Games World of Puzzles August 2018

The dog days of summer may be here, but don’t sweat it: Just slip on some flip-flops, pour an ice-cold lemonade, and enjoy the August issue of GAMES WORLD OF PUZZLES.

We suggest you begin by perusing the feature article, “Shining a Spotlight on Video Game Designers,” written by our longtime reviewer, Thomas L. McDonald (page 34). It’s an in-depth look at Game Masters, a traveling exhibit that makes the argument for video games as an art form—and lets visitors play plenty of games, too. Whether you’re a skeptic regarding the medium or a passionate fan, Game Masters offers plenty to think about and McDonald is an excellent guide.

Two of this issue’s other features also reckon with games and their legacy. In “Your Word Against Mine,” Scott Appel, our Scrabble correspondent, reflects on his career as a competitive player and how he’s begun to give back to the game that brought him so much pleasure and so many friendships (page 42). Jonathan Schmalzbach, our quirky game collector, approaches the past in a slightly different manner in his latest “This Old Game” column (page 41). Revisiting a childhood favorite, Green Ghost, he conjures a wave of nostalgia and reminds us that some ghosts are friendly.

Of course, you come to this puzzle publication to enjoy some world-class cerebration. You’ll get plenty of that in “Hidden Texts,” (page 64) a series of cipher puzzles from former GAMES editor in chief R. Wayne Schmittberger, that would probably keep a team of crack CIA cryptologists busy. And first-class cruciverbalist Patrick Berry contributes another one of his amusing—and challenging—crossword variations with “Some Assembly Required” (page 64).

Speaking of crosswords, we have plenty in this issue, including some from fan favorites Frank Longo and Mike Nothnagel. “Game On” columnist Ray Simon also touches on an initiative to diversify the format (page 48).

Enjoy!