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Party games are games that some people play as forms of entertainment at social gatherings. Party games usually involve more than one player. There are a large number and styles of party games available and the one selected will depend on the atmosphere that is sought to be generated. The party game may merely be intended as an ice breaker, or the sole purpose for the party.

Characteristics[link]

The characteristics of party games tend to include:

• A game can support a relatively large or undefined number of players, compared to more traditional board games or card games that require a small, set number of players. Some games, especially commercial games, have a set limit based on available equipment; others are limited by other mechanics of the game like time for each turn, while still others have no practical limit.

• Team-based play in party games is common, but not required. Games that divide players into two, three, or four roughly equal teams, such as Cranium, Who's Got Game? by Neil Strauss, Charades or Pictionary tend to allow for larger total numbers of players. By contrast, other games such as Werewolf and How to Host a Murder are role-based, with each player being given a character or other role to play in the course of the game. The number of players is limited to the number of roles, but in many such games there are "generic" roles allowing for a high degree of flexibility.

• Cooperation and interaction between players is encouraged. Both team and role-based play generally encourage this social aspect to the game; games that do not encourage this interaction generally make poor party games.

• Multiple ways to play and contribute. For example, in Fictionary not everyone needs to create plausible dictionary definitions; humorous submissions are welcome. In Charades, players can actively participate in guessing without taking a turn at acting. Sports often make poor party games as limitations in a player's physical abilities may preclude participation; however, some popular party games like relay races or Red light/Green light involve a significant physical aspect and are especially suitable for groups similar in age and ability.

• Players participate in gameplay frequently, sometimes on an impromptu basis. Games in which each player has their own independent turn generally make poor party games, especially if a turn takes a long time.

• A game should also have entertainment value for spectators. Many party games involve at least some level of humor, whether inherent in the game or introduced by players. In this way, players not taking a turn can still enjoy the gameplay, whilst party favors can embellish the party atmosphere.

• Player elimination is rare. Monopoly makes a poor party game, because bankrupt players must sit out while the remaining players continue to the game's conclusion, which can take several hours. In contrast, no matter how far behind a team is in Pictionary, all players can participate until the end.

• The amount of specialized equipment needed is not dependent on the number of players. Games such as Liar's Dice make poor party games because each player needs a cup and five dice to start the game. By contrast, Yahtzee needs only one cup and set of dice regardless of the number of players (the basic Yahtzee game does have other practical limitations).

• The game usually does not involve spending real money as a prerequisite or consequence of playing. Games that require each player to purchase consumable items or specialized equipment are usually poor party games. Casino games are a notable exception; a "casino night" with a token door charge or buy-in for charity or to defray costs can be popular, as can poker tournaments with a similar small buy-in.

Common party games[link]

• 1000 Blank White Cards
• 30 Seconds
• Apples to Apples
• Articulate
• Bat a rat
• Balderdash
• Bingo
• Beer Pong
• Botticelli
• Bobby's World
• Buck buck
• Black Magic
• Bugs
• Cards Against Humanity
• Catch Phrase
• Celebrity
• Chain of life
• Charades
• Consequences
  

  

  Musical Chairs
• Contact
• Couch of Power
• Drinking games
• Cranium
• Fictionary (related to the commercial Balderdash)
• Five word debate
• Gift Trap
• Mafia (also known as Vampire or Werewolf)
• Murder mystery games
• Musical statues
• Nerf War
• Never Have I Ever
• Oh, Really?
• Outburst (game)
• Pictionary
• Piggly Wiggly
• Psychiatrist
• Sargent's Line-up
• Scattergories
• Scissors
• Scruples
• Seven minutes in heaven
• Shout about movies
• Silent football
• Spin the bottle
• Strip games
• Squeak Piggy Squeak
• Taboo
• The Priest of the Parish
• The Resistance
• Treasure Hunt
• Truth or Dare? and related games such as "Strip or Dare?" and "Drink or Dare?"
• Trivial Pursuit
• Twenty Questions
• What?
• White Elephant Gift Exchange
• Wild Wild West
• Wink
• Zip and bong
• Zip Zap Zop
• Zoom schwartz profigliano

Children's party games[link]

A nine-pointed star piñata

Not all of the above are suitable for children's parties. Traditional children's party games (some of which are also popular with teenagers and adults) include:

