# Any other fans of "Games" Magazine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 21, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-fans-of-games-magazine/453718 "2008-06-21T20:28:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![from\_a\_to\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5fc32e/32.png) [@from\_a\_to\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/from_a_to_z)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-fans-of-games-magazine/453718/81 "2015-03-23T08:04:26Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > “Messy” refers to his kind of trippy clues and weird extra grid entry rules. And he uses nonstandard spellings and obscure words on top of weirdly complex grid rules. Any examples that you could share? Extra grid entry rules add to the enjoyment. For example, from January 2014 _Harper’s_, “Cross-Purposes”: > [@](#): > > Ten Across answers will not fit in the diagram. Each is crossed by a Down answer that equally will not fit in the diagram. Where the two answers cross, a change will have to be made. Any confusion you may feel will be explained by the entry at 31 Across. Part of the fun was figuring out how to make each change. Maltby’s clues are mostly unambiguous, so when you come up with a word or phrase that satisfies a clue you can be confident enough that your entry is the correct one. When Maltby’s spellings are nonstandard or his entries are “uncommon” then his clues are typically easier than usual, so that the solver can figure out the entry. For example, “a Britishism” is clued as “Backpack made of batik, decorated with a bit of grass”, 6 letters. Its crossing entries, more-common US words, will also help the solver. For those who enjoy more challenging US cryptics there are now, thanks to Roger Wolff and others, books like [Cryptic All-Stars](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0991245202/) and [50 Variety Cryptic Crosswords](http://www.amazon.com/Variety-Cryptic-Crosswords-Roger-Wolff/dp/0991245210/), both of which I finished and enjoyed very much. When you prefer freshly-baked brownies, there’s always Henry Pitt, and he seems like an easy-going guy. [Emily Cox](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Cox_%28puzzle_writer%29) and [Henry Rathvon](http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1997/08/77-north-washington-street/376937/) (they look uncontentious to me) did _The Atlantic Monthly_ cryptics. When _The Atlantic_ dropped them, I dropped _The Atlantic_. Cox and Rathvon’s clues can also occasionally be annoying. Despite what they have claimed, “[Dalí](http://www.forvo.com/word/salvador_dal%C3%AD/)” is not pronounced the same as “dolly”. But instead of kvetching (Larry with Herb?), anyone can instead try to design a puzzle of their own. (Town without tea, so it’s said?) ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2015, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-fans-of-games-magazine/453718/82 "2015-03-24T13:07:23Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > I wouldn’t worry too much about giving kids games-related books and magazines meant for adults. When I was a kid most of the puzzles and riddles I encountered were from publications targetted at adults. Like you, I found most of this material to be over my head, but it didn’t really bother me. I just skipped over the stuff I didn’t understand and maybe came back to it in a few years once I could make sense of it. > > I’m currently writing for a new children’s magazine which is about languages and linguistics in general, and it has a heavy emphasis on language games. If you think your kids might be interested in it I can post the details here or send them by private message. Oh that would be cool! (I didn’t realize this thread started up again) ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-fans-of-games-magazine/453718/83 "2015-03-26T17:05:34Z")
> [@Gedd](#): > > Oh that would be cool! OK, the magazine is called _[Lingo: The Language Magazine for Young Readers](http://www.lingozine.com/)_. It’s just in the process of being launched so I’m afraid there’s nothing to see on the website yet. However, the first issue has already been produced and AFAIK anyone can get a free print copy (while supplies last) by writing to [editors@lingozine.com](mailto:editors@lingozine.com). The magazine also has [a Twitter account](https://twitter.com/LingoZine) which has posted some sample pages. (I don’t think any of these show the puzzles, though these make up about 20% of the content.) Incidentally, I also write the puzzles for _Lingo_’s sister publication, _[Babel](http://www.babelzine.com/)_. It’s also a pop magazine all about language and linguistics, but one aimed at adults. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-fans-of-games-magazine/453718/84 "2015-04-28T20:30:23Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > OK, the magazine is called _[Lingo: The Language Magazine for Young Readers](http://www.lingozine.com/)_. It’s just in the process of being launched so I’m afraid there’s nothing to see on the website yet. However, the first issue has already been produced and AFAIK anyone can get a free print copy (while supplies last) by writing to [editors@lingozine.com](mailto:editors@lingozine.com). I thought I’d drop by again to report that the _Lingo_ website is now live, and the first issue is available to download for free as a PDF. Also, **Gedd** , I’ve since gotten in touch with a fellow puzzle writer, Mark Danna, who has written a lot of puzzle books for kids (and many more for adults). Most of the kids’ books are of the word search variety, but some of them are also collections of assorted games and brainteasers. I’m having trouble locating a master list of all his books—perhaps not all of them are in print any more—though you could try browsing through his entries on [Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/5310002.Mark_Danna) and [Amazon.com](http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1?ie=UTF8&field-author=Mark+Danna&search-alias=books-uk&text=Mark+Danna&sort=relevancerank). I can also very heartily recommend Louis Phillips’s [263 Brain Busters](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1302770.263_Brain_Busters?ac=1), an eclectic collection of riddles, trick questions, and “lateral thinking” puzzles. This kept me entertained for hours as a kid. Much later I discovered that Phillips is a delightfully funny poet as well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-other-fans-of-games-magazine/453718.md?page=4)