So it’s Halloween 2012. I’ve mentioned this on some other PNP sites: I plan to re-start the Game of the Month in January 2013. That’s a happy thing. Two games are in the pipe for publication – one as a board game, one as an iOS game. They’ll be my 4th and 5th published games. That’s a happy thing too.
So, games… For the past few years, I’ve kicked around an idea: I want to make a print-and-play game that you could give out to kids on Halloween. My design restrictions:
- Must be Halloween-y
- Must not require a randomizer that a typical trick-or-treater does not have. Using a die or a Poker deck is not valid.
- Must be kid-friendly.
- Must fit on one sheet of 8.5 × 11 paper. Double-sided is okay.
Then, because I wanted it, I added the following:
- Players must “ante up” candy. If I win, I get the candy you anted up. If you win, you get the candy I put up.
- Modularity: There are many different game boards or components, creating many different interactions.
The game I have so far meets a lot of these requirements. I’m most concerned about the complexity of the rules. I think a 12-year old can play it, but I’m not so sure about a 7-year old. The premise of the game is classic monsters fighting. (Yes, I know that conflict is an easy out.). Each sheet has the rules on one side, then a play sheet on the other side. Each monster has special powers. The really good ones require you to give candy to your opponent to activate.
I’m writing this from my iPad or I’d upload the game and link to it now. As it is, you’ll have to be patient. Perhaps I’ll put up a beta version in the near future. If I recall correctly, there are 8 different monsters with fairly distinctive play styles…
Happy Halloween!
— Jonathan A Leistiko :: gaming : novelties
[1]
Howdy! I’ll be presenting on how to use practical philosophical tools to make better games (The same speech I gave at CTXNA in mid-November) at Nerd Nite Austin on December 7th. The other speakers will be presenting on Magic and Balloon Twisting.
— Jonathan A Leistiko :: gaming : thought
[1]
Protospiel South 2010 was a huge success. We filled our 66-person room to capacity and had a ton of fun. That’s why we’re doing it again in 2011! Guarantee your space and help us plan: Register for Protospiel South 2011 today!
Protospiel South 2011
May 28th and 29th
Austin, TX
Friday, May 27: Casual meet ‘n greet at Rudy’s on 183 @ 7:30 PM.
Saturday, May 28: 9 AM to 10 PM
Sunday: May 29: 9 AM to 10 PM
Location: We’ll be at the same hotel we were at last year: The Best Western Atrium North at 7928 Gessner Drive Austin, TX 78753-6506 (Phone: (512) 339-7311). A Burger Tex and a Red Lobster are within walking distance, and many food options are a very short drive away (a sushi place, Carraba’s, Souper Salad, etc..), including The Black Star Co-Op – a great local brewery/restaurant.
What’s Protospiel South All About?
In the spirit of Protospiel, Protospiel South is a gathering for amateur and established game designers to test and promote nearly-finished game prototypes. The atmosphere is casual, yet everyone is serious about their goals and dreams of publishing games.
Looking for more? You can learn more about Protospiel South, register for Protospiel South , and discuss Protospiel South with the organizers and other people.
I look forward to seeing y’all there!
— Jonathan A Leistiko :: gaming : action
I as reading the forums over at The Board Game Designers Forum when I spotted a post about a Board Game Jam in Toronto.
It’s exactly the kind of thing I like to to. If I could attend, I totally would. As you may or may not know, I used to run a “Gamestorming” event at (the now defunct) ProtoCon at TX A&M. We’d start with nothing and we’d make up as much of a game as we could in one hour. I’d take what we came up with and do the little bit of extra work needed to finish the game, and put it up as a free print-and-play in the Games District.
Sadly, I only got to run two gamestorms before ProtoCon stopped. The first gamestorm produced Cetacean Ascension Moonbase 8. The second gamestorm produced Divine Nuke Wrath.
My point? Bringing a game from zero to finished in a short period of time is tons of fun! I sincerely envy anyone who gets to go to the Board Game Jam. If you’re close enough to go, and you don’t, do me a favor and kick yourself in the shin for me? Thanks so much.
Board Game Jam is happening Jan 29th and 30th. Registration starts at 8:30 AM on Saturday. It’s taking place at George Brown College on Saturday and Sunday.
— Jonathan A Leistiko :: gaming
[1]
Speed, reflexes, and strategy in a den of digital vipers.
Grid Snakes is a quick-playing game with some real-world dexterity elements for two, four, or six players (with variant rules for three, five, and seven to twelve players). You’re a digital snake, trapped in an arena with several other snakes. As you move, you leave body segments behind you. Your goal is to eliminate your opponents by forcing your opponents to crash into the edge of the board or and section of any other player.
Grid Snakes uses a large and a small custom board, several small (eight cards)custom decks of cards, some nickels or quarters, and a lot of colored glass beads (or other small tokens). The rules and cards are available at: http://www.invisible-city.com/file_download/165/
Grid Snakes has fairly simple rules, but requires quick decision making and planning. Grid Snakes is appropriate for ages 12 and up. If you eliminate the timer, you could probably play this game with slightly younger children. If you allow multiple attempts on reflex challenges, you could go even younger. A four-player game takes 30 minutes or fewer to play. A six-player game takes 40 minutes or fewer.
