Project 7: A Hockey Card Game

I vaguely remember from my childhood playing a card game based on a game of hockey. Luckily thanks to the Internet, I've managed to find some record that it existed.

Still I've been kind of inspired to try to create a game out of this. I've had some discussions with some friends over the years and I feel like I want to try to make my own card based hockey game for two players.

Right now I'm not sure how all the pieces will fit together, but my plan is to have a rink between the two players with a puck that can be either in the neutral zone the defensive zone or the offensive zone. One player will play cards to try to move the puck down the ice and get it into the net. The other player will then try to play cards to stop the first player and get hold of the puck on their own. When they do then they switch and play goes the other way. Each card will have a situation in which it can be played,  and will indicate the situation that results after the card has been played.

I'm not sure if I want to create this as a physical artifact or a computer game, but I think for the first testing stages I'm going to create the cards in real life. For my first outing I'm going to do a smaller set of cards and then expand them over time if things are actually working. This will also let me know if this is actually any fun at all.

Given that Table Top Day (March 30) is coming up soon, I'm going to try to see if I can round up some friends who were going to play board games anyway on that day and trick them into doing a little play testing of this first round for me.

Blog: Favorite YouTube Videos (Volume 25)

This volume of my favorite YouTube videos is musical, adventurous, strange and sciencey.

• The first video in this volume is from the FruityUkuladies and is there cover of Israel Kamakawiwoʻole's version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". 
• The next video in this volume is KT Tunstall covering the Jackson 5's "I want you Back".
• Next is a video from Katers17, going adventuring in a hole in England. Watching this video I was reminded of the story of how Shigeru Miyamoto conceived "The Legend of Zelda" based on exploring the woods near his house as a child. 
• Then we see Corey "Mr. Safety" and Katers demonstrating a reversal of an important life lesson.
• Finally, we end on Mr. Charlie McDonnell talking stars.

Blog: Favorite YouTube Videos (Volume 24)

This volume of my favorite youtube videos is a musical one with a little bit of vlog mixed in in the middle. So here we have some inspiration, some angler fish football, some exploding green fellows and some animated felt... (plus the Muppets).

• George Watsky is an incredible voice, poet, rapper and human being. You've probably seen him rapping to a goat. Here, like he often is, he's talking about seizing your dreams and being true to yourself.
• So have I mentioned that the best bits of vlogbrothers is when they're together. Also this is the birth of the Swindon Town Swoodlypoopers (even if they never did manage to play together again).
• The next video is a Minecraft song by CaptainSparklez. It's a parody of Usher's "DJ Got us Fallin' in Love" but way better because it's about creepers.
• I like The Muppets, I like OK Go. Is there any reason not to love the combination? Also, please to enjoy the ending Catapult Nightmares.

Blog: Favorite YouTube Videos (Volume 23)

This volume of my favorite YouTube videos is a little different. This time it's all videos from one source and weirder than that three of the videos have the same song. But I'll tell you that these videos were the ones that inspired me to start posting about my favorite YouTube videos and I've been waiting for this post for a long time.

I don't think I can describe World Order or Genki Sudo. I don't think I can describe their videos, so I suggest you watch them. I can say that I think that they're mind blowing and that their videos are go so far beyond simple dance that they are expressions of human physiology and kinetics.

Please remember to enjoy World Order responsibly and avoid operating heavy machinery for at least an hour after watching.

• The first two videos are both of the same song, the eponymous "World Order", the first in Tokyo and the second in New York. Beyond the group themselves the videos are fascinating for the reaction of the people around them.
• The next video is for the song "Machine Civilization" and here the group's dance is outstanding, mesmerizing and almost incomprehensible. Again it's fascinating to see the reactions they draw from the people around them.
• The third video is for "Boy Meets Girl" and we see what happens when World Order tries to relax for the evening and celebrate their success. 
• The next two videos are a tribute to World Order from a group in Florida. The first is the video they made and the second is the making of which shows just how much work it is for people to perfect the choreography. Again, when you watch it a second time (and I'm sure you will) watch for the reactions of all the people and the kids trying to figure out the moves. I think it's fitting that the tribute gets the same reaction as the original.