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Biography
other usesWiktionary|Simon says Simon says is a children's game for 3 or more players where 1 player takes the role of 'Simon' and issues instructions (usually physical actions such as 'jump in the air' or 'stick out your tongue') to the other players, which should only be followed if prefaced with the phrase 'Simon says', for example 'Simon says jump in the air'. Players are eliminated from the game by either following instructions that are not immediately preceded by the trigger phrase or by failing to follow an instruction which does include 'Simon says'. It is the ability to distinguish between valid and invalid commands, rather than physical ability, that usually matters in the game; in most cases, the action just needs to be attempted.
The object for the player acting as 'Simon' is to get all the other players 'out' as quickly as possible; the winner of the game is usually the last player who has successfully followed all of the given commands. Occasionally however, 2 or more of the last players may all be eliminated by following a command without "Simon Says", thus resulting in no winner at all.
The game is well embedded in popular culture, with numerous references in films, music and literature.
History
'Simon says' originated from Latin, the Latin version was "Cicero dicit fac hoc",cite web|url= http://rhodenel.blogspot.com/2010/11/cicero-dicit-fac-hoc.html|title=blogspot.commeaning "Cicero says do this" ( Cicero was a powerful Roman politician).
The tradition behind the use of 'Simon' as the controller of the game may trace back to the year 1264, when Simon_de_Montfort,_6th_Earl_of_Leicester|Simon de Montfort captured King Henry III at the English town of Battle of Lewes|Lewes . For the next year, any order Henry III gave could have been countermanded by de Montfort until Henry's son Prince Edward took Simon's castle by force.
This game has translated across multiple cultures from seemingly common routes and some international versions also use the name Simon such as the Spanish language|Spanish "Simón dice", "Símon segir" in Icelandic, "Szymon mówi" in Polish language|Polish , "?? ????" ("Simon says") in Korean Language|Korean , In Arabia: for example, "??????? ??? ???" (General commanded - Egypt version) or "??? ???????" (the teacher says - Lebanon version) and "????? ????" (salmon says - Iraqi Version) in Arabic language|Arabic , "Kommando Pimperle" (or with similar rules "Alle Vögel fliegen hoch") in German, "Jacques a dit" (" Jacques|James said") in French language|French , "Jean dit" (John says) in Québec, "Commando" (the Dutch noun for "command") or "Jantje zegt" in Flemish parts of Belgium, in Dutch language|Dutch , "???? ???" (" Herzl said") in Hebrew , "Deir Ó Grádaigh" ("O'Grady says") in Irish language|Irish , "Razvan spune" (Razvan says) in Romanian language|Romanian , "Yakup der ki" in Turkish language|Turkish , "???????" ('Senchosan no meirei' "Ship Captain's orders") in Japanese language|Japanese , "Kongen befaler" ("the king commands") in Norwegian language|Norwegian , "Kapteeni käskee" ("the captain commands") in Finnish language|Finnish , "???" ("the teacher says") in Cantonese language|Cantonese , "O rei manda" ("the king orders") in Portuguese language|Portuguese , and "O mestre mandou" ("The master ordered") in Brazilian Portuguese . A version also exists in India and Hungary where an analogy to what can fly and what cannot is emphasized instead of Simon saying or not, i.e. "Chidiya ud" ( Hindi ) which translates to Bird fly . The term 'bird' can then be replaced with a thing that cannot fly. This game is usually played more with gestures than actual jumping.
Game play
A command starting with "Simon says" means the players must obey that command. A command without the beginning "Simon says" means do not do this action. Anyone who breaks 1 of these 2 rules is eliminated from the remainder of the game. Often, anyone who speaks is also eliminated.
There can be very complex and difficult command chains, such as "Simon says: Arms up. Simon says: Arms down. Arms up." Anyone ending with their arms up is eliminated, because you cannot obey a command that doesn't begin with "Simon says".
It is considered cheating to give impossible commands ("Simon says 'lift both of your legs up and keep them there!'.") or phrase the commands in such a way that the other player has no option but to 'go out' ("Simon says 'jump up'. Come down."). However, at least in some versions, it is allowed for Simon to eliminate players by asking them to do something seemingly unrelated to the game (example: "Anyone remaining join me up here.")
Scientific benefit
A recent psychological study found that the game can be a healthy way to help children to improve self-control and restraint of impulsive behavior.cite web|url= http://www.psycport.com/showArticle.cfm? xmlFile=knightridder%5F2008%5F03%5F25%5F%5F0000%2D2525%2DTB%2DSelf%2Dcontrol%2DIt%2Ds%2Dchild%2Ds%2Dplay%2D0325%2Exml& provider=Chicago%20Tribune ''"Self-control? It's child's play: Some classic games help limit anti-social behavior" |title=Chicago Tribune - March 25, 2008
The phrase has been used multiple times as a plot device in films and television dramas including Die Hard with a Vengeance , Police Academy (franchise)|Police Academy , Demolition Man (film)|Demolition Man and the TV series Underdog (TV series)|Underdog as well as being played in television game shows including 1970s show Superstars and Battle of the Network Reality Stars .
Simon Says is a character in Shrek 2 .
The Peanuts special '' It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown includes a song/dance number called "Lucy Says" where Lucy plays the role of Simon, but uses "Lucy Says" instead of "Simon Says".
A stunt played on the game show Fun House (game show)|Fun House also played Simon Says, but was changed to "Tiny Says" to match the name of the show's announcer giving the commands.
'Simon Says' song is featured on Clawfinger band's album 'Whole Lot Of Nothing ' 2001
References
Reflist
Other references
Arnold, Arnold, ''The World Book of Children's Games , World Publishing Co., 1972, ISBN 0-529-00778-9.
Bancroft, Jessie H., Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium , Macmillan Publishers|The Macmillan Co. , 1914.
Forster, Sally, ''Simon Says... Let's Play'', E. P. Dutton|Dutton Children's Books , 1990, ISBN 0-525-65019-9.
Grunfeld, Frederic V., Games of the World: How to Make Them, How to Play Them, How They Came to Be , Henry Holt and Company|Holt, Rinehart and Winston , 1975, ISBN 0-03-015261-5.
Category:Children's games
de:Simon says (Spiel) es:Simón dice fr:Jacques a dit he:???? ??? no:Kongen befaler fi:Kapteeni käskee
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