King of the hill (game) facts for kids
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King of the hill (also called king of the mountain or king of the castle) is a fun outdoor game for kids. The main goal of the game is for one player to stay on top of a hill or a raised area. This player is called the "king." Other players try to push the king off the hill to take their place and become the new king.
The rules for how the king can be removed often depend on what the players agree on before starting. Usually, players can push each other, but hitting or kicking is not allowed. Because the game can sometimes get a bit rough, it is often not allowed in schools.
The idea of "king of the hill" is also used in some video games, especially first-person shooter games. In these games, players or teams try to control a specific area on a map for a certain amount of time.
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How to Play
There are many ways to play King of the Hill. Here are some common versions:
Classic Game
This is the simplest way to play:
- The first person to reach the top of the hill becomes the king.
- To become the new king, you need to climb the hill and push the current king off.
- The game ends when only one person remains as king, or after a set time.
Team Game
In this version, there are two or more teams playing against each other:
- The leader of the first team to get on the hill becomes the king.
- To become the new king, the leader of an opposing team must get on the hill and push the current king off.
- Players on the king's team can push opponents off the hill.
- Other players on opposing teams can push the king's teammates off, but they cannot push the king directly.
- The king and their team win if they stay on the hill.
Royal Family Game
This version is played with teams of four, where players have special roles:
- The first team to get on the hill has a king, queen, prince, and princess.
- Players from the other team can push off the player with the same role (for example, a prince pushes off the prince) to take their place.
- The king or queen can "kick" an opposing player off the hill. This sends that player back to their team. In return, the player with the same role from the king's or queen's team can come back to the hill.
What it Means in Real Life
The name "King of the hill" is often used as a metaphor. This means it describes any situation where there is a competition and only one winner. It shows how people try to reach the top, and to win, they often have to take the place of someone who was already there. It's like a hierarchy where people are ranked by how well they do.
In Sports
In tennis, there is a game called King of the Court that is similar. One player is the "king" or "queen" and stays on one side of the court. Other players line up on the other side. One challenger plays a point against the king. If the challenger wins, they become the new king and take their place on the court.
In Video Games
The idea of King of the Hill is very popular in video games. It first appeared in games like Core War in the 1980s.
In video games, King of the Hill usually means that a player or a team must control a specific area on the game map. This area isn't always a literal hill. Players need to stay in this area for a certain amount of time. If they succeed, they score points or win the round. Players are usually removed from the area by being defeated or "killed" by opponents.
Many popular video games, especially first-person shooters, have a King of the Hill mode. Some examples include Halo: Combat Evolved, Perfect Dark, Gears of War 2, and Team Fortress 2. The game Overwatch has a mode called "Control" that uses similar ideas. It's also found in games like the Army Men series.
See also
