How to Play Monkey-Pirate-Robot-Ninja-Zombie

Posted by Mark A. Rayner on June 24, 2010
But is it art?, Monkeys!

Here is the new version of rock-paper-scissors, or rochambeau, as it is sometimes known. As you can see from the schematic below, each thing can beat two other things, and is, in turn beaten by two other things.

Monkey-pirate-robot-ninja-zombie -- the hand game

The players both count to five (three), though it is obviously better to repeat the name of the game (Monkey! Robot! Pirate! Ninja! Zombie!). Each time you raise your fist and swing it down. On the fifth (third) count, you form your hand into one of the five gestures. (It is recommended that in addition to the hand gesture, you also add an aural component to this — see below for suggested noises.)

So, what beats what, and what are the gestures? What?

The monkey gestureMonkey

  • Monkey fools Ninja
  • Monkey unplugs Robot

Suggested noise: ee-ee-eek!

The gesture for robotRobot

  • Robot chokes Ninja
  • Robot crushes Zombie

Suggested noise: ex-ter-min-ate!

The gesture for piratePirate

  • Pirate drowns Robot
  • Pirate skewers Monkey

Suggested noise: arrrrr!

The gesture for ninjaNinja

  • Ninja karate chops Pirate
  • Ninja decapitates Zombie

Suggested noise: keeee-ah!

the gesture for zombieZombie

  • Zombie eats Pirate
  • Zombie savages Monkey

Suggested noise: braaaaaaaaaainsss!

There is a logic to the hand gestures provided, and with any luck they are perfectly obvious. I have changed one of the Ninja’s effects (from “shurikens” to “chops”) to make that choice more logical. Now, you may be wondering, “Mark, are you totally insane? Are you procrastinating, perchance? Or are you just bored?” The answer is yes.

Monkey-pirate-robot-ninja-zombie
Monkey-pirate-robot-ninja-zombie


One question: do we need a better name for this new hand game? I’m open to suggestions.

Alltop and is easy to beat because they always choose monkey. Swirlee.com had the original concept, and I’ve come up with the signs, graphics and sound effects.. Originally posted in March, 2009.

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59 Comments to How to Play Monkey-Pirate-Robot-Ninja-Zombie

cardiogirl
March 28, 2009

MoRoPiNZee?

I really love this concept but I’m afraid there is no way I could ever remember the rules, the hand gestures or the sounds.

It’s like Rock Paper Scissors for Rocket Scientists.

And I’m not good at science.

But I’d love to sit ringside and watch a MoRoPiNZee smack down.

Mark A. Rayner
March 28, 2009

Moropinzee. I like it!

Sully
April 7, 2009

Gotta go with Rock, Paper, Braaains… just to bridge the gap.

david
June 20, 2010

Love this but who is the hand model? What a chubby wrinkly hand! Is it a fat 10 year old boy? Worst hand model bitchin cool concept.

matt
June 21, 2010

this sounds like one of the best things ever.

I want there to an official sports league for this.

Olympics, even.

This is the stuff legends are sewn with.

Matt
June 21, 2010

How about calling it Epic Battle?

And don’t worry cardiogirl, I’m just about to graduate with a degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics, aka Rocket Science, and I still reckon I’m going to forget the rules of this!

Mark A. Rayner
June 21, 2010

Yeah, I really don’t see how we can add werewolves and vampires and make it doable.

And those are the hands of a chubby 40-year-old you punk!

Caroline Hagood
June 21, 2010

1. I think I just found my new game.
2. hot hand model!

Dylan Gilbertson
June 22, 2010

The only problem is that pirates beat ninjas any day.

Randy
June 23, 2010

You could call it “Monkey-Robot-Ninja-Zombie-Pirate.” That way the rules are right there in the name. Everything beats the two things that come after it in the name. Moronizeep for short?

Mike
June 24, 2010

I laughed so hard at the Dalek reference for the robot. Great game by the way.

Mark A. Rayner
June 24, 2010

Thanks Mike — that reminds me, did you see this: http://markarayner.com/blog/archives/1158?

[...] See my earlier post for the suggested noises to go with the game. [...]

Evan
June 26, 2010

Um, didn’t the modern version of RPS end up being Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock?

Deidzoeb
June 26, 2010

It’s not immediately apparent to me what the monkey hand sign is supposed to represent, or how people quickly distinguish it from the zombie hand-sign. Maybe if the monkey were gripping a banana? Not very threatening though.

