Invented game
An
invented game is a non-commercial
game developed by a solitary inventor or organization. In some cases, the inventor will release the game to the
public domain.
Games are sometimes classified into three categories, according to their origin and process of evolution, which are
*
Developed games. Most traditional and popular card games are of this sort. These games are not owned by any inventor or organization, but rather evolve in the public domain. They are often descendants of other pre-existing card games.
Hearts,
Euchre, and
Poker are all developed card games. Almost invariantly, a solitary "inventor" of such a game cannot be identified.
Go (board game) and
Chess are also mostly developed games, though invention legends exist.
*
Commercial games, which are usually proprietary. Because equipment such as the traditional 52-card deck is in the
public domain, commercial games are usually designed to use a special deck, giving the manufacturer a
monopoly on it. Examples, with cards, include
Fluxx,
Magic: The Gathering, and
6 Nimmt.
*
Invented games, which are the creation of a known individual or organization. Notable examples include
500, invented by the
U.S. Playing Card Company, in the early
20th century, and
Contract Bridge, invented in
1925, two card games among this category which have achieved canonical status. Both games are in the public domain.
As well, the delineation between invented and developed games is itself controversial. Most games— in particular, card games— may have been
developed, but could be argued to have been
invented at the time they were published in a reference such as
Hoyle's Rules of Games. Often the version published is one local variant of many available. Such publication,
de facto, standardizes a game, and those involved in writing the "official" rules have considerable editorial influence over which version is classified as "standard", which versions are included as minor variants, and which are not included at all. Conversely, an invented game may not be entirely the work of its inventor; they often include elements of earlier games, which may be developed games.
Even invented games will develop, by a process known as
variation. For example, while rules standards for
Hearts have existed for decades, it is still among the most varied games played today.
*
Bridge*
500*
FreeCell*
Pagat.com's list of invented card games contains rules for approximately 400 different card games.
