pocketgame

pocketgame http://pocketgame.posterous.com pocketgame blog | The Game Creation Challenge from Cadbury posterous.com Fri, 22 Jul 2011 06:46:49 -0700 Egg-A-Thon: Our Finished Pocket Game http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pocketgame/~3/78d2lpG66Xs/egg-a-thon-our-finished-pocket-game http://pocketgame.posterous.com/egg-a-thon-our-finished-pocket-game <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-07-22/tIIDfdahxrlalBnFwwBAniJbxlvpxwfzpAGInlEBJgwkgJhvFaBbBnlJbzsk/Eggathon_game_open_cut-out.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Eggathon_game_open_cut-out" height="332" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-07-22/tIIDfdahxrlalBnFwwBAniJbxlvpxwfzpAGInlEBJgwkgJhvFaBbBnlJbzsk/Eggathon_game_open_cut-out.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-07-22/oJsqdzGseJvxaJCbvElrymhwanljdennulalzsjetAimjvBgvkramBGmifuz/Eggathon_game_closed_cut-out.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Eggathon_game_closed_cut-out" height="332" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-07-22/oJsqdzGseJvxaJCbvElrymhwanljdennulalzsjetAimjvBgvkramBGmifuz/Eggathon_game_closed_cut-out.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-07-22/alxrvdfgscpJeEFEqBtJzqDGaDkEbezyivegahdsCjIfBbvvqdJzyghnsfzn/Eggathon_Matterbox_open_cut-out.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Eggathon_matterbox_open_cut-out" height="332" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-07-22/alxrvdfgscpJeEFEqBtJzqDGaDkEbezyivegahdsCjIfBbvvqdJzyghnsfzn/Eggathon_Matterbox_open_cut-out.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-07-22/dwuEhwrbGDFouepwwqlFbngDGmGExufJhwAqhasmEgGnbhfxecnAhEpcJulq/Eggathon_Matterbox_label_cut-out.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Eggathon_matterbox_label_cut-out" height="332" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-07-22/dwuEhwrbGDFouepwwqlFbngDGmGExufJhwAqhasmEgGnbhfxecnAhEpcJulq/Eggathon_Matterbox_label_cut-out.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/egg-a-thon-our-finished-pocket-game">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p> <p>If you've followed us right from the beginning of our Pocket Game story you may be excited (and even surprised?!) to learn that the end of our journey is in sight. As we speak the final 'Egg-A-Thon' boxes are rolling off our production line, giving a new and playful life to old cereal boxes across the country.</p> <p>Egg-A-Thon beat Flick Racer in our public test/vote last year, having been selected over dozens of other entries by our panel of judges. Working with winning inventor Sally we've dotted the 'i's and crossed the 't's of her design (through some intensive play testing!) to produce the final, colourful, version pictured here.</p> <p>The final chapter of the story though will once again be written by you guys - Matterbox subscribers and those of you who followed our link to apply for a box before. We've written basic rules for the games but we want you to add to those: to come up with uses for the new orange cone pieces, to tweak the gameplay or to come up with completely new ways of playing.</p> <p>We'll be sending out tens of thousands of the games at the end of next week; if you're one of the lucky recipients then be sure to head to the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/cadburyspots">Spots</a> or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/cadburystripes">Stripes</a> Facebook pages to share your rule ideas for the chance to win a Cadbury hamper!</p> </p> <p><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/egg-a-thon-our-finished-pocket-game">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/egg-a-thon-our-finished-pocket-game#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Pocketgame/~4/78d2lpG66Xs" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/5AvEuIoYecj7 jdaykin jdaykin http://pocketgame.posterous.com/egg-a-thon-our-finished-pocket-game Mon, 23 May 2011 04:02:06 -0700 Our film - the Story of Pocketgame http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pocketgame/~3/v94c7ZcRvQE/our-film-the-story-of-pocketgame http://pocketgame.posterous.com/our-film-the-story-of-pocketgame <p> <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GjdgR_E_N3M?wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe><p />We've put together a little film of the pocketgame story, where we talk to Sally, James, some of our judges and some recipients too. We hope you enjoy it, please do pass it on.<p /> We'll soon have details on how you can get your hands on a final version of the winning game too. </p> <p><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/our-film-the-story-of-pocketgame">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/our-film-the-story-of-pocketgame#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Pocketgame/~4/v94c7ZcRvQE" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/962094/willsh_skulking.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5ALJ4m0SiSch John V Willshire Willsh John V Willshire http://pocketgame.posterous.com/our-film-the-story-of-pocketgame Thu, 21 Apr 2011 04:15:00 -0700 Right then... who wants a pocketgame..? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pocketgame/~3/dRtXiB6Alh4/right-then-who-wants-a-pocketgame http://pocketgame.posterous.com/right-then-who-wants-a-pocketgame <p> <p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7s8OfHl36YU?wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe></p> <p /> <div>Would you like a chance to get your hands on a final version of Egg-a-thon?</div> <p /> <div>Well, we're giving the first 5,000 away to people who say "<strong>me, please, oh ME ME ME</strong>" on the Spots & Stripes facebook pages...</div> <p /> <div>UPDATE - you actually have to fill in the proper form on the Facebook page... Sorry for misdirecting you in my enthusiasm...</div> <p /> <div>...if you're a Stripe, go here - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/cadburystripes">http://www.facebook.com/cadburystripes</a></div> <p /> <div>...and if you're a Spot, go here - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/cadburyspots">http://www.facebook.com/cadburyspots</a></div> <p /> <div>I'd be quick about it, if I were you...</div> </p> <p><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/right-then-who-wants-a-pocketgame">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/right-then-who-wants-a-pocketgame#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Pocketgame/~4/dRtXiB6Alh4" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/962094/willsh_skulking.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5ALJ4m0SiSch John V Willshire Willsh John V Willshire http://pocketgame.posterous.com/right-then-who-wants-a-pocketgame Thu, 21 Apr 2011 01:07:00 -0700 Egg-a-thon's Easter greetings... do you see what we've done there? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pocketgame/~3/xEJbma-GEAc/egg-a-thons-easter-greetings-do-you-see-what http://pocketgame.posterous.com/egg-a-thons-easter-greetings-do-you-see-what <p> <p>Hello there, Pocketgame lovers</p> <p /> <div>It seemed most fitting that we update you with the progress of our winning pocketgame, Egg-a-thon, on this most eggy of weekends.  It's all very eggciting, but we think we're in an eggcellent place...</div> <p /> <div>No, I'm sorry, I'll stop it with the egg puns.  </div> <p /> <div>As the French would say, <em>une oeuf</em>  is <em>une oeuf</em>...</div> <p /> <div>....</div> <p /> <div>...yes, I know.  </div> <p /> <div>But really, that's an end to it.</div> <p /> <div>Let me distract you with a recap... </div> <p /> <div>You'll remember back in January we were delighted to announce that <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/eggnog27">Sally Manning</a> had won the pocketgame competition.</div> <p /> <div>We'd sent 12,000 people a lovely Matterbox with two prototypes of the games chosen by the public as the best from all the 10 shortlisted by a crack team of judges.</div> <p /> <div>There was Egg-a-thon, by Sally, and Flick Racer by <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/jameswallis">James Wallis</a>:</div> <p /> <div><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Matterbox_exploded2" height="438" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/ZPFrD93q9oWfXnepv4xLavMqhyevt2YdF26XUeGev8thU63oaKp46CkHh7Fi/matterbox_exploded2.jpg" width="434" /> </div> </div> <p /> <div>Not, not only did these people choose Egg-a-thon as the winner, but we were lucky enough that they wanted to tell us all about it... </div> <p /> <div>....we were inundated with ideas and suggestions from the people who playtested both games on how they could be improved.</div> <p /> <div>So one evening last month, a gang of us from Cadbury & PHD, and of course Sally herself, got together over pizza and lemonade to test out lots of different rule variations...</div> <p /> <div>...use of different objects, strategies, rulesets and so on.</div> <p /> <div><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/29TD47mKaUodHUZgYGuoGfYludJXT6fsl6gIRnrxxNMdnsIpqPW2ninLKLWs/testing_1.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Testing_1" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/YHKB2amVm4yFV5zfR4tDvjHSt9PpNSIvIyptomcd2MDfxHUdaxGsH2gK4RuX/testing_1.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/UVbcdpMxA4CGRAvgd1RyEjyTy5w1OC2LvZMetUn0UbAG0luXGxVXApHzAKpz/testing_2.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Testing_2" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/HhyTIbL0q3h0pdIekKESSYgr7YJeaG3VmRPmcuigm2acvHimGqqceqV4PYC3/testing_2.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/QmCs7FQSNtrVtpBtIvzcjSaWySl3nk5jBkqR0iACMZqTNfRLZAypOQXCXZQD/testing_3.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Testing_3" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/Vp8M9OH4qp5zoI11GDGy3GLcdZcNm89NrbemDR1z7BgHCCIDChj8tMEAMgTR/testing_3.