3/6/12

Who wants to draw something?

A few days ago I bought an app for my iPad called "Draw Something" and it's actually a bit of ridiculous fun. You can invite your friends to join, or you can just hit a button and start a game with a random stranger. I've been playing it on and off for a while and I've come to a few conclusions. My advice? Don't play with random strangers.

Somehow, and I don't even know how this is possible, a lot of people don't get that it's called "Draw Something" and not "Write Something." So listen up random stranger: if the word you are supposed to be drawing is "Sugar" don't draw a five pound bag and then write SUGAR across the front of it, dumbass.

Here's a recent example. See if you can guess what this might be:


I'll give you a few minutes to work on it. Calculators are allowed.

The good thing is, you can resign games if the people you end up playing with are complete idiots, so yeah I resigned that one. Mostly because he or she drew the outline of the United States and somehow managed to leave off Florida. Stay in school, kids.

Also, even among people who actually understand the one simple rule of this game, there are a lot of people out there who seriously can't draw for shit. The funny thing is you get to watch them as they're working on the drawing, so you get to witness the mistakes and the do-overs. You can almost see the thought processes that are going into the drawing. Some of them just defy description.

Here's one that I didn't guess. In retrospect, it's actually not bad:


The first person to guess it will win something. I'm not sure what yet, but rest assured it will be worth almost nothing and most likely be completely useless. But then again, maybe not.

And since the first one was apparently too easy, here's another chance for everyone else. I actually got this one so maybe I'm not as slow as I thought:



So anyway, this is where you come in. If anyone wants to play, you can look me up in the game using johnnyvirgil. I promise not to make fun of you.

Too much.


p.s. - Since I turned off that word verification thing I've gotten about 50 spam comments. They come to my inbox regardless of whether they show up on the posts or not, so I get to mark them as spam every day. Sigh...the things I do for you. Also I appear to be coming up on 2 million visitors sometime soon. So thanks for that. I wish I had a way to determine who the 2 millionth person was. I'd buy them a beer or something. I'm pretty sure it's going to be a spammer, though.

58 comments:

  1. TheRealAaron9:37 PM

    To me, that says "Las Vegas."

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  2. "Welcome to Las Vegas". Although TheRealAaron beat me to it.

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  3. Maybe I better not play with you guys. Now I'm thinking that I'm the idiot. I think that was quite possibly the shortest contest I ever had here. So TheRealAaron - send me TheRealMailingAddress.

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  4. Anonymous9:48 PM

    sad. i wanted to win.

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  5. "Vegas". Yeah, i'm slow. But i'm blaming Ketel One and Sunspots for pretty much everything today...

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  6. Finally someone else recognizes the ideology of the Sunshine State and our demands to be a sovereign nation...
    That would have been my excuse...
    cheers, Sausage

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  7. The second one... Fishnets?

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  8. Fish fry.

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  9. I recognized the Welcome to Las Vegas right away. If the dumbass wouldn't have written "America" on that drawing, I would have thought it was a female reproductive system for high school biology.

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  10. Las Vegas sign, dang, too late. Second one is an underwater view of a male skinny-dipping....Or a mafia guy swimming with the fishes

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  11. Yeah, the second one is definitely fish net.

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  12. The second one is "Fish flying over a frying pan" I dare ya to say that one fast 5 times!

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  13. Anonymous2:52 PM

    It's a birthday cake with cherries on top and the Star of David overhead.

    Give the prize to somebody else. I know I'm right.

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  14. Anonymous3:15 PM

    The last one is an amphibious waffle iron (top secret military equipment). The middle one looks like some Christmas ornaments we had in teh 70s. Finally, in the first one, all I can see is a very partiotic chicken.

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  15. Oh, goodie, I'm looking you up right now! My son got me into this app just two days ago and I'm a fiend... I've always loved Pictionary. I'm a reasonably talented artist so hopefully won't leave you in the dark (not of the caliber of that Vegas person, though - very impressive). And yes, the very first stranger I tried to play with wrote the word on the picture! D'oh...

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  16. Valerie N.9:02 PM

    Is the second one badminton? It's either badminton or fish playing ping pong with a giant, plaid paddle.

