'll keep all of you updated here- be sure to check it out! Updates to the page will begin in the coming weeks. Thanks. Flcelloguy | A note? | Desk 03:00, 20 Jun 2005 (UTC)

The pre-round is now open! Check it out! Flcelloguy | A note? | Desk 01:12, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Definition of Wikifun

Searching for 'wikifun' in the search box on Wikipedia links to the riddles page, can someone write a Wikifun definition article? I'd do it but I'm still trying to get my head around what it's all about! MrD 1 July 2005 01:14 (UTC)

[edit] what is wikifun?

well its fun with a wiki of course! there hopefully is a better description of what were doing here on the wikifun project page i think at the beginning before the rules and questions and all that stuff. --Larsie 00:26, 15 July 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Wikipedia:Mind Benders

Mind Benders Round One is almost finished! Make sure to cast a vote for one of our 9 great entries, and try your hand at the existing problems. Round two's questions have already been written, and it should be open in about two weeks! So why not check it out WP:MIND? Flcelloguy | A note? | Desk 22:34, 17 July 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Editing help

I just tried adding a helpful guide to the Round 9 page (see the talk page) but found the changes are not visible from the main Wikifun page. Is this because of templates? I don't really understand templates.... Reediewes 17:28, July 18, 2005 (UTC)

Never mind, the problem corrected itself. I probably just wasn't giving the page enough time to refresh. Add it to the list of things I don't understand... Reediewes 17:33, July 18, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Wikifun userbox

The wikifun userbox now adds you to the Category:Wake me for Wikifun. (Some of you may want to null-edit your user page to make the change become effective). When you start a new round, please notify the users in this category. Those who do not like userboxes may of course add their userpage directly to this category. -- Ravn 21:45, 21 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Clarification

I just want to clarify some of the rules to this: Exactly what is meant by answering the question correctly? Does it mean that the specific riddle/task is solved, or that all of the components of the riddle/task have to be correct? (For example, the answer to round 12, #13, where the answer was List of Kyoto Prize winners) Personally, I really don't mind not receiving any points for getting the question correct, because chances are that I won't come close to winning, and I'm moreso just playing for my own enjoyment. However, I would like to clarify this issue, should this occur again and bad feelings start spreading around from this. AndyZ 22:27, 7 February 2006 (UTC)

Hi AndyZ, sorry for answering late. I hadn't noticed that you have posted here.
I stated right before the first question that "only a complete answer identifying all the hints given in a question will be accepted.". I did not want to put it into the global rules, as other question-setters may handle it otherwise. I see that I should have better worded the questions accordingly. I hope I did not spoil your fun with this. -- Ravn 10:03, 1 March 2006 (UTC)
Okay, no problem :). AndyZ 22:53, 16 March 2006 (UTC)
I admit that I felt somehow bad when I got these points (Kyoto...) - later on I gave away e.g. the solution to the most "expensive" question (with Gastornis and the "valds" list) ...
B.t.w., I didn't notice the "you may share with AndyZ" phrase until now (never looked back on this answer page in fact!) - I propose to give you up to 19 points out of the 25 ;-) — MFH:Talk 23:56, 16 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Round 13 - job offer

As MFH declined to become editor for the next round, the position is open for interested parties or individuals, preferably from the set of people who have participated in Round 12. Post here if you're interested. -- Ravn 17:57, 8 March 2006 (UTC)

I have already organized two rounds, but I can do anopther one, if nobody else wants to do it. Eugene van der Pijll 14:05, 9 March 2006 (UTC)
Ok. No one else seems interested. Go ahead. You've just become the quizmaster for round 13. :) -- Ravn 12:58, 13 March 2006 (UTC)
*sigh* Well, alright. I suppose I asked for it... I'll be off-line for about a week; the new round will start some time after that. I'll announce it a few days ahead. Eugene van der Pijll 14:14, 13 March 2006 (UTC)
Thanks a lot in advance. As explained in other places, I don't yet feel enough wiki-mature: this participation made me learn several features of WP I didn't yet know, and I suspect there are lots of others, which might advantage "technical guys" and spoil the fun to more naïve users, if they are not considered by the questionsetter. I hope to be ready (and available) for a future round. — MFH:Talk 22:27, 13 March 2006 (UTC)

MFH - you have served the pourpose of wikifun well, the fact you said "this participation made me learn several features of WP I didn't yet know" has shown the true pourpose of this 'game'. Thank you. I've been really busy the last year or so trying to get my business started: [2]so maybe pretty soon when i have some time, i'll be back. (i made wikifun). —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Larsie (talk • contribs) 01:54, 13 April 2006 (UTC).

[edit] The Re-addition of Wikifun

Wikipedia games:
Wikifun
Six degrees of Wikipedia
Wiki-Link Game
Contests
Wikirace
Sandbox/Word Association
Wiki Game
copied from village pump proposals. so that it doesnt get lost/archived -Quiddity

The Re-addition of Wikifun link to the community portal and other areas where user whether new or not can find it easily. I think this is important due to the fact that it has slowed severely and in addition this comment made by a user on the discussion page: " this participation made me learn several features of WP I didn't yet know". so as you can see there is a large benefit. --Larsie 16:10, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

The Community Portal includes links to Wikipedia:Department of Fun and Category:Wikipedia games. I'd suggest making an infobox for the tops of those 2 pages with the more active games listed. --Quiddity 02:42, 15 April 2006 (UTC)
I made one quickly for you (using an orphaned template page). Template:Wikigames Go edit it and reorganize it and place one on each mentioned page. If ya like :) -Quiddity 03:06, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Round 13

Is it coming soon? Dmn € Դմն 00:42, 9 May 2006 (UTC)

It seems so... in spite of what is written on the bottom of the page, "This page was last modified 19:59, 7 March 2006.", the history page states correcty

"23:50, 29 May 2006 Eugene van der Pijll (round 13 to start in a few days...)"