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/egg-a-thons-easter-greetings-do-you-see-what">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </div> <p /> <p /> <div>We played and played and played... as Spots and Stripes teams of course.  As a Spot, I don't really want to say who won...</div> <p /> <div><em>...ahem, anyway, moving swiftly on...</em></div> <p /> <div>We also looked at how we'd improve the look, feel and durability of the game for the final version.</div> <p /> <div>Whilst we were firm in our resolve to maintain the strict sustainable / recycled ethos around the manufacture of pocketgames, we also wanted to make something with longevity, something that people can keep playing, and keep, for a long time.  </div> <p /> <div>We think we've come up with something that's pretty perfect, which you'll see in coming weeks.</div> <p /> <div>We've also started evolving the look... trying to match some of the fun of Sally's original design with the style and design of the prototype.  </div> <p /> <div>I probably shouldn't post this, as I drew it with felt tips in five minutes flat the morning after, but it's in the spirit of what we're looking to achieve; playful and character driven without being too childish...</div> <p /> <div><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/seA8a2iPdjHxNnogNXIERmm1oFr90zxKldEYOF7CusB8X3wVY6DB063JhHEm/sketch.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Sketch" height="373" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/7bShHxllHWP7TyFFvGcrkvqdnygS3RbcpezixsoG3VaT0ysbecpCtzfBMClm/sketch.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </div> <p /> <p /> <div>I know, laugh away.  My eighteen month year old son could do better.  I'm lowering your expectations, clearly, so when you see the finished one, you'll think 'wow...'</div> <p /> <p /> <div>Finally, we're throwing some 'wildcards' into the box too.  I'm not going to spoil the surprise of what they are just yet, I'll save that for another day.  </div> <p /> <div>But put it this way, if you're lucky enough to get a final version, it's something that'll let you experiment with a little game design of your own.</div> <p /> <p /> <div>So, I have to say, all in all we're pretty excited.  And all this before we've seen a final version.  There's one question you're probably asking though...</div> <p /> <div><strong><em>How do I get my hands on a final version of Egg-a-thon???</em></strong></div> <p /> <div>Well, <strong>keep an eye on this site today</strong>, and the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/cadburyspots">Spots</a> or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/cadburystripes">Stripes</a> facebook pages (depending on which side you're on)</div> <p /> <div>Be prepared to act fast... :)</div> <p /> <p /> <p /> <p /> <p /> <p> </p> <p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/egg-a-thons-easter-greetings-do-you-see-what">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/egg-a-thons-easter-greetings-do-you-see-what#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Pocketgame/~4/xEJbma-GEAc" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/962094/willsh_skulking.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5ALJ4m0SiSch John V Willshire Willsh John V Willshire http://pocketgame.posterous.com/egg-a-thons-easter-greetings-do-you-see-what Fri, 11 Feb 2011 04:35:00 -0800 Ladies and Gentlemen... our pocketgame winner is.... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pocketgame/~3/3r8caPWXwWw/ladies-and-gentlemen-our-pocketgame-winner-is http://pocketgame.posterous.com/ladies-and-gentlemen-our-pocketgame-winner-is <p> So then, here we are... the votes have been counted, the tension is mounting... <p /><div>...who is the winner of the inaugural Cadbury Spots V Stripes Pocketgame Memorial Ashes Rowse Cup?</div><p /><div><i>(ok, that's not actually the name, but it sounds  good, doesn't it?)</i></div><p /><p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/EAHeND29gR34Qtmew1ZDJDP6emCY8gQCOzA3F2PXtcMdM4r3wnAe7NNdeKI2/James_Sally.jpg"><img alt="James_sally" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/O14BSOWW6KEe8Q3t16Vye7ewnOtkveQ9uMqtdFtDWh9HIZuh4RJS8bE5o900/James_Sally.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p><p></p><p /><p /><p /><div>Is it James Wallis, designer of finger-to-the-pavement racing extravaganza Flick Racer?</div><p /><p /><p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/19BhNvNkNC3koJieDJYOBznYmHab5Uq34FWU6uMATO36lSX3gOuHqoY0qwGD/playing_Flick_Racer.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Playing_flick_racer" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/h9ZnJ02Z9FgpRzMnoRisk3aP56Ai8Z6ra5QU1hu52J5NBR7tDIUpp9CcDaE3/playing_Flick_Racer.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p><p></p><p /><p /><p /><p /><div>Or is it Sally Manning, inventor of the utterly eggcellent Egg-a-thon?</div><p /><p /><p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/6l0JtkgQ6jVSZG0Q5rRwjeC9pk2CIuVgAHpVcN15BqyMIg71FBcU6Vbs9WEC/playing_egg-a-thon.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Playing_egg-a-thon" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/AvtL69bKaJx92Vb3n8m5pIUiR1B3ykdsq5J62SX1egZyyVKIoCByRq5R4a6B/playing_egg-a-thon.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p><p></p><p /><p /><p /><div>Crumbs, the tension's getting to me... and I know already.  </div><p /><div>Which means I should probably tell you...</div><p /><div>...that...</div><p /><p /><div>...the winner...</div><p /><p /><div>...is.......</div><p /><p /><p /><p /><p /><div><b>....SALLY MANNING WITH EGG-A-THON!!!!</b></div><p /><div><i>(Cue trumpets, fanfares, marching bands)</i></div><p /><p /><div>A massive congratulations to Sally, and a big old 'nearly, chap' punch on the arm to James.  There was huge love for both games in the comments we had back from everyone, and of course we were delighted with both of them.  But there has to be a winner, and it's Egg-a-thon.  How eggciting!</div><p /><div><i>(I will miss the egg puns, I must say)</i></div><p /><p /><div>Anyway, on behalf on everyone at Cadbury, Matterbox, Eyeka and PHD who've worked on Pocketgame over the last six months, I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who's taken part, written and said nice things about us, played the games and told us what they think, came along to judge the shortlist, or even just read these ramblings every so often at lunch.</div><p /><div>What's next?</div><p /><div>Well, we're heading back into the 'making things' state; investigations have already begun into exactly what form we make Egg-a-thon in (and the possibilities are very exciting, let me tell you).  And we may even look to make more of Flick Racer in some form too, if you are very lucky people.</div><p /><div>So keep 'em peeled for more updates.</div><p /><div><b><i>But until then, three cheers for Sally Manning, Pocketgame Champion 2010!!</i></b></div> </p> <p><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/ladies-and-gentlemen-our-pocketgame-winner-is">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/ladies-and-gentlemen-our-pocketgame-winner-is#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Pocketgame/~4/3r8caPWXwWw" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/962094/willsh_skulking.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5ALJ4m0SiSch John V Willshire Willsh John V Willshire http://pocketgame.posterous.com/ladies-and-gentlemen-our-pocketgame-winner-is Tue, 08 Feb 2011 04:29:00 -0800 Spot vs. Stripes vs. Bloggers? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pocketgame/~3/Kd3F_j4ZsXc/spot-vs-stripes-vs-bloggers http://pocketgame.posterous.com/spot-vs-stripes-vs-bloggers <p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Hello Pocketgamers!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Happy 2011 – we hope the transition up a digit on the old Gregorian day chart hasn’t adversely effected anyone too much. And we’ve all avoided the trials of (statistically speaking) the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2Fnews%2Farticle-1347848%2FBlue-Monday-Today-depressing-year.html&h=8e7fc"><span style="color: blue;">most depressing day of the year</span></a> (17<sup>th</sup> January fact fans!) and we’re pushing headlong through February - Spring, blooming flowers and blooming bunnies. (literally, blooming bunnies – all over the place, thousands of 'em!)</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 10pt;"></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">But February also brings a rather exciting <strong>new chapter</strong> for <a href="http://www.spotsvstripes.com/"><span style="color: purple;">Spots Vs. Stripes</span></a> – all a bit hush-hush for the moment; but an important part of this project is going to be you Pocketgame fans. We’re looking to hear from you keen bloggers! Be it game design, play, history, production – or chocolate lovers, afficionados, or just the competitive sort. We want you to get involved in the next project, and there’s plenty up for grabs – from copious amounts of chocolate, to some VERY desirable prizes. There will be a London based event as part of this, so you'll have to be able to get down here for that part of the proceedings, so shout if your a Londoner - but anybody can apply. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Post <strong>your own blog </strong>link, or <strong>nominate</strong> a favourite or a friend – either </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 10pt;"></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p> <p style=""><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">-          <strong>post</strong> <strong>a link</strong> on the comments section below</span></p> <p style=""><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">-          <strong>tweet</strong> it @cam_guin</span></p> <p style=""><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">-          <strong>email</strong> <a href="mailto:cadburypocketgame@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue;">cadburypocketgame@gmail.com</span></a></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Just make sure there’s a contact section so we can get in touch with you!