An Etruscan vase from the same period shows Ajax and Achilles playing a board game during the Trojan War, both for recreation and to divine the whims of the gods. In Assyria in the 12th century B.C., the knuckle bones of animals were the forerunners of dice used for wagering money as well as allocating inheritances and-a possible pointer for modern times-the election of public officials.
The earliest form of games involved a combination of entertainment via gambling (the words 'game' and 'gambling' share the same Anglo-Saxon root) and practical divination primitive games were the ancient equivalent of the TV phone-in psychic show. People have been playing games at least since recorded history. Psychologically speaking, games have a knack for setting us free.
O Finally, and most important, games can reopen doors into the world of pretending and childhood, reminding us of unadulterated fun, sparking creativity.
