GAMES

Researchers from U-M found a majority of apps contain tricks to keep children playing longer or make purchases.

Summer officially begins next week Tuesday, and Royal Oak is gearing up to kick off the start of the season!

On June 25, community members can hang out in front of Ann Arbor YMCA, at 400 W. Washington St., to get a jumpstart on their summer fun.

Mountains of low-cost books, DVDs, video games, board games and puzzles will be available for purchase at the family-run book sale on Stratton Court, with tips going to Ann Arbor’s Food Gatherers.

Even if you don’t play Wordle, chances are that you’ve heard of it. The trending word game has become a fan favorite, helping people -- even us in the newsroom -- to start their mornings with a little brain teaser.

Just like all great fads, the general population begins to lose interest and all that’s left are the die-hard fans.

After two games, the Freeland baseball team is 2-0 and has not given up a run. And it has a no-hitter.

Games, food, and cocktails are the "key" to a fun time at this place.

Ann Arbor is full of Wordle nerds, according to a new study.

None of the 20 athletes from the Ukrainian Paralympic team has reached Beijing with the Games opening at the end of the week, the International Paralympic Committee said Monday. IPC spokesman Craig Spence, in an interview with The Associated Press, said he was hopeful the athletes would arrive in China for Friday's opening ceremony despite difficult logistics. “We're in regular dialogue with Ukraine about their participation at the Games, and we're working hard behind the scenes to get them here,” Spence said.

No Olympic competition is complete without a few handfuls of historical moments. Re-live all the record-breaking performances from the 2022 Winter Olympics.

(More games will be added if they’re reported)BoysDeckerville 67, Genesee 62Beecher 76, Bendle 62Hamady 67, Bentley 21Kearsley 65, Clio 46Goodrich 70, Pontiac Notre Dame 61Grand Blanc 84, Powers Catholic 35Flint Elite 74, International Academy 68Carman-Ainsworth 62, Lapeer 48Mason 82, Owosso 32Midland 61, Davison 53Flushing 76, Midland Dow 38Ypsilanti Arbor Prep 53, Lake Fenton 41GirlsCorunna 66, Lansing Waverly 60Beecher 76, Bendle 62Carman-Ainsworth 84, Lapeer 24Grand Blanc 73, Powers Catholic 44Midland Dow 56, Flushing 42Imlay City 52, North Branch 36Vassar 31, LakeVille 27Mason 40, Owosso 26Oxford 40, Ortonville Brandon 24Ypsilanti Arbor Prep 57, Lake Fenton 47

The doping scandal around Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva has been a Games-changer at the Beijing Olympics.

Bringing in more than 15,000 people for the Winter Olympics poses risks for a country determined to keep COVID-19 out.

Bottom of the ninth? Pressure. Two free throws to win the game? Pressure. Six-foot putt to win the U.S. Open? Pressure. But there's not pressure like that heaped on Olympic athletes, who carry the expectations of a nation and only get the chance to shrug it off every four years.

More than 220 athletes will represent the United States at the Olympics in Beijing, making it the largest delegation at the Games. Other large teams include China and the Russian Olympic Committee.

There were a full slate of games on the first day of February, 2022. (MLIve File Photo by Isaac Ritchey)

Get familiar with the Nordic combined schedule at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

A campaign is launched to support an estimated one million UK women at risk of harmful gambling.

It seems as though Wordle has swept the internet: Everywhere you turn, you see people posting that little box grid, showing off their final score, and what it took to get there.

Human rights activists have issued a call to action against the Beijing Olympics, imploring athletes and sponsors to speak out against what they call the “genocide games.”.

For the thousands of athletes, journalists and others descending on Beijing for the Winter Olympics, China’s strict pandemic measures are creating a surreal and at times anxious experience. China is isolating everyone coming from abroad from any contact with the general public for the duration of the Games, which open next week. “I know the only experience of Beijing I’m going to experience is the Beijing I will see out of my bus window and my hotel window,” said Associated Press photo editor Yirmiyan Arthur, who arrived this week.

The Foreign Ministry said Minister Wang Yi made the demand in a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday Beijing time.

