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V3.0: Costumes

Sorted so that every 3 go in a bag (1-3 in a bag, 4-6 in a bag, etc.) and the first of the 3 is one of the larger items (so that the bags do not overfloweth)

1. Expectant mother
2. Bird watcher
3. Secret agent
4. Marine biologist
5. Real estate agent
6. Chef
7. Pirate
8. Maid
9. Harry Potter
10. Hazmat team member
11. Cheerleader
12. Darth Vader
13. Cowboy
14. Detective
15. Construction worker
16. Race car driver
17. Princess
18. Dentist
19. Japanese schoolgirl
20. Snorkeler
21. Surgeon or house painter (SARS mask)
22. frat boy
23. Vampire hunter (bulbs of garlic)
24. news reporter (microphone)
25. Rock star
26. fairy
27. burger king

MAJOR OVERHAUL WOOOOOOOO!

Nothing says crazy like overhauling a game that was already working. So, after our massively productive discussion, here's the new game we've come up with:

At the beginning of the game, you're given a card that has the following information on it: a person you're looking for, a location, and a picture you're trying to recreate. They also get a costume and a bag to conceal it in. The card would look something like this:
For demonstration's sake, our player is the pirate. So, the pirate goes running around and finds the ninja (following the same mechanic we've established with the indirect communication), and the two of them toddle off to the White House, put on their costumes, and have their picture taken. When they have successfully recreated their picture, they're given another card that looks like this:

Now, the pirate and ninja (in blue) must find the pink team. Once they find this team, they must recreate the picture shown here, with the blue team's "puzzle piece" set next to the pink team's "puzzle piece" in front of the library. Once they have successfully recreated THIS picture, they are given another card:

Now our pink/ blue team has to track down the red/yellow team. And so on. The basic combination structure would work a lot like a basketball bracket:

The idea here is that teams are finding one another and getting larger and larger and creating more and more elaborate pictures. This creates a situation where people have to cooperate to progress, costumes and picture taking are still fun, and we take that damn scorekeeping element out of it.

So we'll still have moderators with cameras at our locations. The moderator will be responsible for taking a picture, verifying that a team has assembled their picture correctly, and hand over the next level of the bracket. We keep our three locations, and the three of us moderate.

SO. Things we need to work out:

Pairings/bracket structure

Build the pairing cards and larger team puzzle cards

Containers for players to transport their costumes in

New rule sheet

BIG ASS PLAYTESTER LIST

Honestly, we should try to schedule people as soon as possible so that we can work out our bracket and card sets to accomodate the right number of people.

Flickr me

The past 2 games are now online!

Photo op pictures!

What's this bag of stuff?

Those are your props. They'll be explained later. The sheet of paper is your bingo card, which will also serve as part of your score card.

Okay, so I have a bingo card. Now what?

Your goal is to complete a "bingo" (three in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) by completing the photos described in each space. Completed bingos are worth five points. At the end of the game, points your card has earned will be added to points you earn for individual photos, and the person with the highest score will be the winner. Check out the sample card below.

Fairy Princess Maid Tommy Trojan	Secret Agent American Idol Swim Stadium	Movie Star Judge Leavey Library
Fairy Princess Expectant Mother Swim Stadium	Secret Agent Fisherman Tommy Trojan	Movie Star Barbarian Swim Stadium
Fairy Princess Detective Leavey Library	Secret Agent Movie Star Leavey Library	Movie Star Deep Sea Diver Tommy Trojan

What is this photo business?

This is the crux of the Photo Op game. In order to mark off a square on your bingo card, you must create a photo that contains all the elements in the square. The top item is a costume from your stash. The second is a costume from an opponent's stash. The third is the location where your picture must be taken. Once you have found your other person and your location, put on your costumes and smile for the camera!

These look like toys, not costumes!

Yeah, we know. Full costumes are expensive, whereas props that suggest costumes are not. We have complete faith in your acting abilities.

Now, why would my opponent want to be in my picture? Or, why would I want to be in someone else's picture?

