Faceball Hits World Wide
‘Saving face’ at work takes on a whole new meaning. Faces and balls — it’s a scene rampantly spreading world wide. Faceball is a game where 2 opponents throw a plastic beach ball at each other’s face.
Faceball co-inventor John Allspaw takes a direct hit, with the calm reserve of a seasoned veteran of the sport.
Since staff at Flickr created the ‘sport’ earlier this year in March, it’s quickly become the most popular activity in the work place, particularly in Britain.
The game’s popularity mushroomed from strictly being a pastime just at Flickr and Yahoo! offices to the wider community at large, and hasn’t stopped spreading since. Faceball tournaments have impulsively broken out throughout Britain, with events even at Alexandra Palace and the Tate Modern, reports Metro.
Faceball in Action. Photo Mondoagogo
Dunstan Orchard and John Allspaw, both Flickr employees, were the originators of the game when they were challenged to find something to do with the hundreds of pink and blue beachballs they had lying around the office.
The game also acts as ‘a vehicle for the release of personal animosity’, says faceball.org, ‘and the Shaming of the Weak.’
Photo Rev Dan Catt — works for Flickr
One of the main highlights of Faceball is to photograph the competitors’ faces at the critical moments just before, during, and after sudden impact. It’s been implied that this plays an important role in the Weak being Shamed.
“It helps that it’s actually enjoyable getting hit in the face by your opponent.” co-inventor Dunstan told Wired magazine. Right, as long as the balls aren’t unknowingly filled with anything.
“And when half the office gathers around and the guitars come out and people cheer you on, it’s an excellent way to relax and have a laugh.”
Now THAT’S the kind of company I’d like to work for!
Faceball Rules — General Guide
The 2 faceballers must sit 10 feet apart. This is Faceball
Improper Faceball Stance Photo Yodel Anecdotal
Turns are taken to throw the ball at the opponent’s face. The opponent cannot move their face — a sitting duck, if you will.
Each direct face-hit earns the player 1 point. They can throw again if they make their mark.
Glancing hits, ‘hair-whiffs’ and body hits don’t count. Only full-face impacts are considered a hit.
A miss means that the player’s turn is over, and their opponent is now allowed to throw.
The game continues for 5 rounds. The player with the most points is declared the winner, and the player with the least points is to be shamed.
Read more about Faceball by John and Dunstan, Faceball Founders at Yodel Anecdotal
As of September 2nd 2007, faceball.org had received over 146,000 unique visitors, and the videos over 132,416 plays.
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Who can avoid laughing and finding such thing FUN? I’d have created a water balloon game instead, much more fun – when the balloon splashes… *giggles*
That’s exactly what I had thought when the idea came to me to fill the beach balls Captain! GMTA
Would also add a large dollop of bull**** for some of our wonderful politicians…..I’m sure they would appreciate the added flavour
Could have some real fun with those
I am going out to buy beach balls this afternoon. What good fun – I like the photo aspect of it most. Big water balloons are a favorite with my offspring in the summer – it can be dangerous going into the garden!
Hehe, there was a major row over our Premier getting a pie in the face once. The man was arrested, of course, but it was funny.
That’s going to be fun Sue! This looks like a blast! I remember water balloons as a kid. Looks like you need to instill the fear of god into the kids so you don’t become one of their targets, kee.
well Deborah…..I don’t know how many times I visit….but you always come up with a first here….this looks like tons of fun……
we have paintball over here but this sounds much safer….
I’m thinking my photographer friends and I need to do this to sharpen our skills with those fast action shots. The only question is who gets to practice and who gets to be practiced on.
OMG! People! That’s funny…
You think you can convince your friends to be the victim, I mean the one who the shots are taken of instead David?
I LMAO when I first saw this myself Jews