China is demanding the U.S. end “interference” in the Beijing Winter Olympics, which begin next week, in an apparent reference to a diplomatic boycott imposed by Washington and some of its allies. Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the demand in a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday Beijing time, according to the Foreign Ministry. The U.S. has said it will not send dignitaries to the Games, which open Feb. 4, in a protest over China’s detention of more than 1 million Uyghur Muslims in the northwestern region of Xinjiang, along with crackdowns on human rights elsewhere in the country.

The Saginaw-area boys basketball rankings, with upcoming games, as of Jan. 25, 2022:For upcoming games, fans can stream live by clicking on the NFHS digital network link.

One of the best things about the Olympics is the spirit of the games, which can come in many forms. Last week, it showed up on the ice of the speedskating Olympic trials, and because it did, one athlete’s Olympic dreams will come to fruition.

Why does Michigan love playing Euchre?

Let the games begin! Here’s your day-by-day guide to follow – and plan to see – all the best high school boys basketball games for the 2021-22 season. All games start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted and are subject to change.

Teams race against the clock inside Decode’s new location–a formerly abandoned 1,000-square-foot warehouse at 3170 Packard St.

Beijing is pushing ahead with Winter Olympics test events, despite Covid and human rights allegations.

Mel Tucker doesn’t anticipate a letdown from his Michigan State team this week.

AccuWeather's Michelle Rotella has the details on what weather conditions you can expect for the World Series, as well as the biggest college and professional football games taking place from Oct. 30-31.

Mackenzie Salmon and Andy Nesbitt debate if the Bucs fan who accidentally received Tom Brady’s 600th TD ball got a fair trade from the team and QB.

FLINT – Last week wasn’t our best. Sure, we had 21 correct predictions but we also missed on five. (Two games ended in COVID-related forfeits so we’re not counting them. One was correct and one wasn’t but who knows what would have happened had the games been played.)

It’s the final week of high school football for the 2021 regular season, and the games are as big as they come. We take a look at some of the key showdowns from the nine MLive coverage regions and ask for your take on which contest is the must-see game of Week 9.

The vehicular scavenger hunt will take teams all around Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.

There's a lot to discuss about the latest installment in the series.

Aruba had never had a Paralympic team until a student in her 20s decided to make it happen.

This arcade has dozens of classic and new pinball machines for you to enjoy!

Good morning, Chicago. Here are some of the top stories you need to know to start your day.

Marcell Jacobs backed up his shocking 100-meter victory with another totally unexpected gold for Italy in the 4x100-meter relay at the Olympics.

Chinese Taipei's Olympic medalists flew home to a glorious welcome on Wednesday following a best-ever Games performance that has boosted pride on the island claimed by China and revived calls for it to compete under the name Taiwan.

Tokyo was supposed to be dry under the pandemic state of emergency in effect throughout the Olympics. But fed up locals are drinking in bars, parks and on the street, basking in country's Olympic triumphs.

Krystina Timanovskaya took refuge in the Polish embassy after refusing to board a flight to Belarus.

An exchange between first and second legs Elija Godwin and Lynna Irby was found to have taken place outside the exchange zone.

TOKYO (AP) — Katie Ledecky got her first gold medal of these Olympics, while Simone Biles pulled out of another event she came into the Games favored to win. “I’m just proud to bring home a gold medal to Team USA.”Biles, the American gymnastics superstar, withdrew from Thursday’s all-around competition to focus on her mental well-being. JAPANESE THREE-PEATJapanese teenager Daiki Hashimoto won a gold medal in men’s all-around. Japan is pursuing its first gold medal in baseball after the sport was restored to the Summer Games for the first time since 2008. Djokovic is attempting to become the first man to achieve a Golden Slam by winning all four Grand Slam tournaments and Olympic gold in the same calendar year.

Japan defeated the United States 2-0 in a softball gold medal rematch 13 years in the making.

Tennis competition begins on Friday, July 23 (Eastern Time) at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Here's how to watch golf at the Tokyo Olympics.

On the eve of the Tokyo Olympics’ opening ceremony, the government’s attempts to curb a coronavirus surge by targeting drinkers is drowning in liquor, frustration and indifference. Japan has asked the city’s restaurants and bars to close by 8 p.m., if not entirely, to keep people from socializing in close contact with strangers and spreading the virus, but the state of emergency hasn’t deterred many. Instead, drinkers moved outdoors, and many bars in Tokyo’s famed nightlife districts are bustling with defiant customers.

