While waiting for the game, I sort of put it on the back burner to simmer. But now House of Whack stirs and dances to the forefront. I still have a staggering amount of work to do on the online content. Like if people could actually see what needed to be done, they would think I was insane. Sometimes I think, “What have I done? What was I thinking?” But then I just laugh a wild laugh that lasts for what I guess would be an uncomfortable amount of time if someone else were there to hear it.
I had to step away from the game for a bit because I was trying to cater to potential players and that was harming it. Every time I try to make it more palatable and logical and thematically cohesive, it starts to kill Whack’s soul. For instance, I was working on the rules for Whack Ball, one of the game variants. I had come up with a very workable set of rules involving a soccer-like game with teams within the House of Whack. They were nice rules, very detailed and straightforward. But they were wrong. In Whack Ball, this should be a common occurrence: Wendy plays the flute to lure the ball back to her, but Cirrus spills a glass of wine and steals the ball’s reflection and then does a layup into the chandelier which got turned into the new goal because Bob discarded a Wild Arcana. That’s where things are heading now.
In my recent musings I realized something: While I made a game that could possibly amuse certain gamers, I really designed the game to summon certain people to me. This is all just a ritual to bring them forward out of the ether. I need to know if someone else sees what I see. I need to know if someone else can see the game within the game. I’ve left the clues to the other game, but I’m certainly not going to show it to anyone. They will either see it or they won’t. They will either go through the door or they will play a board game.
It’s quite possible that I’ve made something just for me and I’ll be able to build a little fort out of 1000 game boxes.
Tags: House of Whack
I’m in the home stretch for December. Just over a week to go. So far there have been only minor flare ups. Paranoia. Almost tore into someone at work the other day. Had to drive in an insane snowstorm early in the morning and then work with insane lawyers. Not the time to get on my case about anything.
Whack keeps getting delayed. New estimate puts it at the 27th. We’ll see if they come up with some new excuse.
Discovered the Wii sensor bar can be replaced with two candles. Now I play Zelda by candlelight.
Considering a new project, if only to let my mind play with something else for a while. Sometimes I need to go through the motions of a project to get it out of the way to do other things. Sometimes I end up with a story or a board game.
Tags: House of Whack, Life, reft
1. House of Whack
2. Puerto Rico
3. Caylus
4. Talisman
5. Cosmic Encounter
6. Runebound
7. Citadels
8. Carcassonne
9. Twilight Imperium v3
10. Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation
Tags: gaming, Geek, House of Whack
Today I enjoyed a rare treat. I recently learned that a friend of a friend had a copy of Talisman, the board game which inspired me to become a graphic artist. As a kid, I was in love with this game and I made all kinds of cards and house rules for it. But my friends always teased me about my scribblings on index cards. I learned to draw and eventually make computer art so I might one day make better cards.
So today a bunch of people came over to play Talisman. I hadn’t seen it in about 15 years and it was a tear-inducing experience to hold this near mint copy in my hands. I remembered the rules like I had played it yesterday.
Talisman had a powerful influence on House of Whack and it was neat to see some of the cards and compare them to their House of Whack counterparts. As I sat there playing, I remembered being a kid and coming up with new cards and new rules and eventually coming up with a whole new game. And I realized that House of Whack is a million times better than Talisman. I’ve essentially created a game for people who enjoyed Talisman when they were kids but now want something more. I think those people will appreciate the homage. Still, House of Whack makes Talisman look like Candyland.
Tags: gaming, Geek, House of Whack
I’m pleased to announce that House of Whack will be funded by the DEA, who settled out of court.
The incident has been reported to their internal affairs division, so some actual good might come out of it.
Don’t do drugs, kids!
Tags: DEA, House of Whack, Life
It seems like there’s a flurry of activity in every facet of my life. If I were ruler of some mystical kingdom just beyond the Scintillating Sea, I might take a survey of my domain. I would discover the palace architects busy with a strange House that kept changing appearance and dimensions. The money counters are wringing their hands, suggesting we tax the peasants more, raid several neighboring kingdoms for gold, or at least beseech those that tread in heavenly realms for a boon. The royal chef is preparing strange foreign meals for the king’s whimsical diet. The High Dreamers awake daily to record detailed accounts of their journeys through the sliding seafoam beaches of silver worlds. New orders arrive regularly for the court artists, requests for portraits and windows that burn with cryptic sigils. The ambassador entertains queens visiting from faraway realms while the jester dances with the cats. The king stands in his empty bedchamber and stares out across the landscape, imagining a quiet cottage on a hill where none of the clocks work.
Tags: Food, House of Whack, Life
So I’m looking at about $13,000 to get 1000 units of House of Whack published. And it will take 3-4 months to print. Still waiting for another quote, but this gives me a good idea. I’ll also look into assembling the games myself with parts of the game supplied by different vendors. Might be cheaper, but then I’d have to assemble all the components for every game. Ack.
Tags: House of Whack
A manic day. Felt annoyance and even hatred for people I cared about. Cussed out a virtual stranger. Everything was overwhelming and full of possibility. Ideas unspooled from my mind, tangent upon tangent, a fractured window of possibility. Couldn’t ignore anything. Magazines unfolded the future, foretelling all manner of innovations. Couldn’t *not* think about it. Playtested the game again and things kept creeping in from the edges of the rooms, things that weren’t there, could never be there. Wine to take the edge off things. Drove home and chatted with new astonishlingly gorgeous neighbor. Sit in my apartment and sigh about distances measured in every possible way.
Tags: House of Whack, Life, reft
I don’t make new year’s resolutions. I just like to believe in things enough to make them happen. So this year I think I’ll publish a game and fall in love and be more still and be more me.
Have a good one, everybody! Don’t die.
Tags: House of Whack, Life
Here’s a special first look at DreamPunk.com, for all you readers of my blog:
www.dreampunk.com
Tags: House of Whack