The Pointer Game

Sitting at the chop-bar with my friends, we came up with a curious notion. (Or, some would say, I did.) One might begin to point, rapidly oscillating, at some so-called "friend." Then they would be, of course, compelled to point at you, in the same manner. A third person might join in - forcing the target of their pointing to switch back and forth pointing at those pointing at him.

And so forth.

With one hand, it is inhumanly difficult (and probably impossible) to track all the people who point at one - but it's still not that interesting! Only a few, simple patterns form. Very boring!

When it gets interesting is when you start pointing with two arms.

It's even more inhumanly difficult to track, of course. But with computers, it can be handled very simply - lists of 'people' pointing at one another, tracking whoever last pointed at them, acting in a shuffled order... very simple! And a (relatively) simple vector graphics library would be able to handle everything necessary with ease.

At this point, it may be a good idea to question the utility of the entire proposal.

One use of the pointing-'game' would be as a screensaver. Strange, colourful, flickering patterns - similar in some ways to the game of life. But, as a mutual friend aptly notes, screensavers are lame!

Still, all hope is not lost. Just in moments, we came up with notions for FASCINATING DIGI-ENTERTAINMENT. One notion - a game in which points are gained by 'people' pointing at one-another, forming lines - difficult to maintain in a chaotic, complex system. Another - a lemmings-like game in which small, stupid creatures must be herded to goals through use of the aforesaid lines. The possibilities are bounded! But they are not very tightly bounded.

This was not the best explanation, but I deleted the relevant bit of the draft, so that's all you get. It's too late at night for this author to create concept art.