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 10pt;"></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; color: black; font-size: 10pt;">Chris (@cam_guin)</span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p> <p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/spot-vs-stripes-vs-bloggers">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/spot-vs-stripes-vs-bloggers#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Pocketgame/~4/Kd3F_j4ZsXc" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/828625/IMG00067-20100812-1119.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4TeULjUDw4Tf Christopher Price supervga Christopher Price http://pocketgame.posterous.com/spot-vs-stripes-vs-bloggers Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:44:03 -0800 Pocketgame... your feedback http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pocketgame/~3/5_9N_6s87Fw/pocketgame-your-feedback http://pocketgame.posterous.com/pocketgame-your-feedback <p> Well hello there. As you'll remember, the voting for pocketgame was extended slightly, into the middle of January. All that snow and the Christmas post didn't really help us get all the boxes out on time. <p /> But yes, the voting is closed... we'll be announcing who it is... next week. Yes I know, we're such teases. <p /> But until then, we took all the hundreds and hundreds of comments you sent us about the games, and ran them through Wordle... the more times the word is mentioned, then the bigger it is in the Wordle. <p /> And you seem to have had a lot of fun...<p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/xs2JN4EVBxHGWbD52O1NAuE9vtID6Yv8nlgqSFync4RbEIiBhf6c1pwD5HHg/PastedGraphic-1.png"><img alt="Pastedgraphic-1" height="313" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/GWvxSNdNatBcf6Y6H3kzjODVY85OndLYoCXASVCHsTrFzTmxMS6Jk5vO1Gxg/PastedGraphic-1.png.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/pocketgame-your-feedback">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/pocketgame-your-feedback#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Pocketgame/~4/5_9N_6s87Fw" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/962094/willsh_skulking.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5ALJ4m0SiSch John V Willshire Willsh John V Willshire http://pocketgame.posterous.com/pocketgame-your-feedback Fri, 24 Dec 2010 03:06:23 -0800 Winter variations and a Merry Christmas http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pocketgame/~3/I_0MRTTy1uw/winter-variations-and-a-merry-christmas http://pocketgame.posterous.com/winter-variations-and-a-merry-christmas <p> Hello there, pocketgamers<p /><div>Hasn't all this snowy weather been exciting?  Well, I say exciting... besides all the travel hiccups, it's done two things to the great put-pocketgames-in-a-matterbox-and-send-them-to-people experiment.  Firstly, it's made the boxes arrive a little late in places... they've been taking up to and over two weeks, it seems.  </div><p /><div>Hopefully everyone should have theirs by now, but if not, please contact us and we'll sort it out.</div><p /><div>Secondly, it's made it very hard to playtest Flick Racer properly, as a few of you have mentioned in the voting feedback...</div><p /><p /><p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/z8o1d6AqIHBArinct3sXe18dWRGDvyP5t4eYt7a9saVvgaO5wCQRyLdNtsqH/pocketgame_winter.jpg"><img alt="Pocketgame_winter" height="393" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/lxeo69Q5O5Xd2adbtVICo80F1L5ZHLwAeOzAu7oEezsh76WooOVEHkrOlRsO/pocketgame_winter.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p><p></p><p /><p /><p /><div>...so James, Flick Racer inventor, has come up with a few indoor variations you can try inside where it's snug and warm...</div><p /><p /><div><b>* On the floor of the office or at home, use bits of coloured Sellotape (it is Christmas after all) to mark out a track. Don't waste a whole roll--use small strips to make slalom-style gates that each car has to pass through.<p />* Or outline a course with string. Again, use tape to stick it down in places.<p />* Or unroll 2-3 metres of paper from a big roll of wrapping paper and draw your track on the plain side of that. This works best to give a racing surface on rugs or carpeted floors.<p />* For an alternate, more challenging game, make a sequence of narrow tunnels using Christmas cards and see who can be first to flick their counters through them and across a finish-line.<p />* Or use the furniture that's already there. Have a floor-race around a table's legs. Put down a couple of books or boxes to make interesting obstacles. Improvise!<p />* If you're in a cafe or restaurant, use salt from the salt-cellar to draw a track on the table while you wait for your order to arrive. If this annoys your server, tell them they should have been quicker with the food.</b></div><p /><p /><div>Anyway, Merry Christmas from all of us on the Spots V Stripes Pocketgame team, and from our fantastic two finalists James & Sally... </div><p /><p /><p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/HrcEkJSYfY8Q37uNuYluSwXlmbAWpbXZfGAzaMygwoKCynvQnldhjAuetCNq/James_Sally_Xmas.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="James_sally_xmas" height="348" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/QSdOz1i7KCq2gYLK4Z4lEdYIqr5Hv8B8lHBbMnjsfOgDxDSMZuOeC2ctQque/James_Sally_Xmas.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p><p></p><p /><p /><p /><div><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">...have a wonderful festive season, everyone, and we'll see you in the new year to announce our winner.</span></b></div><p /><div>Ho ho ho... and all that :)</div> </p> <p><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/winter-variations-and-a-merry-christmas">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/winter-variations-and-a-merry-christmas#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Pocketgame/~4/I_0MRTTy1uw" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/962094/willsh_skulking.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5ALJ4m0SiSch John V Willshire Willsh John V Willshire http://pocketgame.posterous.com/winter-variations-and-a-merry-christmas Wed, 15 Dec 2010 07:31:25 -0800 The Matterboxes Are Landing... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pocketgame/~3/PjrwVwZk54A/the-matterboxes-are-landing http://pocketgame.posterous.com/the-matterboxes-are-landing <p> There's great excitement at Spots V Stripes HQ... we've seen lots of Matterboxes arriving through people's doors, and the first thing a lot of folk seem to do is photograph them...<p /><div>...here's just a few that we've seen so far:</div><p /><p /><div><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/rt2ruLW7Jb4j5URigIWCcdPlK9MLnI8bIzWhxnyRyF5OTmWu9Ukiea21AVcE/neiltheneil.jpg"><img alt="Neiltheneil" height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/uiH4eZXKOmCTP5gZXTDjXDo71gBuH049YXAQmjBU6TLDOkKqNjaVlUsEP277/neiltheneil.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </div><p /><div>...from <a href="http://twitter.com/neiltheneil">@neiltheneil</a></div><p /><p /><p /><div><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/oh6APh3tim799NlRbQepn4bBwlnDm38DShqlrhDlQPWSktdWmKUNyZAkVON5/andrew_hoffi.jpg"><img alt="Andrew_hoffi" height="373" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/WF8GMIqTA5kUWoZ5An18NFkFTUr5rE86l4pKKG75R6W5DNwuawAJ7uqnbsrr/andrew_hoffi.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </div><p /><div>...from <a href="http://twitter.com/andrew_hoffi">@andrew_hoff</a>i</div><p /><p /><p /><div><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/rvEmAPLGavvykZzCBu6JRArkmYFhRqfhDw2hv1yw5y5TvaJU7fZkA7Br2Luh/hardillb.png"><img alt="Hardillb" height="344" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/DD7DbDqHrRpQT34XM6epEfMWTGnWSmtm8Z0LYZiyo0yYXe262bpVXos0FIc3/hardillb.png.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </div><p /><p /><div>...from <a href="http://twitter.com/hardillb">@hardillb</a></div><p /><p /><p /><p /><div><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/a0P3JNJacZAZPtkUZYI5AzsiVlMSo9dCXa3Klm9HjMhtZBnt7CEegcopuRhB/gemma_T.png"><img alt="Gemma_t" height="361" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/3ETveh4DGPecmjIZpeiTdBl3ctFiLYBvzDcc3PTGY7CxK0bBysVhn9jdEKG3/gemma_T.png.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </div><p /><p /><div>...from <a href="http://twitter.com/gemma_T">@gemma_t</a></div><p /><p /><p /><p /><div><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/FvuBJLkANWfMYPewoOzmVxrinWNDW54k7UgLSAS8EmXSBLqHWNhKeHQR1Dd5/Daftks.png"><img alt="Daftks" height="499" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/5hlXcD0JspEwOTxXXQhzT5oRN5o4iTAuUAjxrAqke9YZpq2sTv5Kz3sD95XH/Daftks.png.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </div><p /><div>...from <a href="http://twitter.com/daftks">@daftks</a></div> </p> <p><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/the-matterboxes-are-landing">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/the-matterboxes-are-landing#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Pocketgame/~4/PjrwVwZk54A" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/962094/willsh_skulking.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5ALJ4m0SiSch John V Willshire Willsh John V Willshire http://pocketgame.posterous.com/the-matterboxes-are-landing Wed, 01 Dec 2010 08:45:17 -0800 Here is a box, a gamesical box... