Zoom offers new games meant to spice up boring calls

San Jose, California - If Solitaire or get-to-know-you activities are your style of gaming, then Zoom's new integrated app offerings are going to be very appealing.

Zoom has just introduced integrated mini games that can be played during video calls (stock image).
Zoom has just introduced integrated mini games that can be played during video calls (stock image).  © 123RF/ unitysphere

The new games are an effort at offering companies online "team building" options to make meetings more bearable, or more awkward, depending on on the group you're working with, says Axios.

Game hub Kotaku expects that the initial offering of about 50 games will be followed by many more to come, but so far what's available is quite cringy, as some of the mini-games are being pitched as "ice-breakers."

If you've ever done ice-breakers in person, at least the pro here is that you can wear sweatpants while hiding behind your desk, but that doesn't improve the overall experience much.

More interesting is the choice to include poker games, which isn't illegal, but would be pretty kitsch for many office cultures.

Other apps coming out with the games include functionally integrated ones like DropBox and SurveyMonkey.

A Weight Watchers app is also available, perhaps as a "wellness" option, but it is not clear how an office would make use of it remotely.

Most people have gotten used to working with the unnatural pauses and lack of body language that comes with using Zoom. Whether these games will help make calls more bearable, or if busy teams will actually take the time to play any, is another question.

Cover photo: 123RF/ unitysphere

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