Wikiracing

Wikiracing is a game in which players compete to navigate from one Wikipedia page to another (chosen manually or randomly) using only the internal links of the page. External websites have been created to facilitate this game. In addition to being an enjoyable game, Wikiracing has proposed benefits as well. The Seattle Times has recommended it as a good educational pastime for children and the Larchmont Gazette has said, "While I don't know any teenagers who would curl up with an encyclopedia for a good read, I hear that a lot are reading it in the process of playing the Wikipedia Game". The Amazing Wiki Race has been an event at the TechOlympics. The average number of links separating any English-language Wikipedia page from the United Kingdom page is 3.67. Thus, it has been occasionally banned in the game. Other common rules that increase the game's difficulty include not using the United States page, not using a browser's "Find" (ctrl-F) or (ctrl-G) function, and other optional rules. The rules of Wikiracing can be used as a method for studying aspects of Wikipedia.