When I was a kid growing up on army bases, the most popular game played by kids my age was called "Guns." We would come up to each others' houses, find our friends, and ask them, "Wanna play guns?" And they always would.

Here at the rules for "Guns", as they emerged over a couple of years in my section of barracks:

Players are divided into two teams. The teams are usually, though not always, designated as "US" and "Soviets."

Each player selects a toy gun from the collective neighborhood cache of plastic weapons. It is typically good form to select guns appropriate to one's side (e.g. plastic AK-47 goes to the Soviet side.) Also, the better looking weapons should tend to go to older players.

Each teams counts to 100, during which time each team's players scatter in one of two directions, seeking "cover."

Once the count to 100 is reached, players begin to stealthily make their way back toward the middle.

Players may hide behind any outdoor obstacle, such as a tree, piece of playground equipment, or barracks.

Players may NOT go inside. Doing so is cheating and means you are stupid and don't know anything.

When a player encounters an enemy player, the first player to make shooting sounds while pointing the weapon at the opponent is the victor. The other player must lie down on the ground.

In the quick version of the game, the team with players left standing is the winner. This version is seldom played.

In the long version, "dead" players count to 100 and then re-enter play.

In the "younger sibling" version, players lie on the ground until a teammate arrives to play the "medic" role. The medic pinches a piece of exposed skin and twists it. The “bullet” is thus removed and the patient, who is usually a younger sibling, comes back to life. Older siblings are rarely treated by young-sibling medics, who tend to get punched if they twist too hard.

Failure of a player to die when rules dictate one should means the player is a cheater and is stupid and doesn't know anything.

Whining about the rules means one is a baby and should go play baby games with other babies.

In all but the quick versions of the game, play ends when:

Mutual agreement to end is reached among players (or older siblings.)

Player ranks have diminished due to dinnertime.

Someone who is stupid and doesn't know anything cheats and an actual fight breaks out.