There are so many great and memorable things from science fiction. From the worlds, the science behind the plots and worlds, the characters, and now, even the gambling that goes on in them.
Science fiction is a great way to view how the world might turn out. The best thing is it is all interconnected. There are measurable data that contribute to why things turn out why they are.
Let’s take a look at two of the best sci-fi gambling games to be seen in popular media.
Poker in Star Trek
The first game we’ll be looking at is poker. Poker has surged into the forefront of society’s view since the poker competition shows have reached their prominence.
In Star Trek though, poker is seen as something that the humans back on Earth played.
In the series, Leonard McCoy tries to teach the android Data how to play the card game. At first, Data is motivated to do well in the game. In his computer brain, he is adamant that the game can be won via mathematical concepts.
For an entity with a computer for a brain, math is something that no person can do better. However, Data is quick to find out that there is a much larger and more important component to poker: the bluff. He is unable to make heads or tails of lying and does not win.
The episode is a nice eye-opener to the strengths and limitations of computers and artificial intelligence once it comes to prominence.
The Hunger Games
Next up, we have the Hunger Games. In today’s day and age, we have several fight sports that people revel in. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), boxing, muay thai, and so many more. There is something primal in all of us that makes us interested in fierce physical competition.
In Hunger Games, the world has transformed into a dystopic entity where people are chosen at random to fight in a survival game where the last person alive is standing.
In a world that is held tightly by the government, this is seen as a grim piece of entertainment for the masses. It is a way to give hope to certain people while keeping their minds away from more pressing matters.
It is an interesting expression of how people can easily be blinded by the flashing neon lights of whatever is presented to them.
These are only a few of the most memorable gambling games in science fiction. The Eastercon 2017 team will surely point more out when new games come out.