As a reward for being helpful, you will receive a sticker (worth 1 point) every time you pose for another person's picture. At the end of the game, you'll cash in your stickers and your bingo card and the person with the most points will win. So, the more helpful you are, the more points you'll earn. Isn't that nice?

So, I just ask someone if they have the costume I'm looking for, and if they do, we go get our picture taken?

Not exactly. You may not directly ask someone what costumes they have. For example, you may not ask someone "Are you the fairy princess?" You may use any other terms you like, hint and infer as much as you want, but under no circumstances can you use the actual terms listed on your bingo card. you also may not ask for prop items. For example, "Are you the fairy princess?" and "Do you carry a wand?" are not allowed. "Do you hang out with Tinkerbell?" would be acceptable. This includes the terms that describe your photo locations.

Are other people going to see these photos?

If that's okay with you. The photos will be collected and posted to a Flickr album, which we'll link you to. However, if you don't want your picture included, just let us know and we'll leave it out.

Places and People V2.0

Costumes for version 2:

- Expectant mother
- Movie star
- Secret agent
- Judge
- Detective
- Real estate agent
- Chef
- Ribbon dancer
- Bird watcher
- Cheerleader
- Hazmat tech
- Darth Vader
- Scuba Diver (Deep sea diver)
- Japanese schoolgirl
- Maid
- Race car driver
- Rock star
- Singer
- Pirate
- Ninja
- Cowboy
- Construction worker
- Princess
- Dentist
- Surgeon or house painter (SARS mask)
- Marine biologist
- Vampire hunter (bulbs of garlic)

Locations:
Tommy Trojan
Olympic Diving Board
Leavey Library
Bookstore

Thoughts based on last playtest:

-need to reconsider our scoring system--as Jeremy pointed out, the only real way to score points is to get a bingo--maybe some sort of currency?
-thoughts on the prop swapping idea Jeremy mentioned after the last round?
-need to emphasize the language rules, as they weren't being closely followed
-Rule sheet is too long (as always)--can we get it down to half a page?
-can we do a bingo card that fits in the pocket, with punch-out holes or something?
-If we can, it would be worth it to try a two-location game for this next test; if not round two, then definitely by round three
-Scheduling is a major issue in the next two weeks
-Bought a ton of new costumes/props on Saturday--that should cover us for awhile
-Lily, do you know how much you've spent so far? I think I'm at like, $20.

That's all I've got for now. Don't forget, meeting tonight from 8-10. Location TBD?

-D

Apparently we don’t three way very well. Ok so we have a Flickr account now, the sn is PhotoOpGame and the password is cheeseit

Things to do before class:

- Upload pictures to flickr and label them funny things

- (if 2 locations is decided on) pick 3 new locations

o Find high res pics

o Make posters and sneak into poster printing late at night/early in the morning

- A meat and design. I prefer meating to meeting. We’re looking at 8-10 pm right now.

- Update the blog with playtest notes

- Update rules

- Redesign boards for more people (and tab-able pushing out)

- Find people if possible

- Find cameras or come up with another solution

And as always, update the blog with anything you do so we don’t double up on the same thing. Unless it’s your mom, we always double up on that.

Rules v1.0

What's this bag of stuff?

Those are your props. They'll be explained later. The sheet of paper is your bingo card, which will also serve as your score card.

Okay, so I have a bingo card. Now what?

Your goal is to complete a "bingo" (three in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) by completing the photos described in each space. Completed bingos are worth ten points. At the end of the game, points your card has earned will be added to points you earn for individual photos, and the person with the highest score will be the winner. Check out the sample card below.

Fairy Princess Maid Tommy Trojan	Secret Agent American Idol Swim Stadium	Movie Star Judge Leavey Library
Fairy Princess Expectant Mother Swim Stadium	Secret Agent Fisherman Tommy Trojan	Movie Star Barbarian Swim Stadium
Fairy Princess Detective Leavey Library	Secret Agent Movie Star Leavey Library	Movie Star Deep Sea Diver Tommy Trojan

What is this photo business?

This is the crux of the Photo Op game. In order to mark off a square on your bingo card, you must create a photo that contains all the elements in the square. The top item is a costume from your stash. The second is a costume from an opponent's stash. The third is the location where your picture must be taken. Once you have found your other person and your location, put on your costumes and smile for the camera!

