Games Pt. I

Many of my experiences in Korea are viewed through a child's perspective, which is simply a matter of circumstance, really. That being true, I am very aware of what games are popular right now among the elementary school set. One of the most popular, and distracting, forms of entertainment (at least among the boys) is a card game named "Yu-Gi-Oh!" (in Korean "Yu-Hi-Wa). The cards themselves cost 100 won a piece (about 10 cents American) and come in packs of five. The are manufactured by Konami (the same Japanese company that made a whole slew of video games in the 80s and 90s that all had the same cheat code) and distributed by Upper Deck Entertainment (known in the States more for sports trading cards than games). Based on my observations, it seems to be similar in form to a game like "Magic: The Gathering" (if anyone remembers that one), which is no surprise as its creator has said that he wanted to create a game similar to "Magic" but with rules that were less complicated. "Yu-Gi-Oh" was originally a Japanese anime serial created by Kazuki Takahashi first aired in 1998. It was so popular among Japanese and Asian youths that a second series was produced, "Yu-Gi-Oh: Duel Monsters," in 2000 that was exported to over 60 countries. The franchise has spawned a multi-volume manga, two movies, video games, and the card game. Of course, it involves an intricate narrative about a shy Japanese high school student named Yugi Moto who is given an ancient Egyptian relic, the Millenium Puzzle, by his grandfather. After completing the puzzle, he is possessed by the spirit of a 3000-year old pharoah who has forgotten all memories of his past. Yugi Moto and his friends attempt to unlock the secrets to the Nameless Pharoah's history by playing the card game. All that being said, some of my students become so engrossed in the game that there is nothing I can do to win back their concentration. Sometimes, they actually play the game, but usually it seems that they just like trading the cards with their friends or pinch them between their thumbs and middle fingers and fling them across the room, which irks me. Any attempts to confiscate the cards are met with loud, sometimes violents protests. It looks like a lot of fun, but being the teacher and not knowing Korean exempts me from play.