The Wikipedia Game

You’re all likely aware of the human web – the idea of six degrees of separation – that any human being is connected to any other in at most six steps. that same phenomenon can be attributed to just about anything – and if you’ve ever sat on Wikipedia for an evening you’d know how clicking related links inevitably leads to completely unrelated topics.

Some of you may even have made a game out of it. Well, now thanks to http://wikipediagame.org/, it’s now all automated. and terribly, terribly addictive.

It works like this:

1. You’re given a start Wikipedia article, like "Banana"
2. And a winning article, like "Britney Spears"
3. Now click as few links as possible to get from "Banana" to "Britney Spears", as fast as you can!

Each game is timed – and you’re given 150 seconds to complete your goal in as few clicks as possible. Scores are tallied after each game – and because each game is global, you can challenge your friends. you can also, once the game is done, see what click paths others have taken in getting to the end topic.

It’s freakishly addictive, and way more fun than it ought to be. Good luck getting anything productive done today.

As seen on Rock, Paper, Shotgun

Last Updated: June 10, 2010