These look like toys, not costumes!

Yeah, we know. Full costumes are expensive, whereas props that suggest costumes are not. We have complete faith in your acting abilities.

Now, why would my opponent want to be in my picture? Or, why would I want to be in someone else's picture?

As a reward for being helpful, you will receive a point every time you pose for another person's picture. At the end of the game, those points will be added to points earned for bingos, and the person with the highest score will win. So, the more helpful you are, the more points you'll earn. Isn't that nice?

So, I just ask someone if they have the costume I'm looking for, and if they do, we go get our picture taken?

Not exactly. You may not directly ask someone what costumes they have. For example, you may not ask someone "Are you the fairy princess?" You may use any other terms you like, hint and infer as much as you want, but under no circumstances can you use the actual terms listed on your bingo card. This includes the terms that describe your photo locations.

Are other people going to see these photos?

If that's okay with you. The photos will be collected and posted to a Flickr album, which we'll link you to. However, if you don't want your picture included, just let us know and we'll leave it out.

So if I win, do I get a prize?

No.

Bag of tricks

Things we bought today:

3 pieces of foam board

Costume pieces (and corresponding character):
- shark (fisherman)
- fairy wand (self explanatory)
- microphone (American Idol singer)
- sword (Conan the Barbarian)
- lunch box (Japanese school girl)
- duster (maid)
- gun set (secret agent)
- baby toy and pillow (expectant mother)
- sunglasses (movie star)
- snorkeling gear (???)
- gavel (judge)
- magnifying glass (detective)
- for sale sign (real estate broker)
- darth vader masks (again, self explanatory)

Locations we have pictures of (all around USC):
- diving tower / pool area
- Leavey Library and reflecting fountain
- Tommy Trojan
- Bookstore
- Middle finger fountain and USC sign

Concept Meeting

Our game has evolved (no allusion to Butterfly Effect intended) into a much more tangible idea. We are basically looking to create the game as a two person co-operative bingo match. The game operates with pairs of individuals looking to be the first to "fill their board" (defined later). Every person holds the board of their partner, keeping track of their partners accomplishments and guiding them to their next objective. Making the communication between each pairing even more important (and difficult) each pairing consists of two people in two different cities. The game will be played against multiple partners competing against each other (ideally at least 16 people, 8 pairings).

Every pair assumes the role of some bizarre out-of-the-ordinary character (ninja, pirate, cowboy, etc.). Further assuming the role each pairing also has a particular language that they must communicate in for the duration of the game. To fill a spot on the board a person needs to capture a photo of one of the characters in a particular location. These specific details are conveyed by their partner (i.e. "you need a picture of the pirate attacking the ninja at the library"). However a person can't communicate in English so the challenge comes from finding ways to convey their needs in their language.

Bingo cards: Your costumes on one axis, other costumes on the other with each box containing a specific location.

Deliverables for Tuesday:

• Rules
• Language (passwords)
  
• Locations
  
• Bingo cards
• 3 Digital Cameras
• Photo scoreboard (Flickr)
• Costumes
• 12 unique costumes

Shopping List:

• Costumes
• Location Signs

Schedule:
Friday: 11am - Dollar Store (Meet @ UV) - Diana & Lily

Interim - Diana - Generate passwords, rules
Lily - Locations signs
Ryan - Bingo Cards

Sunday: 8pm - Meeting (Lily and Ryan's House)
Put together and play test idea.

Premiere post!

Woo, prototyping round 2.

So, we're talking about a dual-city game that is played in a shopping mall. Your partner is in another city, and sends you clues to help you find your in-city partner. Your mission is to meet, verify, and snap a photo with your in-city partner, and also to help your remote partner find their counterpart. Methods of between-city communication (via cell phone) might include picture messaging (ala Pictionary) or sound effects, or some other thing we haven't come up with yet. If whoever took the notebook paper from today's chat wants to transcribe some of the key points (good luck interpreting all that scribbling!), that would be helpful.

Also, reminder, we're meeting from 4-6 in the IML on Thursday.