Sissyfight 2000
SiSSYFiGHT 2000 is an online game developed by the Word online magazine staff with game designer Eric Zimmerman, written in Shockwave. It was launched in 2000.
The gameplay is simple on its surface, but requires solid strategy to win consistently. A group of up to six girls fight in a playground, using a limited range of moves. Because Sissyfight is a social game, both the quality of conversation and level and style of game play depend to a large degree on the individual players of a given round.
The graphics are also simple, and are inspired by the work of "outsider artist" Henry Darger, illustrator Edward Gorey, Japanese anime, and early, 8-bit video games of the 1980s. The game focuses on community-building through chat both in the game and on its associate message boards.
In a departure from the androcentric norm in video games, all of the players in Sissyfight are rendered female and nonsexual.
Sissyfight was a surprise hit when it was launched, but suffered from a lack of promotion and development after its parent company closed down Word.com. Nonetheless, the community has proven strong enough to sustain itself, with an unpaid administrator and moderators managing the game and message boards.
Since its release, Sissyfight has consistently been named a top internet game by online magazines and continues to remain popular among its loyal "sissies" (the community name for regular players).
Up to six sissies can play in a single game, but a game can be started with a minimum of three. Each player starts with ten "self-esteem points." The game is turn-based, with each player picking her move independently and in secret from the others. The players can, however, use the in-game chat bubbles to create alliances and coordinate their moves. With each round, players try to eliminate each other's self esteem until only two are left standing. Those two become the winner of that game.
Although most games end with two victors, it is also possible for a player to pull off a "solo", or single-player win. There are also rare cases in which all of the players lose; special music plays when this happens. Some players cheat; there are many ways players have devised to do so. One type of cheating involves playing against self-created false opponents, or "socks," in order to guarantee oneself a win and its associated Brownie Points.
Game variations
Players have invented their own game variations, with unique rules. For example, "Tease The Slow" requires everyone to tease the last person to make a move, and, depending on who is playing, may or may not allow licking. Other variants include a "no cower" rule, which is faster-paced and concentrates more on offense. Since these variants are not hard coded into the game, some players do not follow the special rules. As a result, the other players themselves must often enforce the rules themselves by teasing out the rulebreakers.
The Sissyfight Message boards are used by players to communicate; there are a number of categories for discussing the game as well as other topics. Players may choose their avatar or icon as a personlized picture on the posts they create. They may also create their own profiles which may include lists of their Best Friends, etc.
Rankings
Due to the competitive nature of the game, an organised rankings system was developed. For the break down of the rankings, click here