Olympics fans can request to book a stay at Scottie Pippen's Highland Park home to watch the Tokyo Games. Airbnb bookings for his home open July 22.

Skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing are three of six sports you haven’t seen at the Summer Games.

Three in four think the U.S. should participate in the Tokyo Olympics if they do go on as scheduled.

Emperor Naruhito is concerned holding the Games will fuel covid-19 infections in Japan, the head of the Imperial Household Agency said.

Tokyo 2020 organizers now face two tests: Preventing the spread of COVID-19 from foreign visitors to residents of Japan, and keeping athletes healthy and virus-free so they can compete.

Toy Insider says these four games that will popular in backyards this summer.

On Tuesday, Japanese government official expressed doubt that U.S. travel warnings to Americans would deter Olympians looking to compete in the upcoming Games. Japan has seen an uptick in coronavirus cases because of virus variants that could affect even those who have been vaccinated. According to the Associated Press, the warnings are not an outright ban on travel, but the recommendation could influence insurance rates. Some also wonder if the warning could limit the number of Olympians willing to participate. Since the travel warning doesn’t stop essential travel, Japanese officials don’t expect support for the country hosting the Olympics to waver.

Current polls in Japan show nearly 70% of the population do not want the Olympics to go ahead.

The Tokyo games are expected to take place even though Japan's capital is under an emergency declaration for the pandemic.

The Tokyo games are expected to take place even though Japan's capital is under an emergency declaration for the pandemic.

Officials have extended the state of emergency in several regions until the end of the month.

The International Olympic Committee says it can deliver a safe Olympics without overburdening Japan’s health-care system. Many doctors and nurses don’t agree.

Families have learned how to make the most of having fun at home, but sometimes the question is still asked, “What should we do tonight?” Some new toys and activities have hit the market that will help take “family fun at home” to another level. James Zahn, senior editor with The Toy Insider, joined Tati Amare to share a few ideas on how to keep family fun night interesting with reimagined classics and some new toys that have just hit the market. The classic card game, Uno, is celebrating 50 years of fun with a new set that commemorates its golden anniversary. “You’re on Mute”, may be something that you have said during a Zoom meeting, but this a new game that has you testing your lip-reading abilities. Watch the video above to see more games that will make your family fun nights even better!

MONTAGUE – For the second year running, Montague and Hart feature the best two girls basketball teams in the West Michigan Conference and two of the better squads in the Muskegon area. In both matchups this season, Montague’s version was better than Hart’s. Senior point guard Braquelle Osborne paced the very balanced Montague team with 11 points, four assists and four steals. Like Montague, Hart set out to test itself in the nonleague portion of the schedule. “If we make it to regionals again this year, these are the games that are going to help us get better.

While you’re home during the holidays, you may find that you are getting bored or a little cabin fever. There is a fun game to solve your case of boredom, and you can play it with your friends and family online. It’s called Unsolved Case Files and it turned Kila Peeples and Michelle Oliver into Live in the D’s “detective squad” as they tackled the case to find out who needs to do the time for the crime. Players can spend a few hours or an entire evening playing the game figuring out who can solve the cold case first. Watch the video above to see what’s included in the Unsolved Case Files game!

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Whether it’s a first date, birthday party or family game night, everyone has a story about Pinball Pete’s. So Pinball Pete’s has started a GoFundMe campaign and is asking its legions of loyal fans for help. “The response that we’ve received initially has been outstanding,” said Nick Reynolds, son of Pinball Pete’s owner Mike Reynolds. Those who donate between $1-$50 will be mentioned in a thank you post on the Pinball Pete’s Facebook pages. Pinball Pete’s is at 1214 S. University Ave in Ann Arbor and 220 Albert St. in East Lansing, Michigan.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – We hope you’ve been saving up your quarters. Pinball and arcade game players can Ann Arbor’s historic arcade, Pinball Pete’s, between noon and 6 p.m. on Saturday. According to the businesses’ Facebook page, masks are required, hand sanitizer stations are posted throughout the store and machines are sanitized as they are used. The East Lansing Pinball Pete’s location will on January 1, 2021 with limited hours and capacity. Pinball Pete’s is at 1214 S. University Ave.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Ann Arbor District Library has announced the return of its online community game platform, but with a new name and a few twists. Through the Winter Game, players create an account, solve puzzles, collect codes and earn points all from the comfort of home. Points players accrue during the Winter Game will roll over to the AADL’s 2021 Summer Game 2021, the AADL said. New content will be released until March 12 but players can continue playing until the end of the 2021 Summer Game, according to the AADL. Read: Ann Arbor District Library named five star library for 13th consecutive year𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚆𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙶𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐!

