Thank you to our talented friend Anna for being a guest this episode! Watch the video on Youtube. Below is a description of our psychedelic reptilian dexterity game, Vivarium.
THE ELEVATOR PITCH
Vivarium is many games in one. Each game is a combination of strategy, observation and dexterity. 2 – 5 players take turns dropping translucent lizard pieces into “The Vivarium”, where they land, stack and interact with different background boards. Each different game uses a different background, different rules and scoring.
THE LOOK
The centre of this game is The Vivarium, a transparent, narrow vertical “tank” with Perspex sides, in the style of “pachinko” or coin-drop games. The tank is ~26cm across and ~35cm high, with grooves which allow one of several different “game boards” to be inserted to create the game background.
The other components of the game are:
Game boards: a number of different backgrounds for use in different game modes. Each game mode has at least 2 possible boards, so minimum 8 boards are included.
Lizard pieces: around 80 domino-sized, translucent plastic pieces in a classic “gecko” shape. These come in 5 different colours including transparent (16 lizards of each colour). Each lizard also has a coloured symbol on its head corresponding to its colour, and a cut-out shape in its centre indicating its “suit”.
The unifying style of this game is bold colours and eye-catching combinations with an almost jarring, psychedelic overtone.
THE GAMES
Here are some of the games you can play in Vivarium:
Scale Escape.
Players: 2 – 5.
Board: A mostly blank board, with 6 sparsely arranged sun icons.
Rules: Each player has all lizards of one colour. Players take turns dropping a lizard of their colour into the Vivarium. If your lizard lands covering a sun icon, you take an immediate extra turn. The winner is the first player whose lizard falls with any part of it sticking over the top edge of the board.
Camo Chameleons.
Players: 2 – 3.
Board: A semi-abstract background with irregular sections outlined in black. Each section contains 4 numbers, each in one of three different colours (R/G/B or C/Y/M) plus black.
Rules: Each player has all lizards of one colour, plus a share of transparent lizards (e.g. 5 each). Players take turns dropping a lizard into the Vivarium. At game end, players score points equal to the total of all numbers showing through lizards of their colour. Numbers in the same colour are visually cancelled out and not scored.
Head to Tail.
Players: 2.
Board: A plain board.
Rules: Each player takes all lizards of one colour. Players take turns dropping a lizard into the Vivarium. Scoring takes place on the go: a point is awarded for each lizard in your longest touching chain of your colour.
Stick the Landing.
Players: 2 – 5.
Board: Small, regularly spaced diamonds with numbers printed inside.
Rules: Each player takes all lizards of one colour. Players take turns dropping a lizard into the Vivarium. Points are scored if a lizard lands with a number showing through the cut-out in its centre.
Territorial.
Players: 2 – 4.
Board: A semi-figurative background in 4 different colours, with abstractly represented “habitats” e.g. leaf, ground, stone, water.
Rules: Each player takes all lizards of one colour. Players take turns dropping a lizard into the Vivarium. A lizard scores 1 point for each different habitat that intersects with its outline, plus 2 bonus points for being partly or entirely within the habitat that matches its “suit”.
SUMMARY
There are many more possible game modes (we like the names “Gecko-Modo” and “Gecko Chamber”!). Players need to look, plan, learn, then play carefully to try and win.
WHAT MAKES THIS GAME UNIQUE?
This is a game which lives by its strong graphic and psychedelic visuals. With many different game modes, it’s intended to be a flexible product which can give enjoyment to different ages and types of player. The key elements are a focus on observation, planning and dexterity. The irregular shape of the pieces means there’s a fun level of unpredictability.
Big Crow Games 