— Jonathan A Leistiko :: gaming
[1]
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January Game of the Month:
So it’s Halloween 2012. I’ve mentioned this on some other PNP sites: I plan to re-start the Game of the Month in January 2013. That’s a happy thing. Two games are in the pipe for publication – one as a board game, one as an iOS game. They’ll be my 4th and 5th published games. That’s a happy thing too.
So, games… For the past few years, I’ve kicked around an idea: I want to make a print-and-play game that you could give out to kids on Halloween. My design restrictions:
- Must be Halloween-y
- Must not require a randomizer that a typical trick-or-treater does not have. Using a die or a Poker deck is not valid.
- Must be kid-friendly.
- Must fit on one sheet of 8.5 × 11 paper. Double-sided is okay.
Then, because I wanted it, I added the following:
- Players must “ante up” candy. If I win, I get the candy you anted up. If you win, you get the candy I put up.
- Modularity: There are many different game boards or components, creating many different interactions.
The game I have so far meets a lot of these requirements. I’m most concerned about the complexity of the rules. I think a 12-year old can play it, but I’m not so sure about a 7-year old. The premise of the game is classic monsters fighting. (Yes, I know that conflict is an easy out.). Each sheet has the rules on one side, then a play sheet on the other side. Each monster has special powers. The really good ones require you to give candy to your opponent to activate.
I’m writing this from my iPad or I’d upload the game and link to it now. As it is, you’ll have to be patient. Perhaps I’ll put up a beta version in the near future. If I recall correctly, there are 8 different monsters with fairly distinctive play styles…
Happy Halloween!
— Jonathan A Leistiko :: gaming : novelties
[1]
Howdy! I’ll be presenting on how to use practical philosophical tools to make better games (The same speech I gave at CTXNA in mid-November) at Nerd Nite Austin on December 7th. The other speakers will be presenting on Magic and Balloon Twisting.
— Jonathan A Leistiko :: gaming : thought
[1]
Protospiel South 2010 was a huge success. We filled our 66-person room to capacity and had a ton of fun. That’s why we’re doing it again in 2011! Guarantee your space and help us plan: Register for Protospiel South 2011 today!
Protospiel South 2011
May 28th and 29th
Austin, TX
Friday, May 27: Casual meet ‘n greet at Rudy’s on 183 @ 7:30 PM.
Saturday, May 28: 9 AM to 10 PM
Sunday: May 29: 9 AM to 10 PM
Location: We’ll be at the same hotel we were at last year: The Best Western Atrium North at 7928 Gessner Drive Austin, TX 78753-6506 (Phone: (512) 339-7311). A Burger Tex and a Red Lobster are within walking distance, and many food options are a very short drive away (a sushi place, Carraba’s, Souper Salad, etc..), including The Black Star Co-Op – a great local brewery/restaurant.
What’s Protospiel South All About?
In the spirit of Protospiel, Protospiel South is a gathering for amateur and established game designers to test and promote nearly-finished game prototypes. The atmosphere is casual, yet everyone is serious about their goals and dreams of publishing games.
Looking for more? You can learn more about Protospiel South, register for Protospiel South , and discuss Protospiel South with the organizers and other people.
I look forward to seeing y’all there!
— Jonathan A Leistiko :: gaming : action
I as reading the forums over at The Board Game Designers Forum when I spotted a post about a Board Game Jam in Toronto.
It’s exactly the kind of thing I like to to. If I could attend, I totally would. As you may or may not know, I used to run a “Gamestorming” event at (the now defunct) ProtoCon at TX A&M. We’d start with nothing and we’d make up as much of a game as we could in one hour. I’d take what we came up with and do the little bit of extra work needed to finish the game, and put it up as a free print-and-play in the Games District.
Sadly, I only got to run two gamestorms before ProtoCon stopped. The first gamestorm produced Cetacean Ascension Moonbase 8. The second gamestorm produced Divine Nuke Wrath.
My point? Bringing a game from zero to finished in a short period of time is tons of fun! I sincerely envy anyone who gets to go to the Board Game Jam. If you’re close enough to go, and you don’t, do me a favor and kick yourself in the shin for me? Thanks so much.
Board Game Jam is happening Jan 29th and 30th. Registration starts at 8:30 AM on Saturday. It’s taking place at George Brown College on Saturday and Sunday.
— Jonathan A Leistiko :: gaming
[1]
Speed, reflexes, and strategy in a den of digital vipers.
Grid Snakes is a quick-playing game with some real-world dexterity elements for two, four, or six players (with variant rules for three, five, and seven to twelve players). You’re a digital snake, trapped in an arena with several other snakes. As you move, you leave body segments behind you. Your goal is to eliminate your opponents by forcing your opponents to crash into the edge of the board or and section of any other player.
Grid Snakes uses a large and a small custom board, several small (eight cards)custom decks of cards, some nickels or quarters, and a lot of colored glass beads (or other small tokens). The rules and cards are available at: http://www.invisible-city.com/file_download/165/
Grid Snakes has fairly simple rules, but requires quick decision making and planning. Grid Snakes is appropriate for ages 12 and up. If you eliminate the timer, you could probably play this game with slightly younger children. If you allow multiple attempts on reflex challenges, you could go even younger. A four-player game takes 30 minutes or fewer to play. A six-player game takes 40 minutes or fewer.
— Jonathan A Leistiko :: gaming
[1]
Invisible City Productions is a collective of game designers, writers, and artists who provide this as a space for the creators of secret media to come together and touch antennae.