What is the CUSFS Finchley Central Origin Hypothesis?
Based on all the evidence we have collected since 2005 (see above), it appears likely that The Game emerged somewhat as follows: • Before 1969: John Conway and/or his classmate David Fowler create the original version of Finchley Central in an attempt to create a game that did not fit the von Neumann definition of a game. • Early 1970s:While lecturing mathematics at the University of Cambridge, John Conway teaches Finchley Central to his student Richard Pinch. • Late 1970s: Richard Pinch teaches Finchley Central to other members of the Cambridge University Science Fiction Society (CUSFS). In attempt to violate the von Neuman definition even further, the CUSFS members create a parody of Finchley Central by reducing its single rule to its logical extreme; the first person to think of Finchley Central loses the game. The rest, as they say, is history. We have been in direct email contact with members of the 1970s CUSFS collective, which includes: • Dr Nigel Goldenfeld – “What’s scary abou
