With a bit of research and a little imagination, you can easily devise your own Spontaneous Human Combustion (SHC) games, maybe based on existing games, maybe just spun off into pure creative fantasy. Here are some suggested starting points:

• Gambling card games, based on War or Fish or Poker or whatever, with each suit representing a different type or cause of SHC. Cards may be illustrated.
• Collectible card games, with each card bearing the image of an alleged SHC case. Be vivid. This may be combined with the previous suggestion.
• Movement board games, with each square representing a SHC case to investigate and/or experience and/or exploit. Use appropriate game pieces.
• Role-playing games, based on the usual fantasy fare. What attributes and situations will contribute to your SHC experience?
• Anagrams: How may variants of SPONTANEOUS HUMAN COMBUSTION can you devise? In how many languages? With what puns?
  
  
• Aggravated SHC: See who can set fire to the most winos.
• Simulated SHC: See how hot you can get without combusting.
• Ritual SHC: Throw somebody / yourself into a volcano.
• SHC Craps: Throw dice; whomever craps out, must combust.
• SHC Darts: Throw explosive darts into targeted persons.
  
  
• Political SHC: Make SHC an issue in a political campaign. Attack your competitition for being "soft on combustion". Charge them with collusion with secret combustion committees. Or allege that SHC is a violation of human rights; demand an investigation.
• Economic SHC: Sell SHC products - books / magazines / newsletters; video / audio tapes; games / puzzles; instruction materials; souvenirs: cookie-cutters, candies, candles, do-it-yourself kits, scented oils; decorative matches / lighters; needlepoint / paint / plaster projects; screensavers, etc.
• Religious SHC: Make SHC a part of your worship ceremonies. Encourage self-immolation. Pray for those who succeed / fail at SHC. Devise self-combusting deities / demons. Build a moral code around SHC. Wear / venerate immolation icons. Convert the heathens with fire.
• Artistic SHC: Promote the aesthetics of SHC. Evaluate SHC cases for artistic merit. Produce SHC imagery in various styles: realist, expressionist, impressionist, abstract, post-modern, deco, baroque, pontillist, etc. Produce SHC songs, opera, ballet. Promote self-immolation as performance art.
• Athletic SHC: See who can self-immolate fastest / hardest / hottest, etc. Provoke competitions between self-immolation teams; distinguish between professionals and amateurs. Encourage spectators to combust also.

Note: All references to "self-immolation" above refer to SHC. The self-immolation must be spontaneous. Of course, some combustions are more spontaneous than others. Torching winos does NOT count here.

Your ideas for other SHC games are welcome. Email them to me (click on the mail addresss at the bottom of this page) and receive full credit / blame.