# Wargames (1980's movie) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 23, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540 "2013-04-23T21:44:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540/41 "2013-04-24T16:27:29Z")
I remember my friend and I played a Wargames licensed game on his Atari Computer(not a game system, it was a Keyboard with a cartridge slot that could run programs or play games). You would pick zone son a map and then try to shoot down missiles. Much fun. Re: The movie. I always loved “Mistah Patatah Head! MISTAH PATATAH HEAD! Back doors are not secrets.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540/42 "2013-04-24T16:28:27Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I mean, the strategy is pretty simple. If you move first, you play the center or corners. If you move second and the player didn’t play the center, you play the center. Otherwise, play the corners. If you play a side, you lose. If you start and play a side, you will lose, too. Okay, I play first – corner. You move second; I didn’t play center; as you said, you’ll therefore play center. I play third, in the corner opposite my first one. You move fourth; as you said, you play a corner. I move fifth and play the remaining corner. You move next, and then I win. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540/43 "2013-04-24T16:30:17Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > You move fourth; as you said, you play a corner. I didn’t say that at all. I was only speaking to the first two moves. ETA: I see how that might be unclear in the way I phrased it, but I’m only talking about the first two moves of the game: Player 1’s first move and Player 2’s first move. The rest should be pretty easy to figure out. Tic-tac-toe isn’t exactly rocket science. There’s only a very limited number of moves and if you’ve played it more than, say, 50 or 100 times and paid attention to what was happening, you should be able to “solve” it, I would think. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540/44 "2013-04-24T16:32:24Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I’ve said it before but that scene where the dad is putting butter on the corn is amazing. That’s how everybody on my dad’s side of the family always did it and everybody on my mom’s side of the family thought it was horribly gauche. (My paternal grandmother kept a separate tub of butter she’d mixed with black pepper just for this purpose; I still miss peppered white bread that you got to eat after buttering your corn). So I was quite pleased to see them redeemed. Being 10 it didn’t occur to me that being in a movie would not sway my mom’s side of the family. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540/45 "2013-04-24T16:33:58Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Okay, I play first – corner. You move second; I didn’t play center; as you said, you’ll therefore play center. I play third, in the corner opposite my first one. You move fourth; as you said, you play a corner. I move fifth and play the remaining corner. > > You move next, and then I win. 😉 But I _won’t_ play a corner for my second move; I’ll play a side. If you don’t try to block the win I’ve just set up; I win. If you do, you force me to play a corner _then_, to block your win. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540/46 "2013-04-24T16:38:51Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > But I _won’t_ play a corner for my second move; I’ll play a side. Well, yeah; that’s what I’d do, likewise. But I was replying to the guy who said _“Otherwise, play the corners. If you play a side, you lose.”_ I took him literally, and agree with you: you should play a side on your second move, because playing the corner at that point means you’ll lose. ---
**Author:** ![tsm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/db5fbb/32.png) [@tsm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsm)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540/47 "2013-04-24T16:49:13Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Is it? I’d imagine there was a finite number of companies making voice synthesizers so maybe they both bought from the same manufacturer. That’s a good point. Now I wonder why McKittrick has a voice synthesizer on his office computer at all. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540/48 "2013-04-24T16:51:25Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > I remember my friend and I played a Wargames licensed game on his Atari Computer(not a game system, it was a Keyboard with a cartridge slot that could run programs or play games). You would pick zone son a map and then try to shoot down missiles. Much fun. Probably Thorn EMI’s Computer War, which was a WarGames license despite the title. Came out for several platforms, but seemed to be most popular on the Atari 8 bit computers. Anyone ever watch the made-for-DVD sequel, [WarGames: The Dead Code](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WarGames:_The_Dead_Code)? I ended up skipping it, but still kick myself for missing the theatrical re-release of the original WarGames that was done for its promotion. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540/49 "2013-04-24T16:54:12Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Well, yeah; that’s what I’d do, likewise. But I was replying to the guy who said _“Otherwise, play the corners. If you play a side, you lose.”_ Yes, and as I said, you misunderstood me, as I was talking about the first two moves and nothing beyond. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540/50 "2013-04-24T17:15:45Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yes, and as I said, you misunderstood me, as I was talking about the first two moves and nothing beyond. Hey, as you also said, your original phrasing was unclear. If someone – or a computer – were to take you literally, loss ensues. 😉 But I get where you’re coming from now, and so will drop it. That said, though, I’m not sure I agree with your clearly-phrased comment: _“If you start and play a side, you will lose, too.”_ Trying it out with pencil and paper, I don’t see it; looks like you can still invariably tie against a perfect opponent (and even win, against someone who plays perfectly after responding in the wrong corner as his first move). ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540/51 "2013-04-24T17:21:56Z")
You are correct. The first player can always force at least a draw, no matter their opening move. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540/52 "2013-04-24T17:55:47Z")