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  17. Immediate thought was Vegas. The second one...fish fry?

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  18. I told you before I can't count...the last one.

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  19. I'm gonna have to give that one to Chris. Badass, you were the first but you used the plural. The word was actually "net"

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  20. Are you using a stylus or your finger?

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  21. Replies
    1. Because your pictures are so detailed I thought u might be using a stylus

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    2. you guys are good! I saw someone draw "marge" and it was awesome. I am using an iPad so I can get some detail. I think the app may be out of words. I'm getting some dups now.

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    3. Marge was mine. :)

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  22. The scary thing about this game is that it depends on someone having an understanding of basic concepts (like the fact that Florida exists), vocabulary AND a little artistic ability. That trifeca can be rare in today's world.

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  23. My kids and I are hooked on this game now. They keep asking me who's JohnnyVirgil when they see my games list. I'm tempted to let them take a few turns against you to see if there is any increase in the quality of the drawings coming from my turns.

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  24. ScarlettO10:26 PM

    Las Vegas and fish net. My daughter has been playing that game and I keep ragging on her because she's a "write something" kind of girl. Annoying! I told her I'd try the game but the deal was off if she wrote everything. OTOH, she got her drawing ability from her mother, so the poor kid was pretty much screwed from the get-go. LOL

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  25. Hey, JV, I Created a game with you but I guess you didn't know it was me... I forgot I'm "Tracie N." on there and not my handle here! I'd still love to play you, so I'll try again. Thanks! (PS - I'm using an iPhone, so can't do as well as an iPad - but I try hard)

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  26. Don't let Johnny fool you, people. His "Lady Gaga" was a-MAH-zing. I feel like a toddler with sidewalk chalk challenging Banksy.

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  27. Lisa that was a fun one. I've come to the conclusion that I can't draw boobs to save my life. Rider, I don't see a game from Tracie N. I wonder if there's a limit on how many you can run at one time? I actually resigned a few that were getting up there just in case. I wanna see what kind of chops the new people have!

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  28. Dear Johnny,
    Im going to pretend that the reason you resigned our game was that it was getting "up there" and not because I accidently picked a word that I could not draw a picture for and ended up using a letter. I know how you disapprove of the letter usage. Incidently, your comment at my bubbles pic cracked me up. After watching it again, it did indeed look like that. I laughed for five minutes. I hope to play again soon.
    <3
    Tracy

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    Replies
    1. Yeah it looks like there's a limit to how many you can have rolling. Plus it's taking me 15 minutes to complete each round! So I am running each game up to 20 or thereabouts with points off for words. ;)

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    2. Im sorry, sir! I promise to do better next time. * scuttles away in shame*

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    3. The game could definitely use more words. I think I've drawn the carnival about ten times now. Ha

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  29. captmobious3:39 PM

    Oh dear... I'm really afraid my drawing I just sent is going to end up on your blog...

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  30. JV your AC/DC drawing is hands down my favorite. You have managed to guess all my stuff so either I don't suck as bad as I think I do (I blame the small Android phone screen) or you are just really good. Sorry my sheriff looked like he was trying to shoot himself, I ran out of space (again, I blame the phone).
    ~sugaree75

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  31. You, sir, are an artist! I'm drawing with my finger on a little bitty Samsung Android screen, sending you pictures that I'm expecting to see on your blog any day now and you are sending me works of art! A blender & fruit for a smoothie, the solar system and a butt - the list goes on! I just got dissed by a kid who wrote that she didn't like me because I drew pictures instead of writing the word and sending it to her. So, thanks for playing along with me, JV! Anybody else wanna play, look me up at Luna329!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! I'm far from an artist! I have an iPad, so that helps.

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  32. Yes you definitely draw very well, Johnny! I was impressed! Unfortunately for me my artistic skills were not up to par for you so after a few rounds you opted out. That's what I get for using an Android and having a tiny screen. It's really hard to draw when your finger takes up such a big part of the screen lol.