(is this a bug in the wiki software ?) — MFH:Talk 14:01, 2 June 2006 (UTC)

Is there an updated ETA? Dmn € Դմն 21:19, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Good question... I'll try to get the questions online before the end of the week. I will make an announcement a day or two in advance. Eugène van der Pijll 21:29, 12 June 2006 (UTC)
Be sure to notify who is at Category:Wake me for Wikifun! fetofs Hello! 23:22, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Rules

What are the rules?I wanna play. -- Cute 1 4 u 18:09, 17 June 2006 (UTC)

See Wikipedia:Wikifun#Wikihunt. æ² ✆ 2006-06-17t21:41z

[edit] WikiQuiz

An easier and smaller version of Wikifun (it's lovingly ripped off, I swear!) is up right here! If you are finding Wikifun too hard, this might be for you!--Goyston (talk) (contribs) 04:14, 27 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Round 14

I think it's about time we had a round 14. Anyone up for it? --Spondoolicks 11:50, 16 March 2007 (UTC)

I'd be willing to give it another go, but not this week. Dmn € Դմն 12:13, 17 March 2007 (UTC)
Sounds like FUN I want a go! Bass fishing physicist 18:55, 30 March 2007 (UTC)

I've started putting some stuff together for a new round. I'll try and get it up by the end of the week. --Spondoolicks 09:38, 2 April 2007 (UTC)

It seems that Questions 8 and 18 from Round 13 remain unanswered. Perhaps we should be put out of our misery? -- ALoan (Talk) 11:01, 2 April 2007 (UTC)
I did give Eugene a couple of nudges a while back but he hasn't responded. It looks to me like Q8 has been solved by EgbertSousé. Not sure about Q18 though - there are a few guesses that have been hazarded on the answer page so it may have been half solved. Of course, with 6 points up for grabs for the last question to be answered, by my calculations there are still three people who could win: Zoicon, ZeroGravitas or me. If we really need a winner then I'm not sure what to do about that if Eugene doesn't come back. --Spondoolicks 12:27, 2 April 2007 (UTC)
That's why round makers should set a deadline, or some questions will remain unanswered forever. When I was doing Round 7, it was up for 2 weeks and then I closed it, even though 2 questions were unanswered. This round has been up for almost a year, so we can assume it's pretty much freaking dead.  Grue  19:44, 2 April 2007 (UTC)
Thank you, Spondoolicks, for some interesting questions. I doubt I will be able to put together Round 15 straight away, but I do intend to produce it in due course. -- ALoan (Talk) 09:53, 24 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Ask for help

I am translating this page to chinese wiki.But the answer input phrase is beyond my comprehension.Can someone tell me the mechanism？--Ksyrie(Talkie talkie) 23:29, 22 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Um, answers?

Hi everyone, I just got here, and I wanted to see how good I could be in this game by practicing with the questions from previous rounds, but I'm having a little trouble doing that, because, well, let's just put it this way:

Where the heck are the answers to the questions???

Apparently only the first round has a linked answer page. I found a few other answer pages for individual questions lying around (I actually got here with one of those!!), but I'm guessing most questions don't have their respective answer pages. There has to be an easier way to get the answers to the questions! Shouldn't the answers be available after the rounds are done, simply out of courtesy to others who just want to learn, if not play next time? I was expecting links to the answers, or maybe just a simple phrase with the answers, but there's nothing!

If you want some more people to be interested in playing, then you definitely should make it easy for them to practice and that way get excited about the next round of Wikifun! Kreachure 23:21, 11 September 2007 (UTC)

P.S. Is the waiting time between rounds around five months, half a year? Or is this project so carefree, that a "whenever it's done" is justified? I would hope not...

Hi Kreachure. Sorry for the late response, but as you have seen, the WikiFun pages can go a long way between updates. As you hinted, the project is carefree and is only updated when someone gets around to making a new quiz. Traditionally, the winner of the last contest is awarded the "honor" of making the next quiz. Unfortunately, it looks like last quiz's winner, ALoan, has retired. You may try contacting the creator of the last quiz, Spondoolicks, to inquire about the next quiz.
As far as the answers to the questions, they're somewhat hidden to prevent spoilers for those whoe didn't want any help. If you follow the link to "Answer the question", click on the history for that page, then click on the latest version of the page. All the discussion, hints, and answers should be revealed. Happy hunting! Hoof Hearted 20:58, 12 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Next round?

Is anyone up for starting the next round of riddles? Hersfold (t/a/c) 03:24, 11 December 2007 (UTC)

You know, I'd like to give it a try, although I'm not good at making riddles. Can I? Just tell me how (I'm sorta new to Wikifun). — Cuyler91093 - Соитяівцтіоиѕ 08:18, 13 February 2008 (UTC)
I've not done it either, but I'm sure one of the veterans to this page could help you out. Hersfold (t/a/c) 07:50, 16 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Oh well

Honestly, I just turn my back for a year or so and look what happens! Still, I suppose there wasn't really an argument for keeping it active as it is.

If anyone wants to revive Wikifun then I think it would need to be adapted to make a more direct and obvious contribution to the encyclopedia. Any suggestions? --Spondoolicks (talk) 10:26, 15 May 2008 (UTC)

Sorry I have no suggestions, but having just discovered Wikifun, it would be great if it existed once more. Notify me if it gets up and running again: it seems like a great challenge and I'm sure I'd fail miserably, but it would be a laugh! Deamon138 (talk) 01:32, 30 May 2008 (UTC)