AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 PLAYS
This month, Myanmar
This month we’re heading to the Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar, just north of Thailand. This beautifully diverse region – home to staggeringly diverse fauna, serene beaches, and jaw-dropping temples – may not spring to mind as a hub of traditional gaming, but the modern landscape is gradually fostering a tabletop culture worthy of attention.
Despite a notable growth in contemporary gaming, there are some examples of ancient tabletop culture in Myanmar, in particular the game of Sittuyin. This centuries old take on chess bares resemblance to the Indian game of Chatarunga in regard to the movement of its pieces, with a ‘Queen’ style piece (known as the ‘Sit-ke’ or ‘General’) limited to moving only one space diagonally.
Sittuyin’s ‘Bishop’ equivalent is the ‘Sin’ – an elephant shaped piece with the ability to move one space forward or diagonally, or in other words, one space for each appendage including the trunk.
Whilst Sittuyin’s rules on movement might sound fairly restrictive in comparison to Western chess, the game is hastened by means of its unusual set up. The pawn-like ‘Feudal Lord’ or ‘Ne’ pieces begin the game on the third and fourth rows of the board, with a pair of opposing pieces in fact meeting each other at a diagonal in the centre. From here, the remaining pieces can be setup anywhere behind these lines.
Several other rules make Siituyin stand out from chess, with some variants even including the use of dice.
Since these ancient times, board games appeared to had fallen into relative decline – save for a few popular street games such as Kitty Card Carrom and the Ludo-esque Shell Throw – but thanks to various factors, the scene is on the rise.
Back in 2016, news outlets reported a surge in young people and families playing board games, largely attributing it to those of the Myanmar population returning to the country after study or working abroad. Su Mon, the owner of
Yangon’s first gaming cafe House
Rules, started her business soon after being exposed to Catan
in college, with many others spreading the hobby through family and friends.
Accessibility to this growing pastime was also influenced by social media. Online platforms provided the tools to connect both fellow gamers and curious individuals, ultimately resulting in the formation of local gaming clubs. Some clubs even provided fans with the means of playing the expensive and locally hard to attain Warhammer 40,000.
Until recently, shops in Myanmar were largely limited to the typical commercial board game fare, thus forcing enthusiasts to import from Thailand or Singapore. Fortunately, local markets have begun to emerge including online retailers Myanmar Board Games.
Founder of the site, Win Ko, describes Myanmar’s tabletop scene as being
‘in its nascent stage’ but is ‘intent on spreading board game culture by creating our own games and spaces for friends and families to get together.’ Aside from supplying the country with all the latest releases through their online store, Myanmar Board Games have also opened the Chill Out gaming cafe in Yangon and are due to launch their own game Auction Web on Kickstarter this July. Ko describes the game as being inspired by ‘cryptocurrency and auctioning’ with the basic mechanics revolving around ‘players bidding on strange properties with LitCoins.’
Other local designs include 2018’s Bagan Journey, designed by Jean Curci at Blue Belu Studios. Bagan Journey tasks players with travelling through the ten ancient temples, collecting discovery points and uncovering the history of the region. In 2019 the game was rereleased with updated art and components.
Our stop in the magical lands of Myanmar may have been brief, but exposure to its homegrown designs and blossoming passion for the hobby will act as a fine souvenir of the journey.