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pocketgame/~3/oy8sSz4YTOg/here-is-a-box-a-gamesical-box http://pocketgame.posterous.com/here-is-a-box-a-gamesical-box <p> Last night I saw the very first Spots V Stripes Matterbox... it is a wonderful thing:<p /><div><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Matter_box1" height="550" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/OoQ2kf6ID20Ai0Yr7d9USzeRjw36k9lTAbsGgZMNPg1ng3TQglXLz5Y3QqXE/matter_box1.jpg" width="434" /> </div> </div><div>I especially love the way it opens... it splits across the top, around the letters of 'matter':</div><p /><div><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Matterbox_exploded2" height="438" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/R2Eqi4CAKeUQ77TvMkIHo541SVQ1Peo4dpLWAxhTeV8SooJ84t0WIsjDbEk5/matterbox_exploded2.png" width="434" /> </div> </div><div>It kind of reminds me of the beginning of Camberwick Green</div><p /><div><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KAD-DgL2bdk" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe> </div><p /><p /><div>Anyway, the first few will be heading out the door any day now, snow allowing and so on.  We think everyone should have them within the week though.  It's like Christmas come early... though of course not that early, it's pretty close now.  Better get that list posted to Santa, eh?</div> </p> <p><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/here-is-a-box-a-gamesical-box">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/here-is-a-box-a-gamesical-box#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Pocketgame/~4/oy8sSz4YTOg" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/962094/willsh_skulking.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5ALJ4m0SiSch John V Willshire Willsh John V Willshire http://pocketgame.posterous.com/here-is-a-box-a-gamesical-box Mon, 01 Nov 2010 01:16:00 -0700 The Egg-a-thon strategies http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pocketgame/~3/I2UcWe2Uhio/the-egg-a-thon-strategies http://pocketgame.posterous.com/the-egg-a-thon-strategies <p> <p>After played a fair few games of Egg-a-thon, I think I've developed a couple of strategies for winning... not that winning's everything of course.  But hey, it's a game after all...</p> <p /> <p /> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/oiMYXT3yVBETpL192XJ3jBc7Bm1ZBexhuWL47V4o2fJGidbXIdkke0mgcwwi/Eggathon_test1.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Eggathon_test1" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/TxZv4wMpHW6hlZsHiVQnIrc69L5nJOeKpfw5WgBrQ3s9bvONRwLnfFvGr4xW/Eggathon_test1.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p><em>I've been decorating my eggs with a permanent marker.. badly, admittedly, but I gave it a go...</em></p> <p /> <p /> <div>Neither are necessarily foolproof of course, and you can switch between the two, and I'm sure as I play more games, I'll work out the best way to switch between 'em.  But for the record, I'm referring to them now as...</div> <p /> <p /> <div><strong>i) Legg it</strong></div> <p /> <div>The simplest, easiest strategy of course... just make for the end of the race like billy-o.</div> <p /> <p /> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/BYbnG5punaAP5L276AciYHFgY8J8kWKVeC6ae8M7QUQpTlNHHwEqOMpoBXzI/Eggathon_test_2.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Eggathon_test_2" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/ISLWHLZpiJCUr4NnIAFLik8SzCPdk06dqnJWuIoczghsnqzeSv8gf36PccTD/Eggathon_test_2.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p><em>A classic 'Legg it' approach... straight up the outside lane, leaving Stripes choking in my dust</em></p> <p /> <p /> <div>It's the strategy to employ if you start the game well (high numbers, or even a six which lets you roll again).  However, what happens if you don't start that well, or your opponent is just that little bit ahead of you..?</div> <p /> <div>Well, the switch to the second strategy...</div> <p /> <p /> <div><strong>ii) Egg it</strong></div> <p /> <div>Like, as in, clever egg-heads.  This is where you start getting strategic... if you move your eggs over in front of your opponents, and succeed in getting both in front of them, then they have a nigh on impossible task to get round you</div> <p /> <p /> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/Srl4npL3U66tL848RUFO4ANW73QN5Ua3eA6dbxchu7RAyc0DusIEEXVPGQVj/Eggathon_test_3.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Eggathon_test_3" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/M1KhNevKZ7QsukwfcpmsMwxiHaU5Ky7SJOaH2QkHu9Sr5fqEvNjQcJt0v1lm/Eggathon_test_3.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p><em>The Stripes start to get boxed in with the 'Egg it' strategy</em></p> <p /> <p /> <div>Which means that there's a danger of this happening to you, you should probably revert to the <strong><em>Legg it</em></strong> strategy to get yourself out of trouble (or at least one egg out of trouble) as fast as you can.</div> <p /> <div>It's not quite the Réto Opening, I know, but Egg-a-thon's a bit simpler than chess, after all.  I suspect strategies may become more important in games of Mega-Egg-a-thon and Giga-Egg-a-thon (but I'll tell you more about them another day...)</div> </p> <p><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/the-egg-a-thon-strategies">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/the-egg-a-thon-strategies#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Pocketgame/~4/I2UcWe2Uhio" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/962094/willsh_skulking.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5ALJ4m0SiSch John V Willshire Willsh John V Willshire http://pocketgame.posterous.com/the-egg-a-thon-strategies Sat, 30 Oct 2010 03:23:17 -0700 Testing out Flick Racer in the back yard http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pocketgame/~3/-yjcH_4SQGo/testing-out-flick-racer-in-the-back-yard http://pocketgame.posterous.com/testing-out-flick-racer-in-the-back-yard <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/mksndqBrDabArxwyDnxtjkqjuhxgEtgvmhItgthCqvhbBiwkyHoajgipngtc/IMG_0068.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0068" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/mksndqBrDabArxwyDnxtjkqjuhxgEtgvmhItgthCqvhbBiwkyHoajgipngtc/IMG_0068.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/mEjijlxlnhHxfElJqJismejdfEgxAlFCmBxEghgxnnbzshslnsnnsHAxhgfo/IMG_0067.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0067" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/mEjijlxlnhHxfElJqJismejdfEgxAlFCmBxEghgxnnbzshslnsnnsHAxhgfo/IMG_0067.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/hicfcHecruebAhzzBluvoIohJsiezGDxtxjxoixcbFbDHafvBIrlnGoksGbI/IMG_0069.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0069" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/hicfcHecruebAhzzBluvoIohJsiezGDxtxjxoixcbFbDHafvBIrlnGoksGbI/IMG_0069.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/ymmFtvEiyguFGyzeGDdtqdIhdcdvyaqmoiazBHfmnfFsCxjqIupJppvhafoC/IMG_0070.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0070" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/ymmFtvEiyguFGyzeGDdtqdIhdcdvyaqmoiazBHfmnfFsCxjqIupJppvhafoC/IMG_0070.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/blctooyHnpIEaorphsEAqvlwrJxCizdyugAttjrhrvogibAczjyodkAIqghF/IMG_0071.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0071" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/blctooyHnpIEaorphsEAqvlwrJxCizdyugAttjrhrvogibAczjyodkAIqghF/IMG_0071.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/BBolHrffipEvjfJaenInBwiJgjpbAFJiEHkkxsgCvxflmEnbavyEfAylmqgC/IMG_0074.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0074" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/BBolHrffipEvjfJaenInBwiJgjpbAFJiEHkkxsgCvxflmEnbavyEfAylmqgC/IMG_0074.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/testing-out-flick-racer-in-the-back-yard">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p>I've played quite a few games of Eggathon so far, but haven't had a chance to test out Flick Racer properly... Until today.<p>We drew out a track in the back yard. I had a little helper, as you can see, who brought a box of coloured chalk to help make the track even better. </p><p>The cars (made from recycled tyres) work really well on paving stones. It takes quite a bit of getting used to flicking them with precision.</p><p>We're delighted with how both games have turned out. And that they've passed all the safety and toy testing too. Roll on that shipping date...</p> </p> <p><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/testing-out-flick-racer-in-the-back-yard">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/testing-out-flick-racer-in-the-back-yard#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Pocketgame/~4/-yjcH_4SQGo" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/962094/willsh_skulking.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5ALJ4m0SiSch John V Willshire Willsh John V Willshire http://pocketgame.posterous.com/testing-out-flick-racer-in-the-back-yard Fri, 29 Oct 2010 06:30:06 -0700 Q&A with Sally Manning and James Wallis - Spot v Stripe! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pocketgame/~3/4SJx4fTXc4w/qa-with-sally-manning-and-james-wallis-spot-v http://pocketgame.posterous.com/qa-with-sally-manning-and-james-wallis-spot-v <p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">With the Pocketgame manufacturing process in full swing, how about learning a little more about the finalists? Lets have a rummage in their brains, and see what fires the minds behind Flick Racer and Egg-a-thon. </span></p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-29/CfmwmdJIEFAwcmexejwGvolmsAvtEJyxkexeCaxahomqqwtpfFsnzgcrBjiy/James__Sally.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="James__sally" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-29/CfmwmdJIEFAwcmexejwGvolmsAvtEJyxkexeCaxahomqqwtpfFsnzgcrBjiy/James__Sally.