Rock, Paper, Scissors variations include cosmetic and functional variations on the classic version of Rock, Paper, Scissors as well as several related but non-homomorphic games.Cosmetic variations
Cosmetic variations on Rock, Paper, Scissors change the appearance of the game but not the strategy of the players or the fundamental nature of the possible outcomes. Cosmetic variations include alternate names for and gestures used to indicate each of the three symbols, as well as changing the outcome in trivial ways.Names of symbols
When changing the names of the symbols, typically each symbol has its own gesture associated with it. These may be simple hand gestures as in traditional Rock, Paper, Scissors, or whole-body gestures.
- Chinese call the three standard symbols Moth, Scissors, and Rock, in this order. This is the original. In Korea the order is Scissors, Rock, and Cloth. the Rock however, beats both moth and scissor.
- In northern China, a variant uses the legs rather than hands to avoid removing one's gloves in winter air. The two players jump in unison three times. When they land on the third jump, "Rock" is represented by landing with the two feet together, "Scissors" with one foot in front of the other, and "Cloth" (Paper) with the two feet apart horizontally.
- In Taiwan, the order is normally Scissors, Rock, Cloth.
- Japanese call them Gū, Choki, and Pā, which are onomatopoeic words for Rock, Scissors, and Paper respectively. The game itself is called Janken. There are several less common varieties with different hand signs, such as Mushi-ken ("vermin hands"), in which Snake beats Frog, Frog beats Slug, and Slug beats Snake. Kitsune-ken ("fox hands") uses gestures rather than hand signs, in which Fox beats Village Headman, Village Headman beats Gun, and Gun beats Fox. Tora-ken ("tiger hands") is another gesture version; Watōnai (Koxinga) beats Tiger, Tiger beats Mother (Tagawa Matsu), and Mother beats Watōnai.
- In Singapore, Dragon, Water, Stone is played. Dragon beats Water, Water beats Stone, and Stone beats Dragon.
- In Malaysia, especially in the countryside, it is called "1-2-Som" or "1-2-Juus". It works exactly like Rock, Paper, Scissors but with some minor changes. Rock (closed fist) beats Cup (fingers on one hand pinched together, as in "taking a pinch of salt"), Cup beats Water (open palm), Water beats Rock. The logic is that a rock will break a cup, the cup will steal water, water will sink the rock.
- In Myanmar, Commander beats Soldier, Soldier beats Tiger, and Tiger beats Commander. The idea being that while the Commander has authority over the Soldier, he is too old and physically unfit to take on the Tiger. However, the Soldier being young, strong and well trained, beats the tiger. The game's gestures are not limited to the palm as most of the other rock, scissors and paper variations. The Commander's gesture is done with arms placed on hips. The Tiger's gesture is done with riased arms and spread claws, like a tiger about to pounce. The Soldier's gesture is done with the thumbs and index fingers of both hands in the "pistol" position. A slight variation of this version may be played, where Soldier is replaced with Gun, represented by the same gesture. Commander also beats Gun, but Gun beats Tiger, the logic being that the Commander has control over his Gun, but the Gun shoots the Tiger.
- In Mario Party 2, there is a duel mini-game similar called "Bowser, Peach, or Mario" in which pressing A would select Mario, B Peach and Z Bowser. Bowser beats Peach, Peach beats Mario and Mario beats Bowser.
- In India, Elephant beats Human, Human beats Ant, and Ant beats Elephant.
- In The Netherlands RPS is also know als Steen, Dynamiet, Schaar (Rock, Dynamite, Scissors), because blowing up the rock is easier to imagine than packing the rock.
- One of the most popular modern varieties is called Cat, Microwave, Tinfoil. Cat beats Tinfoil by ripping it up, Tinfoil beats Microwave by starting a fire, and Microwave beats Cat by cooking it. This version was created because, to the creators of Cat, Microwave, Tinfoil, it doesn't make sense that Paper beats Rock by covering it. As it doesn't damage Rock, while on the other hand it can destroy Paper by tearing it. However, Cat, Microwave, Tinfoil doesn't make much sense either, since it has been proved that tinfoil in a microwave does not damage the microwave oven (but does often produce arcing and possibly fire), contradicting common misconception.
- Bulldog, Mongoose, Cobra is another variation, with Bulldog beating Mongoose, Mongoose beating Cobra, and Cobra beating Bulldog. This is the only known variation where sound effects are ritualized and crucial - if you fail to make the Cobra's hissing sound, for example, it is powerless against the Bulldog.
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