Week 8 Devlog

One of the card games I played in class was Exploding Kittens. Each card game is different in many aspects, from the scenario on the card to the number or color displaying the meaning of the action that needs to be taken. “Its role in the game is both as itself and as whatever information it carries, which can be changed, erased or amended” (Wikipedia). In Exploding Kittens, the card consists of various actions the player must complete to escape the exploding kitten. For example, there are cards that say skip, attack, nope, shuffle, see the future, and defuse. The play space in this game can be anywhere, but preferably at a flat table for the best experience. All players have to be present in the same location. “Card design, both materially and mechanically, assumes local play…” (“The Playing Card Platform”). Exploding Kitten’s deck is comprised of 113 cards that have different actions on them. Each action you draw influences whether a player wins or loses the game. For instance, if a player draws a card that consists of the exploding kitten they are automatically out of the game unless their stack of drawn cards consists of a diffuse card. When the game comes down to two players, the player who does not draw the exploding kitten wins the game. “Winning in such games defers to skill, chance, player stamina, alliances, or other means…” (“The Playing Card Platform”). The theme of Exploding Kittens is all about cats and every card consists of a different cat: from a taco cat to an exploding kitten. 

The card game that my group members and I created is a game that revolves around numbers and the size of dinosaurs. This game consists of 52 playing cards. Each card whether it is a three or ace displays a different type of dinosaur, and the number consists of the size of the dinosaur. For example, if you draw a card with a nine or ten, your dinosaur is large, where if you drew a card with a two, the dinosaur’s size is small. A card can match with the number that is above or below it. If you place a card with a number three, the other players have to place a card on top of the three that is either a two, three, or four. The placed card has to be identical, one number above, or below to the playing card. If the player does not have a card that corresponds with the playing card by number, they must draw another card. The playspace in this game should be in-person played where each player can face one another. “Card players commonly face one another in a shared space, allowing them to read both their cards and one another” (“The Playing Card Platform”). Playing this card game in this play space, allows each player to discuss and collaborate while playing the game. This game has some similarities to Exploding Kittens. Each consists of players drawing cards and placing them down to determine the next action the player takes. 

Altice, Nathan. “The Playing Card Platform.” Analog Game Studies, Vol. 1. Accessed Oct. 16, 2021. 

 “1000 Blank White Cards.” Wikipedia. Accessed Oct. 16, 2021