TOKYO – The IOC and Tokyo Olympic organizers have been shouting the message for months now, that despite the continuing pandemic, the Games will open on July 23, 2021. Bach was also asked last week whether he was going to Tokyo to talk about contingencies for canceling the Olympics. Bach is travelling on a private charter and will meet new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Monday morning. An hour later he’s with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, and then holds a media conference with Tokyo organizing committee President Yoshiro Mori, another former prime minister. The IOC president has has called Tokyo the best prepared Olympics in history, a point he's likely to repeat.

DETROIT – The Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons have had their share of mishaps in the fourth quarter lately, so it was no surprise when their game against each other was full of them. Ultimately, the Lions prevailed 23-22 on Matthew Stafford’s 11-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Hockenson with no time remaining, but the victory wasn’t secure until Matt Prater made the extra point, and he had to kick it from 15 yards further back because of a penalty. It looked like Detroit might not get the ball back at all, but Atlanta’s Todd Gurley scored a touchdown with 1:04 left when the Falcons could have run the clock all the way down for a winning field goal. Atlanta went ahead 22-16, but Stafford had the ball back and drove the Lions to victory. READ MORE: Local and national sports headlines

This was a victory the Detroit Lions probably needed more than they would admit. Detroit (2-3) made this one look easy, somewhat surprising considering the Lions had lost six straight in which they led by double digits. SOCIAL INJUSTICEAs they’ve done all season, players from Detroit and Jacksonville remained in their locker rooms for the national anthem. The Lions had 30 players lined up along the goal line for the anthem, with seven of them — including Stafford — taking a knee. UP NEXTThe Lions play next Sunday at Atlanta, which has won four of the last five meetings.

DETROIT – The Detroit Lions lost to the New Orleans Saints at Ford Field Sunday. It was initially unclear if the game would take place after New Orleans Saints fullback Michael Burton tested positive for COVID-19, but the game took place after a second COVID-19 test administered came back negative. MORE: Saints score 5 straight TDs in 35-29 win over LionsThe final score was 35 to 29. READ MORE: Local and national sports headlines

DETROIT – The Detroit Lions game will still take place this afternoon after a second COVID-19 test administered on New Orleans Saints fullback Michael Burton came back negative. Initially, it was unclear whether the game between the Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints would take place this afternoon. The uncertainty came after Burton tested positive for COVID-19 Saturday on the flight to Detroit, NBC reported. Everyone who came in contact with him including seven players were tested. The tests of those players also came back negative.

Believe it or not, we’re nearly halfway through the regular season high school football season in Michigan. Player of the Week winner and Week 3 football schedulesGameday Saginaw! See who won Player of the Week, schedules, linksGame Day Kalamazoo: See Week 3 prep football schedule, Player of the Week winnerGame Day Jackson! See Player of the Week winner, Week 3 prep football scheduleGame Day, Flint! POW results, schedule for Week 3 of football season

People work much better when they feel energized and the same is true for students -- especially those who are starting the school year learning virtually. Read more: Kids at HomeRemember as a school kid, how great it felt going back to class after recess? You go out to the bus stop, you walk into your school building and now we’re just kind of waking up and we’re going right to the computer," Nakfoor said. They can spend a minute, two minutes jumping, which is such good movement for the body.”She also recommends cup stacking for younger children. It’s really important get your older kids standing up and they can even do some work while they’re standing up.”Nakfoor said her oldest son like to do wall squats while doing school work.

Well, that got us thinking about favorite things from our childhood and we’re talking about it today on What’s The Buzz. To kick everything off we asked them what their favorite childhood game was. Mike Bonner enjoyed a fun game of extreme tag while Vanessa enjoyed jump rope and racing. Vanessa had a Raggedy Ann that she loved and that she had throughout her childhood. For Mike Bonner, it was Parcheesi.