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p><span style="font-size: small;">As always, ladies first...</span><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong style=""><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">Sally Manning, creator of Egg-a-thon, proud Spot</span></strong></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong style=""><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-29/FDjmtgmBwCfcbICqzvdgJytkxGbDxmBInkzCBqviblijIBgGownkwABrDeiC/Egg-a-thon-1500px.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Egg-a-thon-1500px" height="347" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-29/FDjmtgmBwCfcbICqzvdgJytkxGbDxmBInkzCBqviblijIBgGownkwABrDeiC/Egg-a-thon-1500px.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> <br /></span></strong></span></p> <p><strong>Where were you when come up with your game idea?</strong><br />My husband had entered this competition first of all and I didn't think his idea was that original.  So he asked me if I could come up with something better.  I had a little think about it whilst running a bubble bath for my son before bedtime.  The idea popped into my head pretty quickly.  By the way - he is a games designer, which makes this whole situation of me being a finalist so amazing!<p /><strong>What was your main source of inspiration?</strong><br />We'd not long had Sports Day at school and I was thinking about all the different races the children had taken part in.  I was also thinking about the Cadbury brand and the connection with the Olympics.  The first thing that came to mind when thinking of Cadbury was the 'Cream Egg', then before I knew it I was considering some kind of Egg Race game.  It was just a matter of finding a concept that would work.  Then a game plan 'hatched' and Egg-a-thon was born :-) <p /><strong>What were your main influences in the game dynamic?</strong><br />It had to be something simple and easy to grasp.  I get impatient when I have to read lots of complicated rules, I just like to get on and play.  Personality and character were also key elements, and the different ways the game could evolve.  Obviously I don't want to get too carried away – sometimes the simplest ideas are the best.  Look at noughts and crosses for example, you can't get much easier than that, and it's a game everyone can play over and over and enjoy.  Also it needed to be something that you can play anytime, any place, anywhere.<p /><strong>What ideas fell by the wayside in the process?</strong><br />None! This was my first!<p /><strong>How does your Pocketgame reflect your personality?</strong><br />Apart from being simple and shaped like an egg I guess I am a person who looks on the bright side of life and likes to have fun :-)  I think the game is very playable and suitable for all ages.  I am certainly a character, that gets along with all kinds of people - I don’t have any pretensions!  <p /><strong>What does being a Spot mean to you?</strong><br />I do tend to wear stripes more, I have to say that being a spot is the appropriate team for me.  Firstly the spot or circle is an ancient symbol of the feminine, and it spiritually represents wholeness.  I was talking about this at the Playful conference as I thought it quite ironic that it should be a male vs female final - indicative of the symbolism of Spots being feminine and Stripes masculine.<p /><strong>What was your favourite boardgame as a child?</strong><br />Cluedo!  I was always Miss Scarlett :)<p /><strong>In the film of your life, who would play Sally Manning?</strong><br />I asked my husband this question and he cheekily said Danny De Vito! “But he's not blonde” came my quick reply!  It's a good job I have a sense of humour... maybe he’s a bit envious?  Seriously though, it would have to be Renee Zellweger as she doesn't mind piling on the pounds for a film role, and the rumour has it that her favourite chocolate is Dairy Milk!<br /> <br /><strong>What superpower would you have if you were granted one?</strong><br />It would definitely be invisibility.  Wouldn't that be great?!  You could have a lot of fun with a power like that :-D<p /><strong>Favourite Olympic/paralympics sport and why?</strong><br />It has to be the Wheelchair Basket Ball.  It's just so incredible to watch those athletes.  I have so much respect for the paralympics as it is a great example of strength and determination beyond belief.  As for the Olympics it would be the Gymnastics mainly because I'm in total awe of the abilities of the human body.  Fantastic!</p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style=""> </strong></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style=""><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"> </span></strong></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style=""><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">James Wallis, creator of Flick Racer, noble Stripe.</span></span></strong></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-29/xIvgxlGkgIpGgHgwrBEzgiykICFrisnjuexurzFJdlGctgDdlotnvAzGFFfq/Flick-Racer-1500px.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Flick-racer-1500px" height="332" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2010-10-29/xIvgxlGkgIpGgHgwrBEzgiykICFrisnjuexurzFJdlGctgDdlotnvAzGFFfq/Flick-Racer-1500px.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>Where were you when come up with your game idea?</strong><br />I was in bed, with my baby daughter lying on my chest.  This helps her get to sleep but it keeps me awake, and my mind wanders.  I'd already decided that I probably wasn't going to enter the Pocketgame competition, but I started wondering what sort of entry I might put together if I was going to enter, and by the time the baby was asleep I'd got the complete design for Flick Racer.<p /><strong>What was your main source of inspiration?</strong><br />There's no one source of inspiration.  I thought about what a good Pocketgame would do, and decided it needed to be visible.  Most games-playing is invisible, we almost never people we don't know playing games - even darts and snooker are classified as sports.  So I wanted to come up with a game that people could and would play anywhere, and that other people could enjoy watching or even join in with.<p /><strong>What were your main influences in the game dynamic?</strong><br />Oh, everything from Subbuteo and Scalextric to shove ha'penny, curling and the Indian game Carrom.  In particular there's a German game called Carabande which has the same basic idea - flicking cars around a course - but it's a huge heavy expensive box filled with wooden track, and its rules are different.  The idea of using chalk to draw the track on a floor or pavement came from a hopscotch grid that some kids made on the road outside my front door this summer.  After I submitted Flick Racer someone showed me a website for a game called Neppis from Finland, where you make a race-track out of sand or earth and then flick toy cars around it.  It proves there are very few original ideas in game design, only refinements.<p /><strong>What ideas fell by the wayside in the process?</strong><br />The Flick Racer that people will get in Matterbox is very close to the Flick Racer that came together in my head.  I originally had a different system for the teams, and I imagined that the pieces would be made of wood, like Carrom discs.  But otherwise it's almost identical.<p /><strong>How does your Pocketgame reflect your personality?</strong><br />It's about putting games out there, encouraging everyone to reconnect with their playful side.  I try to be a games evangelist!<p /><strong>What does being a Stripe mean to you?</strong><br />I'm a stripe because spot poker doesn't sound very interesting.<p /><strong>What was your favourite boardgame as a child?</strong><br />We played a lot of Monopoly, with weird house-rules that made it very difficult for anyone to be eliminated.  As Monopoly is a last-man-standing game, this meant that games went on until we all got bored.<p /><strong>In the film of your life, who would play James Wallis?</strong><br />Someone tall. People have told me I look a bit like Stephen Fry and a bit like Jeremy Clarkson.  I know which one I'd prefer.<p /><strong>What superpower would you have if you were granted one?</strong><br />I'd like to be able to go back ten seconds in time, to correct mistakes before I make them.<p /><strong>Favourite Olympic/paralympic sport and why?</strong><br />Wheelchair rugby.  It's a fantastic paralympian sport - able-bodied people play at a disadvantage - and a friend used to be on the GB team.</span></p> <p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/qa-with-sally-manning-and-james-wallis-spot-v">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/qa-with-sally-manning-and-james-wallis-spot-v#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Pocketgame/~4/4SJx4fTXc4w" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/828625/IMG00067-20100812-1119.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4TeULjUDw4Tf Christopher Price supervga Christopher Price http://pocketgame.posterous.com/qa-with-sally-manning-and-james-wallis-spot-v Thu, 21 Oct 2010 07:17:08 -0700 Who wants some Pocketgames..? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pocketgame/~3/_DF74ABSYow/who-wants-some-pocketgames http://pocketgame.posterous.com/who-wants-some-pocketgames <p> Hi there.  Welcome to autumn.  Cold, innit? <p /><div>As we're just finalising the Matter boxes to send out to people, which is likely to be the first week in December.  We've realised that there will be people like you who've been following this from the early days, or have just seen it recently but really want to try out the pocketgames.