Dragon Checkers

Opa downloaded an iPad ap called Dragon Checkers. It's a pretty standard checkers game, but you get to choose from eight different dragons to decorate your checkers. The dragons roar on command (a button) and at the end of the game the winning dragon not only roars, but spits fire. Jake is currently obsessed with the game.

Here's what Bentley told me about Jake and Dragon Checkers: "Jake's playing both sides himself because the computer is too easy to beat. I don't play with the computer because it's way too hard for me."

Are you surprised to learn that Jake is better at Dragon Checkers than Bentley? I was until I watched Jake play. He's taught himself how to play with the help of the computer. The computer will not let you make an illegal move--go backwards or jump sidewise--but it does not teach you the goal of the game. Jake thinks the goal of the game is to clear the board of pieces so you can see the dragon spit fire.

Technically the goal is to clear the board of pieces, however, most players try to clear off their opponent's pieces and they try to preserve their own pieces. Jake takes off all pieces. He clears the board until he gets to the final dragon screen. He always claims victory because he made the dragon spit fire.

Bentley has a much better grasp of the game (as commonly played!) and he knows that you pick one side as your own and then you must decimate the other player, usually while preserving as many of your pieces as possible. The computer has this same goal and so it can be a fierce competitor.

This morning Bentley begged Jake to play a game of checkers with him. At first Jake refused because he much prefers to play against the computer. Finally he gave in and played, but it did not go well since Jake clued in he was losing--because Bentley was winning.

Jake's version of Dragon Checkers is much nicer with every game a win.