Why not try disc golf! Anyone can play it, and you can easily do it while social distancing. Watch the video above for more tips, and watch as Kila and Michelle learn more about how to do it. To play disc golf, all you need are the discs, which are typically $10-15 per disc, and many of the courses are free. For the nearest disc golf course, visit the Professional Disc Golf Association website.

The NHL’s Thursday and Friday playoff games have been postponed in response to the outcry for racial injustice awareness after a Black man was shot by police in Wisconsin. The league said this was the decision of the players not to play the games and that the NHL honors that decision. The NHLPA and the NHL are committed to working to foster more inclusive and welcoming environments within our arenas, offices and beyond.”Statement from the National Hockey League Players’ Association and National Hockey League. The NHL, meanwhile, went ahead with its Stanley Cup playoff games on Wednesday. NHL players did not boycott, and the league allowed the players to make that decision.

A long-awaited update for Fortnite looks like it is finally getting the green light. After a few delays, regular cars is going to be added to Fortnite by Epic Games on Wednesday, according to Engadget. While Fortnite’s map has had bikes, hoverboards, planes and shopping carts, cars have been absent until now. Epic Games was forced to delay the update due to technical problems, leading to weeks of speculation over when the update will arrive. Here’s the trailer video for the “Joyride” update:

So how do you make your weekend camping excursion fun for the whole family? Check out these ideas1) Jazz up your campsiteTent (Copyright 2020 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.) 2) Plan fun activitiesNature Scavenger Hunt (Copyright 2020 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.) 3) Fun foodCampfire Cone Ingredients (Copyright 2020 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.) Part of the fun of camping is all the fun camping snacks!

As the school year wraps up, there’s a different kind of lesson you can pass on to your children -- manners. “A lot of times people think etiquette is about being stuffy, and a lot of rules," said Danielle Kovachevich. “I actually would like to politely disagree and say that it’s actually about an awareness of how we make people feel. "I think that’s really impactful for our children.”Kovachevich runs the Detroit Academy of Etiquette and since her own children have been home from school, she’s been coming up with ways to help them brush up on their manners. Treat it like an actual school day for school," Kovachevich said.

How to teach your children etiquette, manners while stuck at homePublished: June 5, 2020, 6:32 pmLearning from home has been a new and sometimes challenging experience for many families through this pandemic.

Parents are trying to keep their children occupied and one local mother is sharing outdoor boredom busters that her family loves. Read more: Kids at HomeJeeyoung is the mother of three boys -- ages 3, 5 and 7 -- and she works from home. When it comes to keeping her boys at home occupied, she believes keeping it simple works best. Their top favorite for outdoor boredom buster is the obstacle course. She said it instantly zaps boredom and works as a great distraction.

Children can be suffering from burnout too. A routine, she said, can be helpful with burnout, but it’s also important for children to know why things are different. "But if we’re able to cope with that stress, then our children will learn how to cope with the stress, they feel our burnout.”The first step to preventing burnout is practicing self-care. That’s how we need to look at self care.”Rockwell said since children learn from their parents, it’s important to be at your best. It’s a wonderful time for us to learn important life lessons.”

How to prevent burnout for you and your childrenPublished: May 27, 2020, 6:02 pmAs adults we might be feeling weary and burned out from all of these weeks doing everything from home -- but experts say we aren’t the only ones.

It’s that element of ‘What am I going to get?’ It makes exercise fun.”She said her family can easily fill 45 minutes of exercise using the dice. “Before you know it, you’ve been exercising for 45 minutes and they don’t even realize it’s true exercise because it’s fun,” Nakfoor said. “Bodyweight exercises are great -- jumping jacks, sit ups, toe touches, arm circles, the plank -- bodyweight exercises are really good because they’re good for little kids," Nakfoor said. She also likes using indoor activity cards. Nakfoor said that’s the key -- if the children are having fun, they’ll stay active longer.

NCAA tournament's first day busts brackets March Madness is in full swing after a day of exciting games. There were several upsets, and according to CBSSports.com, 99 percent of brackets on the site are now busted after Georgia State's win against Baylor. Washington Post sports reporter Matt Bonesteel joins CBSN with the games that surprised him.

Amid Ukraine tensions, Putin opens Winter Paralympics The Winter Paralympics are under way in Sochi, Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin opened the Games with a ceremony that saw only one member of Ukraine's 31-member delegation attend.