• Forty forty
• Blind Man's Bluff
• The Chocolate Game
• The Farmer's In His Den
• Hot Potato
• Hunt the Thimble (or slipper, or other object)
• Musical Chairs
• Oranges and Lemons
• Pass the Parcel
• Pin the Tail on the Donkey
• Sardines
• Piñata
• Poor Pussy
• Wink Murder
• Duck Duck Goose
• Hol Horse's Mom
• Sleeping Lions

Party video games[link]

The party game has become a genre of video games — arguably dating back to 1983, with Starpath's Party Mix. Currently, the most well known examples are Nintendo's Mario Party and Wii series. These games are usually best played in multiplayer mode. The games are commonly designed as a collection of simple minigames, designed to be intuitive and easy to control. Some of the games (most notably the Mario Party series) are played out on boardgame boards. The success of the Nintendo Wii in recent years has led to an increasing number of party video games.

Other examples of party video games include:

• Hubert the Teddy Bear: Winter Games
• Crash Bash
• Doraemon Wii
• Everyparty
• Eye Toy
• Fuzion Frenzy
• Kung Fu Chaos
• Micro Machines
• Rayman Raving Rabbids
• Singstar
• Sonic Shuffle
• WarioWare
• You Don't Know Jack
• Buzz!
• Getter Love!!
• Mario Party
• SpongeBob SquarePants: Lights, Camera, Pants!
• We Dare

Large group games[link]

Large group games are played by a large number of participants and are often used as planned activities in structured environments, especially as educational activities. They are similar to party games, except that large group games are typically planned for larger numbers (perhaps even hundreds) as part of an event.

Large group games can take a variety of forms and formats.

Some are physical games such as Buck buck.

Some are modeled on the TV game show format, offering points for teams who can answer questions the fastest. Trivia-type games might have questions posed from the stage and each tabletop writing their answers to be collected and scored. Others may take on some of the qualities of Open Space environments and allow participants to wander in a less structured way.

Group board games can take on the design of small groups of players, seated at tables of 4 to 6 people, who work together on a problem. There can be large numbers of people (and thus many tables). If properly designed, these scalable exercises can be used for small groups (12 to 20 people) as well as very large events (600 people or 100 tables).

Generally, for these larger exercises, multimedia projectors, large screens and microphones are required for instructions, communications and debriefing.

A search for team building events can turn up millions of links to exercises, companies, and all kinds of offerings ranging from paintball competitions to fire walks to outdoor climbing or whitewater adventures. The impact on actual team building can vary widely - a golf outing for corporate executives does not generally accomplish much in the way of organizational improvement while a business simulation might be directly focused on linking the play of the game to issues for corporate improvement.

Holiday groups use a gift exchange party game such as white elephant gift exchange or Yankee swap for socializing and sharing gifts. New online party games, based on these holiday games, allow larger groups to gather on the internet to save travel expenses.

See also[link]

• Drinking game
• Parlour game
• Minigame
• Casual game
• Cuddle party

Bibliography[link]

• Party games for adults : icebreakers, parlor games, and party tips that will make your guests flip (2007), by Lillian and Godfrey Frankel, ISBN 1-4027-4686-5.
• The World's Best Party Games, by Sheila Anne Barry. ISBN 0-8069-6484-7.

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (April 2011)

Warren G (born Warren Griffin III, November 10, 1970),^[1] is an American West Coast rapper and hip hop producer.

Career[link]

Early career[link]

213[link]

Warren G grew up in Long Beach, California listening to his parents’ collection of jazz, funk and soul; nurturing a deep love for music. In 1990, he formed the group 213, named after the Long Beach area code, with his friends Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg. The current area code in Long Beach, California is 562. While practicing with “213,” and working a full time job, the young Warren used all his free time on creating his own sound and dreamed of making it big.

The trio “213” dissolved when two of its members signed with Death Row Records. Although Warren G had the option of joining Death Row and work with his step-brother Dr. Dre, Warren preferred, from the very beginning of his career, to focus primarily on his solo career. True to his independent spirit, Warren G dedicated himself to creating his own sound; a distinct style that was later to become known, worldwide, as the legendary G-Funk.

Solo career[link]

Throughout his early solo career, Warren G worked with artists like MC Breed and 2Pac, but his big break came when his vocal collaboration with Mista Grimm, on Indo Smoke, appeared on the Poetic Justice soundtrack in 1992. His outstanding rap lead to a serious collaboration with Dr. Dre. Dedicated to hard work, that same year, Warren G made major contributions to Dr. Dre's album ”The Chronic,” released in December 1992, including sampling for Nuthin' but a G-Thang.