> [@Student\_Driver](#): > > Probably Thorn EMI’s Computer War, which was a WarGames license despite the title. Came out for several platforms, but seemed to be most popular on the Atari 8 bit computers. Googling images confirms that was indeed the game! Strange seeing it in color because we always played it on his Black and White TV (I am Old). Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540/53 "2013-04-24T17:56:46Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > So does Bair’s on Lafayette St still have the blackberry sundaes? I didn’t check last time I was back home. I know the paper mill is closed, and the gravel pit north of the bay is now a golf course. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540/54 "2013-04-24T18:37:22Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > “… I love it when he sticks the telephone handset into the modem to connect to - it wasn’t the internet yet, was it? What was he connecting to?” He was trying to connect to other modems, connected to other computers. That’s why he went down the list of phone numbers dialing them all trying to find a modem. The other really flash-back scene is when he scrounges up a pull tab from the parking lot to short the pay phone. That is so old school now but it was considered a high-tech trick back then. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540/55 "2013-04-24T18:52:52Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > He was trying to connect to other modems, connected to other computers. That’s why he went down the list of phone numbers dialing them all trying to find a modem. > > The other really flash-back scene is when he scrounges up a pull tab from the parking lot to short the pay phone. That is so old school now but it was considered a high-tech trick back then. It would be old-school if anyone could find a pay phone nowadays. They seem to be an endangered species… ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540/56 "2013-04-24T18:56:37Z")
I still butter my corn that way because of this movie. Also, Ally Sheedy has no idea how to jog, and that one guard would almost certainly be fired for sexual harrassment these days. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540/57 "2013-04-24T19:34:02Z")
In either a nod to _Wargames_, or a complete brain-fart, a similar, “let’s crack a 10 character password one character at a time” was just utilized in the recent, _Olympus Has Fallen._ ---
**Author:** ![Panthan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Panthan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panthan)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540/58 "2013-04-24T19:58:37Z")
> [@Skara\_Brae](#): > > It would be old-school if anyone could find a pay phone nowadays. Or a pull tab ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540/59 "2013-04-24T20:00:26Z")
> [@Disposable Hero](#): > > Some people have described it as anti-military but I didn’t get that sense from it at all, the military characters were all depicted as honourable people, just caught up in a situation beyond their experience and resulting from a series of poor decisions and misunderstandings…the apocalypse as accident rather than maliciousness. The message was, “The only way to win is not to play” - so if you’re not going to play, then _why do you need the pieces_? There is no doubt in my mind that the message was, “Disarm all nuclear weapons - unilaterally, if you have to.” (IIRC, this was the final movie screened at Cannes one year, and I doubt that it was for a reason other than that message.) Of course, WOPR didn’t go through every scenario; there was one it left out - “USSR launches; USA doesn’t - Winner: USSR.” I did get one message out of the movie: “don’t let machines decide when to launch” - which, of course, was the main point of the people against SDI/“Star Wars”. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540/60 "2013-04-24T20:13:57Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > The message was, “The only way to win is not to play” - so if you’re not going to play, then _why do you need the pieces_? There is no doubt in my mind that the message was, “Disarm all nuclear weapons - unilaterally, if you have to.” But remember how Falken talks the General into seeing it as a simulation: by asking him if it makes any sense. Falken asks whether we’re prepared to destroy 'em right back; the General says yes; Falken asks whether they know that; the General replies that we’ve made it clear. Falken then asks whether the Soviets would so attack, such that we see it coming and have plenty of time to shoot back and totally annihilate them. If we unilaterally disarm all nuclear weapons, then Falken’s argument would be that – it makes _perfect_ sense for the Soviets to so attack. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wargames-1980s-movie/656540.md?page=4)