Nice Games Jam: "Blob Ball"

This week on the program is another Nice Games Jam, where we are given a prompt from Martha’s boyfriend (and Evil Games Club co-host) Dylan, which we have to use to create a playable game prototype by the end of the episode.

The prompt was to create a paper prototype of a game that combines "hilarious movement" like in games like Gang Beasts or Octodad with a card game.

You can play the prototype of our creation "Blob Ball" at home using the rules below. Maybe we'll actually make the video game version sometime!

Promptcreate a paper prototype of a game that combines "hilarious movement" like in games like Gang Beasts or Octodad with a card game.Game typePaper prototypePlayer count3Materials

3 decks of cards

1 joker to be the blob ball

Setup

2 decks of cards for the two players ( 1 Deck each)

Separate out the face cardsPlace on the starting line for each playerPut all other cards aside

1 deck of card for the for AI physics

Sort into suitsPull out Ace-4 and the face cards from the Hearts suit to make the blob movement Heart deck and set all other hearts asideGive one suite deck other than hearts to each player and keep one for physics. These suit decks will be used to play war to determine who has control of the ball.

1 Joker to be the blob ball placed in the center of the field

RulesGoalMove blob past opponent’s starting lineCharactersJack, moves 3 spaces without the ball, 1 space with the ballQueen, moves 2 spaces with or without ball (ball can only move as fast as the slowest character on it)King, moves 1 space with or without the ballEach player has three actions to do things on their turnMove a character (only can move an individual character once per turn)Lift blob (auto chance to lift blob if the player ends turn with three cards on it)Move blob (only once per turn- ball can only move as fast as the slowest character on it)When picking up blob:Need at least 3 cards on blob to pick it up.Play “war” with AI physics player using the physics suit decks- higher card (plus any player bonus points) wins
Numbers worth their number (Ace is worth 1)Jack = 11, Queen = 12, King = 13Bonus for each card on blob: King +2, Queen +1, Jack +0If opponent is also on the blob, they get to play in the war hand as well to defend with their bonuses and prevent blob movementIf blob falls out by Physics winning in “war”:Throw ace of hearts to determine direction. The end point of the heart is the direction it movesDraw from the Heart deck of Jack (worth 1), Queen (worth 1), King (worth 1), Ace (worth 1), 2, 3, and 4 to determine amount of movement.