Here’s a video mashup of Pirates vs. Ninjas vs. Zombies vs. Robots made from old movies. (Sorry, monkeys. Maybe next time.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA_srVNNh8k

sandra
June 26, 2010

I’m totally digging the monty python references here. On the count of five…

[...] How to Play Monkey-Pirate-Robot-Ninja-Zombie [...]

Evan
June 26, 2010

To be consistant with Rock-Paper-Scissors (rules within name) it should be called:
Monkey-Pirate-Zombie-Ninja-Robot
MoPiZoNiRo

Mark A. Rayner
June 26, 2010

It’s supposed to be the monkey claw, so claw-ish.

Billy Jack
June 26, 2010

Am I the only one that thinks the pirate hand sign should look more like a hook than a gun? when I see a gun, I think western films, not pirates lol.

[...] How to Play Monkey-Pirate-Robot-Ninja-Zombie [...]

[...] Here’s a new version of rock-paper-scissors (monkey-pirate-robot-ninja-zombie). I’m still trying to figure out how to play this, but I got a feeling that once I do, it will kick ass. Still though, I think it would be cool to work in alternatives like extraterrestrial, Sasquatch, bear, or maybe even giant squid… I dunno, just a suggestion. No vampires though! Vampires Suck! …and not in the way they’d like to. Here’s a link. [...]

[...] This is so awesome. I so need to teach the kids how to play. [...]

Pod Lowe
June 27, 2010

Why do none of you (with the exception of a select few) realize that this is just the old game of rock-paper-scissors-lizard-spock with different names! Hell, they even stole the t-shirt design completely! Twenty points from Gryffindor! This is an outrage, and the author is an outright plagiarizer.

[...] Come si gioca a Monkey-Pirate-Robot-Ninja-Zombie (Grazie, Marco!) [...]

HB
June 27, 2010

Rock-Paper-Scissors-Steak-UriGeller:

Rock blunts scissors, tenderises steak.
Paper wraps rock, exposes Uri Geller as a fraud.
Scissors cut paper, cut steak.
Big Steak makes Uri Geller drowsy, makes paper greasy.
Uri Geller bends scissors, throws rock at critics.

zaid
June 27, 2010

Im with Evan, as the illustrious Dr Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory) suggested, when Rock, Paper Scissors gets boring or to easy to predict, go for Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock.

The benefit being familiar hand signals and the new signs are easily recognized.

[...] Rayner fand das gute alte Papier-Stein-Schere anscheinend zu langweilig und hat seine eigene Version [...]

Buksi
June 27, 2010

Instead of the lovely quintet (Monkey-Pirate-Zombie-Ninja-Robot) I suggest the Five Chinese Elements: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood.

What beats what:

Wood feeds Fire;
Fire creates Earth;
Earth bears Metal;
Metal carries Water;
Water nourishes Wood.

(or Wood absorbs Water;
Water rusts Metal;
Metal breaks up Earth;
Earth smothers Fire;
Fire burns Wood. )

Wood parts Earth;
Earth absorbs Water;
Water quenches Fire;
Fire melts Metal;
Metal chops Wood.

The hand signals for the game:

flat hand palm down = Water
flat hand palm up = Fire
fist = Earth
fist with thumb up = Wood
siccors = Metal

[...] Monkey-Pirate-Robot-Ninja-Zombie!* [...]

Chris Ronk
June 27, 2010

the monkey and zombie look too similar. Especially with the hand model you are using. I foresee a lot of fist fights coming out of this… which is the ultimate hand to hand competition.

[...] If you are a fan of Rock-Scissors-Paper-Lizard-Spock, try this version.  Monkey-Pirate-Robot-Ninja-Zombie!!! [...]

[...] Rayner has created Monkey-Pirate-Robot-Ninja-Zombie, an updated version of the classic game Rock-Paper-Scissors (aka Rochambeau). The players both [...]

[...] game ever (seriously, Sony and Microsoft must be feeling the squeeze). That man is Mark Rayner at The Skwib. Check it out, they have T-Shirts! linkwithin_text='YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:' TAGS: awesome, [...]

katelyn
June 27, 2010

Only Daleks say “Ex-ter-min-ate.” Geez….

