A story has been [going around](http://distantsignal.blogspot.com/2007/02/battle-of-skype-emoticons-beer-almost.html) internally and externally about the emoticon version of the popular [Rock, Paper, Scissors game](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock,_Paper,_Scissors). (Did you know they now have something like the [World Cup for this game]((http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock,_Paper,_Scissors#WRPS_sanctioned_tournaments)? )

Instead of hands and real life, the emoticon version is played in Skype chat with -- what else -- emoticons. You can create as many this-emoticon-is-stronger-than-that-emoticon relationships as you like. It's like a wiki-game, everyone can create and edit their own power hierarchies within the emoticon roster.

Here is an example ruleset:

* a is beaten by a
* a is beaten by a or a
* a is beaten by a
* a is beaten by a

For extra gaming pleasure, you may use hidden Skype emoticons to whack your opponents in one swift move.