PUN, PUN, PUN

As you probably noticed in the previous issue, the original version of GiocAreA had a strong interest in word games and puns. The name itself of GiocAreA is a game based on words, and GiòCondoR, the dark side of GiocAreA, our section devoted to humour, was named after an Italian cartoon character of the '70s, a "stupid" (Giocondo) condor (giocondo + condor = GioCondoR: 3 capital letters, as in GiocAreA).
We are not sure that we will be able to keep on using all the puns also in this English version: but we were delighted to discover that also our English friends - just like Derek Carver - do love puns... Were you able to solve his "1 2 3 GO X" riddle? Go fo(u)rth and multiply... a very appropriated welcome!
The characteristic of the Italian language allowed for the development of the art of "enigmistica": this art features many different kind of games based on words, sometimes written in a poetic and enigmatic form, and... very difficult to translate unfortunately! The easier ones are usually built around a short poetry with 2 or more missing words, which you must find to “solve” the riddle, words whose correlation is indicated by the name of the game:

CHANGE OF A LETTER
(example: aUto, aLto – a vowel turns into a consonant or vice versa)
His welcome will help me
I think that my xxxxxx in the gaming world
took advantage from Xxxyxx's foreword!

The more complicated ones have no indication of the missing words: that is something similar to the cryptic clues used in English crosswords, but with a further "twist": they involve the presence of a so-called "second subject" hiding and "flavouring" the 2 parts of the riddle... ok, it's too complicated to explain – basically they feature a “title” which is meant to “force” the reader in reading the riddle differently, away from the solution! Sooner or later, we'll try to give you an overview of our "crittografie mnemoniche": in the meantime, we will rely on English catchphrases, and on your... hiiiiiiii! (DDG)