Worldwide recognition as a solo artist came immediately after Warren G dropped the smash hit Regulate; a duet with Nate Dogg, which topped the charts in 1994. The accompanying album “Regulate...G Funk Era” is a monument to the originality and smooth hip hop that is Warren G. The debut album went triple platinum with This D.J. becoming his second Top 20 hit. One year after its release, the album had sold four million copies worldwide, with three million of those sold in the US (certified 3x platinum). Had Warren G signed with Death Row, he would have been one of the label's biggest selling acts at the time.

1994 would also see Warren G doing a track with former NBA Slam Dunk Champion and NBA All-Star Cedric Ceballos on "B-Ball's Best Kept Secret," a rap album with tracks done almost exclusively by early 90s NBA players. He would score a #2 hit on the UK singles chart with Adina Howard with What's Love Got to Do With It, from the soundtrack album to the movie "Supercop."

Warren G's second album was entitled "Take a Look Over Your Shoulder" (Reality) and was released in 1997. It featured two singles: The hit I Shot the Sheriff (US #20, UK#2), a gold single in the US; and Smokin' Me Out (US #35, UK#14). The album would be certified gold in America.

Together with the Norwegian superstar soprano Sissel Kyrkjebø, Warren G had a hit in several European countries in 1998 with Prince Igor on the concept album "The Rapsody Overture". The album combined American rappers with European opera singers. Sissel sang an aria from Borodin's opera Prince Igor during the chorus, while Warren rapped.

Warren G had signed to the independent label Restless Records by the release of his third album "I Want It All" in 1999. The album offered a jazz-rock fusion style and featured a host of guests including Snoop Dogg, Mack 10, Kurupt, and Eve. The first single, I Want It All (US #23), sampled the song I Like It by DeBarge. Second single Game Don't Wait peaked at #58 on the US R&B Chart. The album was certified gold in the US.

For his fourth album, Warren G returned to major label distribution as Universal Records released his "The Return of the Regulator" in 2001. The album had one single released, Lookin' at You, which peaked at #72 on the R&B singles chart. By 2004, Warren G, Snoop Dogg, and Nate Dogg had reunited their group 213 and released the album "The Hard Way" on TVT Records, which contained the single Groupie Luv. The song topped at #48 on the R&B Chart. The album, however, peaked at #4 on the US Top 200 Album Chart, and was certified gold.

Warren G released a new album on October 11, 2005, called "In the Mid-Nite Hour." In December 2005, he signed with UniqueInc LTD (UK) for the UK & Éire, Craze Productions of London is doing the digital distribution and sales on Mobile and online and Hawino Records for the North America release. Warren G also appeared on Celebrity Fit Club.

In 2006, he produced the theme song for Ice Cube's TV show, Black. White. On March 22, Warren G made a song called Mr. President, addressing the 2008 presidential candidate race and encouraged everyone to vote. He also appeared in Celebrity Rap Superstar as a mentor.

Three of Warren G's albums have featured a song by 213: Game Don't Wait appeared on his third album "I Want It All"; Yo' Sassy Ways appeared on his fourth album "The Return of the Regulator"; and PYT appeared on his fifth album "In the Mid-Nite Hour."

In 2009 he released his 6th studio album titled The G Files. The album takes a more conservative approach, with the fewest appearances since his 1994 acclaimed debut. The G Files tries to encompass too many dimensions, demonstrating a quite different and perhaps unconventional portrayal of G-Funk.

After the devastating early death of Nate Dogg in March 2011, Warren G released the song This Is Dedicated To You to honor his childhood friend and close musical collaborator. This Is Dedicated To You continues the laid back, chill, and confident sound of G-funk that has always been the voice of Warren G. It is a loving and fitting tribute to a life time friend and brother in music. The song received positive reviews and continues to perform well. To honor the life and work of Nate, all proceeds from the sale of this song go directly to Nate Dogg’s mother, family, and charity organization.

Although deeply affected by the death of Nate Dogg, Warren G has carried on as a solo artist and works tirelessly on multiple projects. He has made multiple public appearances to promote various charities and musical venues.