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  33. Same here, Lisa! I have a tiny Android screen and I swear the lines that I draw with my finger never go where I put it down! Johnny, you did draw some great things for me! I was quite impressed!! Unfortunately you opted out after awhile but my drawings probably weren't up to snuff. Hey at least I never drew any letters! =D

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    Replies
    1. I'm sure it wasn't you! I've been resigning games mostly because I have a zillion going at once and i usually average around seven turns. Or if it looks like you haven't taken a turn in a long while. Or if you draw something I'm too dumb to guess. :)

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    2. And here I thought you resigned because I outed your mad art skillz ;-) You definitely are one of the better players out there, JV. Not many will regularly tackle those 3 coin words.

      @ Saffyrre I think the small screen just makes our pictures look more...charming! Yeah, that's it! In a "I am not 3, my drawings just look that way" kind of way :-D

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    3. LOL Lisa! It's funny cuz it's true!!

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  34. LOL!! I bet you do have a bunch going on!! Thanks for playing! PS love your blog, read all the time, I'm just not much of a commenter =D

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  35. Ok, I feel a little tiny bit better now... I thought my drawing was not half-bad, and only wrote a few words because I was worried you wouldn't get it. But I didn't actually write the clue! I was afraid you got ticked at me anyway and resigned. Hopefully it's just because you're too busy with other games. If I send you a Create again, please give me another chance 'cuz I sure was enjoying your art... Signed, Tracie N.

    P.S. Anyone else who wants to play, I can't get enough of this game! Feel free to look me up. My only problem is boy, does it gobble battery power on my iPhone. Might be looking into an accessory battery pack! :-)

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    Replies
    1. Sure, send away! I'll play anyone that doesn't use words. I'll admit to using words once. I had to draw a nickel. I think my best so far was OutKast, but the person didn't guess it. Oh well. I should start taking some pictures of these....sometimes they come out good but sometimes they are just a complete cluster. Turns out I can't draw a crawling baby to save my ass.

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    2. I take screenshots sometimes. Of yours, I have Conan, AC/DC, and plumber if you want them. Sadly, I did not have the presence of mind or reflexes to catch Tina Fey in time.

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  36. I'm a hug Draw Something fan! I just wrote a post about it today (including one of my own "masterpieces") if you want to see it. :) http://katandgray.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-never-claimed-to-be-picasso.html

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  37. I should have mentioned in my earlier comment ... I started a blog for Draw Something enthusiasts. Feel free to submit your own "best" efforts. ;) http://drawsomethingawesome.blogspot.com/

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  38. Anonymous12:45 PM

    You can DRAW??! Since when?! Hard to believe after seeing your hilarious elementary school drawings!

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    Replies
    1. I never said I could draw. I can doodle a bit....

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  39. Sandra J.9:48 PM

    I think it's quite charming to take photos of an iPad screen.

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    Replies
    1. My screenshot doesn't work! It's weird. And my phone can beam the pic right to my Mac, so it makes it easy...

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  40. Anonymous3:49 AM

    Your observations about draw something is hilarious and oh so true! I couldn’t agree more about the people that write the word... dumb asses is right! However, you forgot to mention the idiots who don’t know how to spell, maybe you just haven’t run across any of them but talk about stupid. I was playing with one stranger (who shall remain nameless) that has passed on three of my drawings because they don’t know how to spell. Crowbar, flamingo and tweezers... to see them try every combo possible (well every one but the right one) is too funny... but also very frustrating. RESIGNED that game fast!

    Thanks for the laughs!

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  41. Anonymous9:05 PM

    two millionth is your buddy gutu. don't forget. and I am a draw something addict too. Where the hell you be? I am ringing you up for an artistic mismatch, I know I will lose, but I'm up for the humiliation.

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  42. Anonymous9:07 PM

    and just read the recent comment regarding screenshots....hahaha

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  43. On the iPhone, hitting home and the sleep button together takes a screenshot. on the ipad2...not so much.

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  44. Anonymous10:01 AM

    So where do all the draw something artists hang out.......... I am so with you on the pointlessness - is there such a word I wonder - of writing a word in a drawing game.......are there secret prizes I don't know about for collecting the most coins? love to see a good drawing but not sure I am looking for much more from the game :-)

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