Similar to Hardy/Wright’s famous “Paranoia,” this week-long contest gets intense.

By Scott Wood, Staff Writer/Artist

Running back to Baker from Becker Hall, I position myself in the break room, having a clear view of the front entrance to Baker. Leaning backward, as not to be seen, I hold up my phone, lying in waiting for one of the other members of my floor to walk into my camera’s line of sight. After what feels like an eternity (realistically, about 15 minutes), I see someone disturb the view of the door: Seth, one of my suitemates. Without wasting any time, I snap the picture, lie on my back to not be seen and post the picture into the group chat. 

Sniped! 

Simply called “The Game” by Baker third residents, this infamously intense game of stealth requires its players to snap pictures of other floormates while remaining unseen, an act that’s called a “snipe.” This year’s season of The Game lasted from 8 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14. 

Every second of it was filled with paranoia, anxiety and antisocial behavior from all participating residents of Baker third, and for good reasons. Every second not spent on the floor of Baker third or during chapel (safe hours) is spent surveying your surroundings, never feeling truly safe.  

Why would someone subject themselves to such torment? 

There is something about The Game that truly resonates with the people who play it. In an age where almost everyone carries smartphones on them at all times and puts themselves on the pedestal of social media, the challenge to be outside of the gaze of the prying eyes of everyone else is becoming increasingly more difficult. There is truly no more privacy in people’s lives, and the fear of being caught in a compromising position is ever-present. 

The Game is a response to this way of life, taking it to its logical extremes. The Game is more than simply a game: it’s living in the modern world distilled into its purest form. Last year’s winner also got a painting of a lion, so there’s that, too!