Warren G Week[link]

The week of August 1 to August 6, 2005, was dedicated as the "Warren G Week" by the Mayor of Long Beach.^[2]

Other work[link]

In April 2011, Warren G and Chris Kanik teamed up to promote a new natural male enhancement supplement called Affirm XL.

Current Projects[link]

Throughout his career Warren G has continued to develop his own sound, using creative mixes of musical styles and influences from soul, gospel, rock, and jazz. He is the heart and the mind behind the sweet soulfullness of G-Funk Hip Hop and is one of the top producing hip hop artists of all time. More than just a legend of gangsta hip hop,

Warren still prefers to work independently and exploring different avenues. His many successes speak to his extraordinary talent. He is a leader and a true innovator. Work has included rapping, acting, singing and producing music for both TV and film. He is committed to featuring new artists and works with young talents to produce new music consistent with the G-Funk style.

Warren G is currently in studio working on a new album, which is scheduled to drop sometime mid-summer 2012. On April 23, 2012 he released his new single "Party We Will Throw Now!" off his upcoming EP, featuring Game and the late great Nate Dogg.

Web Site[link]

On March 14, 2012, Warren G launched his brand new website; a meeting point of music, culture, trends, policy, and what's hot; a page alive with raps, videos, interviews, live feeds, columns, blogs, and diverse opinions.

Awards[link]

Grammy Awards[link]

Discography[link]

• Regulate...G Funk Era (1994)
• Take a Look Over Your Shoulder (1997)
• I Want It All (1999)
• The Return of the Regulator (2001)
• The Hard Way (2004) (with 213)
• In the Mid-Nite Hour (2005)
• The G Files (2009)
• Regulate...G Funk Era Pt. 2 (2012)^[4]

Filmography[link]

• All of Us (2005)
• Old School (2003)
• Little Richard (2000)
• Speedway Junky (1999)
• The Show (1995)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Warren G at the Internet Movie Database
• Warren G on Twitter
• Warren G on Myspace
• Warren G Warren G on Facebook
• Warren G Official Site
• Warren G's publicist is Domenick Nati

Nathaniel Dwayne Hale (August 19, 1969 – March 15, 2011), better known by his stage name Nate Dogg, was an American musician. He is noted for his membership of rap trio 213 and his solo career in which he collaborated with Dr. Dre, Eminem, Warren G, Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg on many hit releases. Nate Dogg released three solo albums, G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1 & 2 in 1998, Music and Me in 2001 and Nate Dogg in 2008.

Nate Dogg died in 2011 in Long Beach, California of complications from multiple strokes.^[3]

Early life[link]

Nate Dogg was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He moved to Long Beach, California when he was 14 following his parents' divorce. He was the friend and partner in the rap game with rappers Snoop Dogg, Warren G, RBX, Daz Dillinger and was the cousin of Butch Cassidy and Lil' ½ Dead. He began singing as a child in the New Hope Baptist Church in Long Beach and Life Line Baptist Church in Clarksdale, Mississippi where his father Daniel Lee Hale was pastor. At the age of 16 he dropped out of high school in Long Beach and left home to join the United States Marine Corps,^[4] serving for three years.

Career[link]

Early career with 213[link]

In 1990, Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg,^[5] and their friend Warren G, formed a rap trio called 213. 213 recorded their first demo in the back of the famed V.I.P. record store in Long Beach, the demo was later heard by Dr. Dre at a house party and he was instantly hooked on the soulful voice of Nate.^[6]

Solo career[link]

Nate Dogg made his debut on The Chronic. Singing in what later become his trademark style, he was well-received by fans and critics alike, and would go on to sign with Death Row Records in 1993. Nate Dogg was also featured on Mista Grimm's "Indosmoke" with Warren G. Then in 1994 he produced his first hit single "Regulate" with Warren G. Nate Dogg was also featured in many Tupac releases, including his collaboration record Thug Life: Volume I. Then in 1998 after a tumultuous time at Death Row Records he released another album. The double album was titled G-Funk Classics Vol. 1 & 2 and was followed up in late 2001 with Music & Me on Elektra Records. Music & Me peaked at number three on the Billboard hip-hop charts in 2001.^[7] After a number of delays and an original release date of April 2004, his self-titled album was released under the Affiliated Entertainment Group on June 3, 2008.^{[citation needed]}

Television appearances[link]