<p /><div>If you would like to receive the Matter box with the Pocketgames in it, please go to this page and quickly tell us:</div><p /><div><a href="http://bit.ly/extrapocketgames">http://bit.ly/extrapocketgames</a></div><p /><div>We can't make any promises about getting them to everyone, but we will do what we can.</div><p /><p /><div>P.S. the games are shaping up wonderfully well...</div><p /><p /></div><p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/BXmdh6POlT6iQWjl9ycK7MifIiXuT9HEJP6S1ligP7FTJCs6wZHFvHm3DZUC/playing_egg-a-thon.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Playing_egg-a-thon" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/M5Yle2bva1yxxszXNbZxrvC925h4pGRaegaqLhwS8iR2WiBM79ZcEog3EeFo/playing_egg-a-thon.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p><p></p><p /><p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/GyA8UDkSDqYgKIk5wtDUko0E8COwt1qt6rprCn1AGG4Gdfw8IBtzFex9EcE6/playing_Flick_Racer.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Playing_flick_racer" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/A92ayGmG8ZfiWeelDefmBeEmHZCiWgK6MCKfCghw7id9xWh2UmMoLkxuTcVY/playing_Flick_Racer.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/who-wants-some-pocketgames">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/who-wants-some-pocketgames#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Pocketgame/~4/_DF74ABSYow" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/962094/willsh_skulking.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5ALJ4m0SiSch John V Willshire Willsh John V Willshire http://pocketgame.posterous.com/who-wants-some-pocketgames Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:54:00 -0700 PLAYFUL10 - arise the Pocketgamers! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pocketgame/~3/AwXiyzhaKws/playful10-arise-the-pocketgamers http://pocketgame.posterous.com/playful10-arise-the-pocketgamers <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/7lbheqYdEbdVCj6ho6SQM0sU3yWYWbbcROFERpWB6jB9St828LulngKIBRhj/P1050149.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="P1050149" height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/XuDSu26poTulVyXUycA2uTl2iGjvCWXAx5p7MTEMgkhgYSdm32njotVBH8xj/P1050149.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p><span>There’s a lot of strife in the modern world. Especially here in London – you only need to get on a tube train between 7.30 and 8.30am any day of the week to experience the clam</span><span>my armpit of human suffering hovering inches from your face. Not that anyone would let a gru</span><span>mpy word slip. We’re British, dagnabbit. We can always moan about it in the office later.</span><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/bwcW4rH7uyGMuNwAHYduhoEPQHliT15DCtvoLFhZclOM4wk0mnBjH7gGj0BV/P1050154.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="P1050154" height="667" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/Jdige76XqcGxexLEGHF8IXNBfATiAoMgUHzhmYZj4snZCMiCzaynvvcxfq55/P1050154.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p><span>Anyways, the point I’m labouring is that we very rarely take time out to ‘smell the roses’ (so to speak). Luckily, technology is here to help us out. Namely those little blinking gems we use to call our friends, and play </span><span><a href="http://www.rovio.com/index.php?page=angry-birds"><em><span>Angrybirds</span></em></a></span><span> – is aiming to readujust the balance. </span><span><a href="http://www.wearemudlark.com/"><em>Mudlark</em></a></span><span> are one of these very such companies. These highly talented chaps make <em>stuff</em><span>  </span>- lots of <em>stuff. </em>Stuff to make my life and your life just a little bit more exciting, by utilising technology to encourage people to look at their environment in a slightly different way, and challenge them to play with it. Amongst other things, they make </span><span><a href="http://www.wearemudlark.com/projects/chromaroma/"><em><span>Chromaroma</span></em></a></span><span>, an interactive online multiplayer game linked to the Transport for London <em>Oyster</em> card</span></p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/0fMz9rnEWmgN8oer7VKM2JumswNCmsAfbKd5nxPL9w2jH0XI3DeSE84MinwY/P1050148.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="P1050148" height="667" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/V32Agegmk8gXat19ulxWp9aj5q1T8cyP38w7TpyQVL8KUkx9cIu6hCnAAz7I/P1050148.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p><span>These very talented chaps are also the driving force behind <strong><em>Playful</em></strong> – a gathering of people who <em>“make stuff”</em> (according Toby Barnes - founder and director of <em>Mudlark</em>). Friday 24<sup>th</sup> September saw members of the games community gather at <em>Conway Hall</em> in London for <strong><em>Playful10</em></strong> –</span><span> a place I fondly remember for falling asleep in on Wednesday morning lectures while at University. </span></p> <p><span>Since the evolution of <em>Javascript, Flash</em> and <em>XML</em> heralded a new era for the ‘homebrew’ games designer, and platforms such as the <em>Appstore, Playstation Network</em> and <em>Xbox Live</em> appeared to propagate these new visionaries, the world of the independent games designer has been a very seductive. A world where the unified vision and drive of a handful of individuals can creating something for the betterment on mindkind. The power wielded by these individuals tagged with the ability to incorporate graphic design, plus the ‘chic of geek’ has created the image of a rather aloof insular community, that rarely broadcasts. So much so that tracking down the threads of the community without accidently booking yourself into a developers conference is akin tapping into some interstellar ham radio broadcast.</span></p> <p><strong><em><span>Playful10</span></em></strong><span> is a gathering of uber-techies, interface revolutionaries, and guerrilla gamers, all keen to learn from their peers (and surreptitiously plug a new product. Not that you’re allowed to – “the first rule of Playful is…”). It’s a gumbo comprising peers, influencers and early adopters all eager to talk about how they choose to manifest the world of play through their hobbies and ventures. </span><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/m30vVpH0hlCti59CgbXcciniPNoCyRaNs1HQhTMUwJvucIpSZ2bg924c2C5x/P1050161.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="P1050161" height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/E8mdV3Y9mpuhnwrYAi7UGV1dYhCSxXWgWEEnucHhgVXx6crn2Miz0poZ0CYO/P1050161.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p><span>Having been working on the <strong><em>Cadbury’s Pocketgame</em></strong> project since the beginning of September, I thought it was only right to attend the unveiling of the prototypes. Armed with my sandy </span><span><a href="http://www.thisisplayful.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/IMG_0698.jpg"><em><span>Field Notes</span></em></a></span><span> pocketbook, pencil and a tummy full of black coffee, attendees were blitzed with a quick-fire 20 minute presentations from a diverse combination of speakers - all linked by their love of ‘play’ – video games, board games, floor games as well as play theory, word play, play ethics and cognitive play design. A collection of modest individuals who are all making their imprint on the world. Where else on a Friday morning could you learn about the development of sensory deprivation gaming, or understand the joy of being <em>contrary</em>? Or listen to one half of <em>Hue & Cry</em> explain why the jokes of Jewish men in their twilight years are funnier than <em>Frankie Boyle</em> could ever hope to be. We also found out that <strong><em>Gamesmaster’s</em></strong> <strong>Dominik Diamond</strong> (a personal hero of mine) isn’t dead, he’s actually living in a shed in N</span><span>ova Scotia, battling wolves using nothing but the power of his organ (fnarr..) </span></p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/9VVhiEig39VVkcKIXt4y5E1rCXJd46EWrlQXLBIpBZOJ9gWRsRVxBjM7kgIU/P1050162.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="P1050162" height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/A9LWVNZg9KkiLkpHrzJ4vmGc7yCFZtL3LEneRyitgn16WtVmGbnLrOvNOKHN/P1050162.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> <span>As mentioned - <strong>Richard Hogg</strong> informed me, personally, that I am a <em>Contrarian. </em>This is because I have an adolescent love of the <em>intended</em> <em>nature</em> of things - even if they have no hope of ever fulfilling their purpose (i.e. liking a painting for its vision, not how it makes you feel or what it looks like). <span> </span>Paul Bunnun from <strong>Somethin Else</strong> guided us through sensory immersion with his new game </span><span><a href="http://www.somethinelse.com/2010/06/18/papa-sangre-coming/"><strong><em><span>Papa Sangre</span></em></strong></a></span><span> – no screen here chaps!</span></p> <p><span>Video games industry powerhouse <strong>Jonathon Smith</strong> from <strong><em>TT Games</em></strong> enigmatically presented the secret of constructing a video game that appeals to children. Involving the implied reward of freedom within the game, if the player chooses to adhere to rules laid out during the narrative (channelling “what I want vs. What is expected of me”). This was neatly balanced with 9 year old <strong>Bea-Davy Sutherland</strong>, quizzing the </span><span><a href="http://mindcandy.com/"><span>creators</span></a></span><span> of interactive kids games <em>Moshi Monsters</em> and <em>Club Penguin</em> regarding the ethical side of the games industry. Complete with an investigative fedora.