Currently Running: Median Number Game

mathcam · Post Post #0 (ISO) » Thu Sep 18, 2003 8:47 am

This is one of the games that fascinates me the most so I thought I'd run one here:

The rules are simple. Anyone who wants to play posts some message in the thread that says they're playing and privately PMs me a positive integer. (i.e. 1, 2, 3, ...) I'll leave the thread open for a few days, and at the end, I'll reveal all the numbers, and the person who submitted the lowest number that no one else submitted wins.

Basic instinct tells you to pick really low numbers, but of course, picking the number 1 rarely wins, as it only wins if only one person picks it.

It's that simple.

Cam

shadyforce · Post Post #1 (ISO) » Thu Sep 18, 2003 8:57 am

I'll play.

MeMe · Post Post #2 (ISO) » Thu Sep 18, 2003 9:06 am

Um..alright.

But I'd rather see who/how many are playing before submitting my number -- is that allowed?

Fishbulb · Post Post #3 (ISO) » Thu Sep 18, 2003 9:09 am

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking, too.

shadyforce · Post Post #4 (ISO) » Thu Sep 18, 2003 9:12 am

Good idea. (You should have kept it to yourself.)

Fishbulb · Post Post #5 (ISO) » Thu Sep 18, 2003 9:16 am

Maybe it should close after a set number of players. That way we can already plan on how many (5, 10, 20, ??).

mathcam · Post Post #6 (ISO) » Thu Sep 18, 2003 9:19 am

I think the game's interesting without it, but there is certainly an advantage to knowing how many people are playing. So the game will close after I get 12 numbers (the size of a mini). If we run again, I may let it last three days or something, but not have players post in the thread, so there's no advantage to waiting.

Cam

Fishbulb · Post Post #7 (ISO) » Thu Sep 18, 2003 9:22 am

Yeah, that's what I was going to say next. It would work if no one posted that they were playing.

gslamm · Post Post #8 (ISO) » Thu Sep 18, 2003 9:24 am

Stewie · Post Post #9 (ISO) » Thu Sep 18, 2003 10:16 am

blah blah blah /in blah blah blah

mathcam · Post Post #10 (ISO) » Thu Sep 18, 2003 10:43 am

I still don't have a number from you, Fishbulb.

Cam

Dourgrim · Post Post #11 (ISO) » Thu Sep 18, 2003 11:09 am

I'll play. Why not?

rite · Post Post #12 (ISO) » Thu Sep 18, 2003 11:19 am

I'm playing

Fishbulb · Post Post #13 (ISO) » Thu Sep 18, 2003 1:15 pm

mathcam wrote:I still don't have a number from you, Fishbulb.

Cam

But it's a mind game. I'm playin' it cool... trying to psyche out the other players. Oh, wait...

MeMe · Post Post #14 (ISO) » Thu Sep 18, 2003 2:54 pm

Dourgrim wrote:I'll play. Why not?

Because I'll take you

down

...down lower than any number of which you can conceive. You choosing nine? I'll say EIGHT, baby...I might even go down to SEVEN. I'm crazy like that.

Dourgrim · Post Post #15 (ISO) » Thu Sep 18, 2003 8:39 pm

MeMe wrote:Because I'll take you
down
...down lower than any number of which you can conceive. You choosing nine? I'll say EIGHT, baby...I might even go down to SEVEN. I'm crazy like that.

ROFL!

Talitha · Post Post #16 (ISO) » Thu Sep 18, 2003 9:47 pm

This game wont be too time-consuming so count me in

Damn I'll be up all night trying to work out the perfect number now.

Fishbulb · Post Post #17 (ISO) » Fri Sep 19, 2003 12:17 am

Talitha wrote:Damn I'll be up all night trying to work out the perfect number now.

Too late. I constructed the perfect mathematical equation to give me the absolute best number to use given the amount of players. So you gotta pick a different one.

shelper · Post Post #18 (ISO) » Fri Sep 19, 2003 1:56 am

Count me in.

gslamm · Post Post #19 (ISO) » Fri Sep 19, 2003 3:16 am

Fishbulb wrote: Too late. I constructed the perfect mathematical equation to give me the absolute best number to use given the amount of players. So you gotta pick a different one.

Now you've done it. *I* was going to use that formula too. Only now Talathia's number is going to be influenced by your statement. (Except if we were going to use the same formula ... )

See what you've done?

mathcam · Post Post #20 (ISO) » Fri Sep 19, 2003 3:16 am

I have nine numbers in. Three more before I reveal the winner. I was surprised to see that everyone so far picked numbers over a million. Interesting strategy.

Cam

Kerplunk · Post Post #21 (ISO) » Fri Sep 19, 2003 3:21 am

I'm also in.

Can't the next game be, who picks the highest number?

Fishbulb · Post Post #22 (ISO) » Fri Sep 19, 2003 3:23 am

gslamm wrote:Now you've done it. *I* was going to use that formula too. Only now Talathia's number is going to be influenced by your statement. (Except if we were going to use the same formula ... )

See what you've done?

Like I said, it's a mind game. Now you don't know which number to pick. *Muah ha ha haaaaa*

But it's so simple. All I have to do is divine from what I know of you. Are you the sort of man who would put the poison into his own goblet, or his enemy's? Now, a clever man would put the poison into his own goblet, because he would know that only a great fool would reach for what he was given. I'm not a great fool, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But you must have known I was not a great fool; you would have counted on it, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me...

Fishbulb · Post Post #23 (ISO) » Fri Sep 19, 2003 3:25 am

Kerplunk wrote:I'm also in.

Can't the next game be, who picks the highest number?

Hmmm... Something tells me that won't work as well...

gslamm · Post Post #24 (ISO) » Fri Sep 19, 2003 3:35 am

Kerplunk wrote:I'm also in.

Can't the next game be, who picks the highest number?

Google the Scientific American Unlimited Entry Lottery. See also prisoners Dilema. (And just for fun the Monty Hall problem)

*psst* there that should keep 'em busy long enough to make 'em miss the entry deadline.

@Fishbulb: Muhaha indeed. Nice quote by the way.