Where in the world is Sam Denby?
That question’s kind of the point of the YouTube channel Jet Lag: The Game.
Denby, along with friends Ben Doyle and Adam Chase, play a variety of original games around the world. It all started when they decided to compete in a giant game of Connect Four, wherein they attempted to “score” four U.S. states in a straight line, claiming them by visiting each state’s capital.
From there, the trio has played giant forms of other popular games, too: They’ve played tag across Europe; they’ve enjoyed hide and seek through Switzerland; they’ve engaged in capture the flag throughout Japan.
Of course, they’re not just playing the game as you or I may know it. Each version here comes with unique rules and challenges to make it more enjoyable, both to play and watch.
But like actual jet lag, might some of the other things you’ll find on this channel catch you off guard?
Each season on the channel comes with a variety of countries and games. Likewise, each game comes with its own rules and unique challenges. These games and challenges showcase the trio’s creativity in coming up with them, and they could encourage viewers to create their own games, too.
The group ensures that games contain rules that make their challenges safe. For instance, players aren’t allowed to go over the speed limit; they’re required to eat at least one meal a day; and they pause games to spend the night in hotels instead of playing through the night.
It’s evident that the three guys are good friends simply having fun—no matter where in the world they are.
The most frequent concern on the channel is crude language: We heard profanities such as “a–,” “d–n” and “h—”. We also hear God’s name used in vain (and sometimes paired with “d–n”). Likewise, Jesus’ name is also misused. And on a similar note, the f-word and s-word are censored (except for one s-word, which can be seen in a text message).
In a handful of challenges across the seasons, a contestant must drink enough alcohol to get drunk.
Jet Lag: The Game really is a bit like the YouTube version of The Amazing Race.
And that shouldn’t come as a surprise: Denby, who also runs the YouTube channel Wendover Productions, told Wired that the global travel gameshow had been a big inspiration for him. But instead of traveling around the world to get to challenges, the travel itself often is the challenge.
Too bad, then, that Jet Lag: The Game comes with language concerns as well as challenges that include getting inebriated. In those respects, this channel is by no means any more content-free than the broadcast reality show that inspired it.
Kennedy Unthank studied journalism at the University of Missouri. He knew he wanted to write for a living when he won a contest for “best fantasy story” while in the 4th grade. What he didn’t know at the time, however, was that he was the only person to submit a story. Regardless, the seed was planted. Kennedy collects and plays board games in his free time, and he loves to talk about biblical apologetics. He thinks the ending of Lost “wasn’t that bad.”
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