</span></p> <p><span>A rather lovely Scandinavian lunch (is there any more beautiful unison in nature than salmon, dill and sour cream?) came bundled with the new Cadbury <em>Spots v Stripes </em>bar and neatly segued into the publics first glimpse of <strong><em>Pocketgame</em></strong>. Two rival, self-contained ‘board’ games – assembled from recycled materials, who will battle for supremacy en masse when 24,000 are sent feral via her majesty’s Royal Mail. </span><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/n2aZIhRuyu47GEsyDDR1B149J8eptPr02FhPYQbYPLNk3w1q2jBsdWs31kWE/P1050170.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="P1050170" height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/iRHxeYrbU3xPa0OVuWxNAdvNIcfQRArt9dfLm07PrNc3qD1k7s9JqQrw3xkJ/P1050170.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p><span>Sourced from the collective intelligence of the hobbyist board game and whittled down from 88 entries; to professional boardgame designer <strong>James Wallis</strong>’ <strong><em>Flickracer</em></strong>, (reference 1960s French rebellion, “the sand under the pavement” and the demise of <em>Shove Ha’penn</em>y) and <strong>Sally Manning</strong> – ex-Cruise entertainer and mum, who came up with – wait for it - a better idea than her other half (who’s a game designer by trade!) with her egg-race inspired <strong><em>Egg-a-thon</em></strong>. Prototypes were on show, and will be bothering teenagers fingers near you very soon.</span><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/JOvFKqFQavXlNvnriBv1WheB8IVNjIn14e8mnsLAT0P7Qxn8V0oZMPK8PQZc/P1050171.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="P1050171" height="667" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/iZgRh0qFqkhMn6HEGxkKVWLW0FRK064Qvjub2dfPYMISXlhTGk0XqlBMFlJ3/P1050171.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p><strong><span>Nicholas Nova</span></strong><span> spoke about his collection of game controllers and the evolution of the d-pad – from salaryman calculator games to the kinetic dark arts of <em>Playstation Move</em>.<span>  </span>Webcast <strong>Shiftrunstop </strong>provided said Nova Scotian live video linkup, to wax lyrical about <em>Gamesmaster</em>, <strong>Patrick Moore</strong> and retro gaming (Apparently Patrick and Dominik never shared a set…)</span></p> <p><span>Designer and illustrator <strong>Tom Muller</strong> talked the regionalisation of comic books and the reinvention of the visual comic style (lots of lovely images) and Warren Ellis’ <em>Remake/Remodel </em>project. <strong>Pat Kane</strong> of <strong><em>Playethic</em></strong> also gave us a fantastic presentation on how </span><span><a href="http://oldjewstellingjokes.com/"><span>Old Jews</span></a></span><span> made him laugh again (via iTunes podcast, not generally on the street)</span></p> <p><strong><span>Playful10</span></strong><span> was a fantastic little event. An event encouraging you to experience the world in whole new way, providing insight from luminaries and creators who are now utilising the world that exists around us in a whole new way. The perfect antidote to consumer expos (especially in the run-up to Xmas), urging us to share the power of collective intelligence, to make everyone’s lives just that little bit better.<span>  </span>I urge you get in early for <strong>Playful11 </strong>– see </span><span><a href="http://www.thisisplayful.com/"><span>www.thisisplayful.com</span></a></span><span> for a bit more info. </span></p> <p><span>Oh – and </span><span><a href="http://www.thisisplayful.com/news/what-the-foursquare"><em><span>what the</span></em><span> <em>Foursquare</em></span></a></span><em><span>? </span></em><span>We decided on the rules of engagement, whilst you were all away. </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style=""><span><span>1.<span style="font: 7pt Times New Roman;">     </span></span></span><span>You can’t check in on a bus</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style=""><span><span>2.<span style="font: 7pt Times New Roman;">     </span></span></span><span>No drive-by check-in’s – you’ve got to step over the threshold.</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style=""><span><span>3.<span style="font: 7pt Times New Roman;">     </span></span></span><span>You can’t check into your own house</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style=""><span><span>4.<span style="font: 7pt Times New Roman;">     </span></span></span><span>You can’t auto-Tweet your check-ins</span></p> <p><span>“The first rule of Foursquare is…”</span></p> </p> <p><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/playful10-arise-the-pocketgamers">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/playful10-arise-the-pocketgamers#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Pocketgame/~4/AwXiyzhaKws" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/828625/IMG00067-20100812-1119.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4TeULjUDw4Tf Christopher Price supervga Christopher Price http://pocketgame.posterous.com/playful10-arise-the-pocketgamers Mon, 11 Oct 2010 23:46:46 -0700 A few more prototypes... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pocketgame/~3/QVBuCK4RnHU/a-few-more-prototypes http://pocketgame.posterous.com/a-few-more-prototypes <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/IzCAbFJchBkzdbmtkAepAEdyeruqAdrhpACjimHxxiqzrduydCCiInxAikuc/IMG_0063.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0063" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/IzCAbFJchBkzdbmtkAepAEdyeruqAdrhpACjimHxxiqzrduydCCiInxAikuc/IMG_0063.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/gorlvgwpElgaolJvdztvepJryEJtJaryiiorlIJHmkhraxEHglxCtvIJlnoH/IMG_0064.jpg"><img alt="Img_0064" height="500.0" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/gorlvgwpElgaolJvdztvepJryEJtJaryiiorlIJHmkhraxEHglxCtvIJlnoH/IMG_0064.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/kmnuqlcogdpfGBkHnAAHBjABaIlGotCEhxDHenrGzvJrbtEeEkFcJxwpGsyz/IMG_0065.jpg"><img alt="Img_0065" height="500.0" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/kmnuqlcogdpfGBkHnAAHBjABaIlGotCEhxDHenrGzvJrbtEeEkFcJxwpGsyz/IMG_0065.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/a-few-more-prototypes">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p>I met up with Tim yesterday, who's been beavering away on the prototypes. They're starting to look and feel a lot closer to the things that'll go into Matterbox in November, 'tis very exciting :) </p> <p><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/a-few-more-prototypes">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/a-few-more-prototypes#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Pocketgame/~4/QVBuCK4RnHU" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/962094/willsh_skulking.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5ALJ4m0SiSch John V Willshire Willsh John V Willshire http://pocketgame.posterous.com/a-few-more-prototypes Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:34:44 -0700 A Playful meeting with the pocketgame finalists http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pocketgame/~3/-_1Aph0zgi8/a-playful-meeting-with-the-pocketgame-finalis http://pocketgame.posterous.com/a-playful-meeting-with-the-pocketgame-finalis <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/paIBntlbBdktdDBjrurzrlAGDvqnlymkkwFDymrFqugzarAtbpgIiIfohxaJ/IMG_0062.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0062" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/paIBntlbBdktdDBjrurzrlAGDvqnlymkkwFDymrFqugzarAtbpgIiIfohxaJ/IMG_0062.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p>We met up with our two pocketgame finalists, Sally Manning & James Wallis, earlier this evening just to prep what we're going to say at the Playful conference this Friday at The Conway Hall...<p><a href="http://www.thisisplayful.com">http://www.thisisplayful.com</a></p><p>I think there's still a minuscule amount of tickets left. You should totally come along, it's a schedule packed full of fascinating people. And us too.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/a-playful-meeting-with-the-pocketgame-finalis">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/a-playful-meeting-with-the-pocketgame-finalis#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Pocketgame/~4/-_1Aph0zgi8" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/962094/willsh_skulking.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5ALJ4m0SiSch John V Willshire Willsh John V Willshire http://pocketgame.posterous.com/a-playful-meeting-with-the-pocketgame-finalis Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:41:24 -0700 Making prototype pocketgames http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pocketgame/~3/IrTJdP9A9VU/making-prototype-pocketgames http://pocketgame.posterous.com/making-prototype-pocketgames <p> Well hello there.  Long time no speak.<p /><div>I titled the last entry here '<i>this will be the making of us</i>'... but it could've been the breaking of us instead.  It turns out shuffling around the arrangement of digital bits online is a walk in the park compared to shuffling around the arrangement of physical atoms in the manufacturing process.</div><p /><div>First of all, there's lots of health and safety issues to consider... what might be the physical impact on people (and importantly youngsters who've not got quite as much common sense) of making things that will live in the real world.  </div><p /><div>Then there's all the practicalities.  Exactly <i>how on earth</i> can we make these pieces.  A lot of the wonderful pocketgame designs were created with imagination and inspiration, which is sometimes hard to translate into physical actuality.</div><p /><div>And finally, of course, there's sustainability, the rod we set for our own backs (and rightly so); we didn't want to make anything that had an environmental impact.  It would have been a whole lot cheaper and easier to send the designs halfway around the world and get them made in plastic and shipped back.  But we didn't want to do that.  </div><p /><div>And I'm delighted to say we haven't.