In 2002, Nate Dogg and Isaiah Mendez appeared on a celebrity episode of the Weakest Link, making it to the last three players before being eliminated by Xzibit and Young MC.^[8]

Collaborations with other artists[link]

Nate found success, not only in solo projects, but in collaborations with other hip-hop artists. In the 2000s, Nate's high-ranking collaborative singles, according to Rolling Stone, includes Dr. Dre's "The Next Episode," Mos Def's "Oh No," Fabolous' "Can't Deny It," Ludacris' "Area Codes," 50 Cent's "21 Questions," Mark Ronson's "Ooh Wee," Houston's "I Like That," Eminem's "'Till I Collapse" and "Shake That", and Mobb Deep's "Have a Party."^[9]

Legal issues[link]

In the early 1990s, Hale was charged with two separate robberies, Check Changers robbery in 1991 and robbery of a San Pedro Taco Bell in 1994.^[10][11] He faced a maximum of nearly eleven years in prison,^[12] but he was subsequently acquitted of both charges.^[11][12]

In 1996, Hale was convicted of a drug-related offense in Los Angeles County.^[13]

On June 17, 2000, Hale was alleged to have kidnapped and assaulted his former girlfriend and set her mother's car on fire in Lakewood. He was arrested by a SWAT team at his home in Pomona. He was accused of kidnapping, domestic violence, making terrorist threats and arson.^[14] He spent a night in the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles before he was released on a $1 million bail.^[15] These charges were later dismissed, but Hale faced jail time for a new charge, illegal possession of a firearm by felon. An unmarked firearm was found in his home during the June 17 arrest.^[13] Hale pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge, and was sentenced to probation of three years and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.^[16]

On April 12, 2002, Hale was stopped by Arizona Department of Public Safety officers outside of Kingman, Arizona while traveling on a tour bus. He was arrested and charged with firearms-related and drug-related offenses after two pistols and four ounces of cannabis were found. Hale was booked on Mohave County Jail and subsequently released on a $3,500 bond.^[17] Weapon charges against him were dropped as an exchange to guilty plea to drug possession charge. Hale was subsequently sentenced to probation and community service. He was also ordered to attend drug counseling sessions in May 2002.^[18]

In 2006, Hale was charged with misdemeanor aggravated trespassing, telephone harassment, battery assault, dissuading a witness from reporting a crime and violation of a restraining order. In March 2008, Hale pleaded guilty to trespassing and battery and was ordered to complete a domestic violence treatment program, probation of three years, and was stripped of gun ownership rights for the next ten years.^[19]

In July 2008, Hale was charged with two felony criminal threats after allegedly sending threatening emails to his estranged wife,^[20] and one count of stalking after allegedly chasing her by car on Interstate 405 in previous month.^[21] Hale initially pleaded not guilty to these charges,^[21] which were eventually dropped in April 2009, because the alleged victim did not contact prosecutors in the case.^[20]

Additionally, Hale has a conviction of driving under the influence.^[21]

Strokes and death[link]

On December 19, 2007, Nate Dogg suffered a stroke, according to a coordinator for his recently formed gospel choir, Innate Praise.^[22] Reports had circulated that Nate Dogg had been admitted to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center in Pomona, California after suffering a heart attack. Erica Beckwith, however, confirmed to MTV News that Nate Dogg was released on December 26 after being treated for a stroke and was admitted to a medical rehabilitation facility to assist him in his recovery. On January 18, 2008, it was officially reported that the stroke had rendered the left side of his body paralyzed. Doctors believed there would be a full recovery, and his voice was not affected. In September 2008, he suffered a second stroke.^[23] Nate Dogg died March 15, 2011 in Long Beach, California. On March 17, his attorney Mark Geragos confirmed that the cause of the death was from complications of multiple strokes.^[3]

Discography[link]

• G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1 & 2 (1998)
• Music and Me (2001)
• Nate Dogg (2008)

Filmography[link]

• The Transporter song "I Got Love" (2002)
• Doggy Fizzle Televizzle as singer of the theme song for the sketch "The Braided Bunch" (2002–2003)
• Head of State as himself (also singer/composer of theme song) (2003)
• Need For Speed: Underground song "Keep it Comin"
• The Boondocks (2008)

Awards and nominations[link]

During his career, Nate Dogg was nominated for four Grammy Awards.

References[link]

External links[link]

Biography portal

• Nate Dogg at MTV
• Nate Dogg at the Internet Movie Database

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