Bruiser
June 28, 2010

Re: Buksi’s Eastern Elements Redo:

This kind of Zen rendition is hands-down wrong! This is a violent Western game meant to threaten and intimidate with hand smacks and closed fists.
Quenching, absorbing, and nourishing? That’s for wusses! Rock, paper, & scissors players want smashing and cutting. You are trying to turn hand-to-hand combat into a Gandhi-ass game! Go meditate somewhere else.

Buksi
June 28, 2010

The ultimate game of rock, paper, siccors with more than just the regular three options:
http://rpg-25.other-games.games1234.net/playgame.aspx

[...] How to Play Monkey-Pirate-Robot-Ninja-Zombie [...]

[...] Για λύσιμο διαφορών Το πέτρα μολύβι ψαλίδι χαρτί σποκ, το ξέρετε. Ιδού ένα ακόμα, ίσως και πιο ενδιαφέρον: Μαϊμού, πειρατής, ρομπότ, νίνζα, ζόμπι. [...]

Devon
June 28, 2010

Seriously? http://www.thinkgeek.com/interests/exclusives/b597/?cpg=tw

Way to be original dude. This is just brutal.

Mikey
June 28, 2010

So… no one here has heard of thinkgeek then?
http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/generic/b597/

Robyn McIntyre
June 28, 2010

I guarantee that one or more of us geeks will memorize the gestures and rules and you’ll see it online during the wait for the next summer blockbuster. It’s silly, it has odd rules, sound effects and obscure film/tv references. Total geek material.

Mark A. Rayner
June 28, 2010

Hey, the ThinkGeek tee is a good design (as most of their t-shirts are) — I just thought the game was kind of lame.

BTW, I’m not sure what happened to the site, but I got the idea, originally, from Swirlee.com.

And I’ve updated the monkey to look more claw-ish, so it can’t be confused with the zombie.

Dan
June 28, 2010

I’m not sure this can beat rock paper scissors lizard spock.

Craig
June 28, 2010

If people didn’t take ideas and make them better we’d still be living in the dark ages. Anything with both pirates and ninjas in it gets my vote. Good work matey.

[...] post foi para o Beto! Versão original, aqui. var a2a_config = a2a_config || {}; a2a_config.linkname="Macaco Pirata Robô Zumbi Ninja"; [...]

[...] Mark] AKPC_IDS += [...]

[...] Here’s a new twist to the game: http://markarayner.com/blog/archives/1613 [...]

[...] so, the Morning Coffee presents to you Monkey-Pirate-Robot-Ninja-Zombie. [...]

[...] Beyond Rochambeau… There are times when Rock-Paper-Scissors just doesn’t have the…  well, gravity that one feels is appropriate to the question being decided.  Happily, author and blogger Mark Rayner has ridden to the rescue with an altogether apt alternative:  Monkey-Pirate-Robot-Ninja-Zombie… [...]

[...] Rochambeau: Here is the new version of rock-paper-scissors, or rochambeau, as it is sometimes known. As you can … The players both count to five (three), though it is obviously better to repeat the name of the [...]

crazyideafactory
June 29, 2010

I think I’ll have to keep a little notepad to remind me of all the rules. My vote is the monkey always wins.

[...] Full game instructions at Mark’s blog. [...]

[...] גירסת 2010 למשחק מציגה..: קוף-פיראט-רובוט-נינג'ה-וזומבי. בקרוב על הטישירטס הקרובים למקום מגורכם. אתגר לכותבים מתחילים: סיפור עלילתי קצר עם הגיון [...]

[...] to learn how to play Monkey-Pirate-Robot-Ninja-Zombie? No, seriously, do you? Because here’s the page that shows you how (complete with “suggested noises” for each [...]

Mojo Brown
August 18, 2010

Saw this in the back of Marvellous Hairy, I have totally got to learn the effects for this. Memorizing this can’t be any harder than solving a Rubik’s Cube! Nothing like adding a bit of dimension to Rock, paper, scissors, classic stuff!

Cipherthe3vil
August 26, 2010

Ninja Does Not Beat Pirate.

Robot > Zombie
Robot > Monkey
Robot < Ninja
Robot < Pirate
Zombie < Robot
Zombie < monkey
*hour later*
Pirate <<>><<<<<>>>>>>> *error, world has exploded. good bye*

VS’ing Pirates and Ninja is like dividing by zero.

How about Samurai and Knights instead ?

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