</div><p /><div>More on all of this stuff to come, when we cover where and how we're making the games, and talk to the two finalists about their games.</div><p /><div>But for now, I thought I'd share these... some pictures of two very early prototypes that Tim from Artomatic/Matter has made up...</div><p /><div>First of all, Egg-a-thon...</div><p /><div><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/Qh1rbjNa1jUqoDd2xE61CzG0dswsWQ4ewF5xzkb3fqEuM7xuVxxsXomiKpfr/Egg-a-thon_prototype.jpeg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Egg-a-thon_prototype" height="332" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/oqfjX2i8cExsVzB74Z07Fs6USJF8cdHS9NBOuEYP9xswgN2R6No68L94lzv9/Egg-a-thon_prototype.jpeg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </div><p /><p /><div>The genius idea Tim had was to take the game board and make it the box, so you store the pieces inside the game board itself.  We slimmed down the number of eggs you race with, because we had to make them of a certain size and keep the game 'pocket sized'.  The one egg you see here is in black, but the final ones will be in purple/white to match the design (all the eggs will be made from recycled plastics like cereal packets).</div><p /><div>Secondly of course, we have Flick Racer...</div><p /><div><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/BGHRD3JTF1Gm1a41opCG1cFHxkjk5tHkOCVhd3ua69GWahAoTYS1XHXqUUzg/Flick_Racer.jpeg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Flick_racer" height="384" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/ZMJeDgRJvlHwHIJzWcgHBG3yutqcO7kuYrIGWMwXtLP9OHAgNeqhtUCJQtRV/Flick_Racer.jpeg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </div><p /><p /><div>The cars for Flick Racer might have proved difficult to get right because of the heft you need to make the cars move in the right way when you flick them... if they were too light or skiddy, they'd fly away with the merest touch.  Too heavy or sticky, and they'd barely move, or flip over at any given opportunity.</div><p /><div>This is where the sustainability requirements helped us massively; Tim was investigating what materials we could use, and we've netted out at using recycled car tyres, which for a car race themed game we feel is just a lovely bit of serendipity.</div><p /><div>Anyway, these are just very early (Egg-a-thon v0.1 & Flicker Racer v0.1 if you will), but I thought we should share them with you, the people who voted for 'em.  Do let us know what you think.</div> </p> <p><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/making-prototype-pocketgames">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/making-prototype-pocketgames#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Pocketgame/~4/IrTJdP9A9VU" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/962094/willsh_skulking.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5ALJ4m0SiSch John V Willshire Willsh John V Willshire http://pocketgame.posterous.com/making-prototype-pocketgames Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:31:00 -0700 This will be the making of us... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pocketgame/~3/bFbX_JQxCZo/this-will-be-the-makings-of-us http://pocketgame.posterous.com/this-will-be-the-makings-of-us <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/fdbyJjwtFupqJkEthvDrkjejqmaqhAjpaBqFoCrfJJcwjckyholqrGmsslig/IMG_0056.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0056" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/fdbyJjwtFupqJkEthvDrkjejqmaqhAjpaBqFoCrfJJcwjckyholqrGmsslig/IMG_0056.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/ulmlGjkFuHnAhJqgfvmAyDchszcJDyjnConFzqBAgIIhdGktgvlhnpeGCgbn/IMG_0057.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0057" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/ulmlGjkFuHnAhJqgfvmAyDchszcJDyjnConFzqBAgIIhdGktgvlhnpeGCgbn/IMG_0057.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/DwfuyAkHcDsEJBHdhbkaliyzjuBuaHEtddbuGfArhkxIexebrtyBsGwfFfHx/IMG_0058.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0058" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/DwfuyAkHcDsEJBHdhbkaliyzjuBuaHEtddbuGfArhkxIexebrtyBsGwfFfHx/IMG_0058.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/FddiAkHlCaqDcBzChGkdqneaxqIehuigmxkrGjkumAkdazspJzHAycIICFdA/IMG_0059.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0059" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/FddiAkHlCaqDcBzChGkdqneaxqIehuigmxkrGjkumAkdazspJzHAycIICFdA/IMG_0059.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/rmzjpJnngDvjIpjGEGgeroGfyaqnvBDzgCeydnywBfchvBjkuzcfFijnCmyF/IMG_0060.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0060" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/rmzjpJnngDvjIpjGEGgeroGfyaqnvBDzgCeydnywBfchvBjkuzcfFijnCmyF/IMG_0060.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/tmGiDBDhEhFirxHAgvFpAIdEBDjIeugpwaBHylmmfGaGtiFGenIaHGJqfBEg/IMG_0061.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Img_0061" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/tmGiDBDhEhFirxHAgvFpAIdEBDjIeugpwaBHylmmfGaGtiFGenIaHGJqfBEg/IMG_0061.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/this-will-be-the-makings-of-us">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p> <p>Tim from Matterbox, Annie from Cadbury and myself just spent a happy hour and a half talking about how we're going to make our two finalists, Flick Racer & Egg-a-thon. We've got the makings of some really lovely, completely recycled ideas for making both games, which is excellent.</p> <p>There's a great post by Mark Pollard on why, if you're someone who does lots of 'strategy and thinking' you should also 'make things' too... Read it here:</p> <p><a href="http://www.markpollard.net/why-strategists-should-make-stuff/">http://www.markpollard.net/why-strategists-should-make-stuff/</a></p> <p>And if you really like it, you should vote for it in Neil Perkin's post of the month competition (Neil was one of our pocketgame judges):</p> <p><a href="http://neilperkin.typepad.com/only_dead_fish/2010/08/post-of-the-month-july-2010-the-vote.html">http://neilperkin.typepad.com/only_dead_fish/2010/08/post-of-the-month-july-2...</a></p> </p> <p><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/this-will-be-the-makings-of-us">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/this-will-be-the-makings-of-us#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Pocketgame/~4/bFbX_JQxCZo" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/962094/willsh_skulking.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5ALJ4m0SiSch John V Willshire Willsh John V Willshire http://pocketgame.posterous.com/this-will-be-the-makings-of-us Tue, 10 Aug 2010 03:42:14 -0700 Our two brilliant pocketgame finalists http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pocketgame/~3/13X3UNPlbvw/our-two-brilliant-pocketgame-finalists http://pocketgame.posterous.com/our-two-brilliant-pocketgame-finalists <p> Finally, pocketgame fans, we're getting to the <i>really</i> exciting bit... <p /><div>....you came, you saw, you voted, and as of 5pm last night, you had picked your favourite two pocketgames to go head-to-head for the inaugural Pocketgame crown.<p /><div>The two games you've selected are...</div><p /><p /><div><b>Flick Racer</b></div><p /><div>A game of dexterity and physical skill, racing around the track you draw out yourself.  Be careful not to spin off though!!  Think subbuteo meets formula one, but you get to chalk out your own track however you like.</div><div><b><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/5APnDzTOQ0R9BVwW14Ea4za0kic4KqImrIRZ1PDUfqmW2vWTtef0gAHueCaB/Flick_Racer_poster.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg"><img alt="Flick_racer_poster" height="340" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/LE6G5zbEihBt5l6FoJyRAF7qocWSXD1EW7gt5XiDpgkZeMnZZaYB918o8wMK/Flick_Racer_poster.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </b></div></div><p /><p /><div><b>Egg-a-thon</b></div><p /><div>An eggscellent game of egg-racing; a veritable scramble for the finish line will ensue with every game.  No time for yolking around here, either get all your eggs over the finish line as quickly as you can, or eggspertly block-off your opponent...</div><p /><p /><div><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/xC0TN5rFEow3T0ltmxHv6mxAdBCv06a5YwqJmWB7BDHeoKnbzK79tkRyo8WD/Eggathon_by_Sallym_919020.jpg"><img alt="Eggathon_by_sallym_919020" height="298" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pocketgame/lxD345tfL5yljWd2jieb6h5iHJVAhBx2VmGIU7Qm87FgmCcm0aYuilOzwZwi/Eggathon_by_Sallym_919020.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </div><p /><p /><p /><div>So, what happens next?</div><p /><div>Well, in the Autumn we'll be sending out the games to 25,000 folk who've <a href="http://www.matterbox.co.uk/">signed up already to Matterbox</a>, who'll decide which game is best by playing each with friends.</div><p /><div>Up until then, we'll be interviewing the games designers, and working out how to make both games in accordance with our sustainability criteria set out in the original brief (we're looking at lots of very exciting options of what we can do, more on that soon).</div><p /><div>In the meantime, you can see the <a href="http://www.pocketgamecompetition.co.uk/">final standings here</a> on the competition site.</div> </p> <p><a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/our-two-brilliant-pocketgame-finalists">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://pocketgame.posterous.com/our-two-brilliant-pocketgame-finalists#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Pocketgame/~4/13X3UNPlbvw" height="1" width="1"/> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/962094/willsh_skulking.JPG http://posterous.com/users/5ALJ4m0SiSch John V Willshire Willsh John V Willshire http://pocketgame.posterous.com/our-two-brilliant-pocketgame-finalists