№ 39 | Together To Gather Card Deck, Visual Frameworks, an HR Card Game, Types of Problems, a Game Development Map, and… More Solarpunk! 🤪
So. Many. Open. Tabs. But, I've also had a heck of a week—emotionally draining and all. Which means… I'm sharing only those things that were easy to scan; there's nothing here that requires hours of sustained, focused attention! 😂 Good? Bad? It is what it is!
Together To Gather card deck
What is certainly good—no, GREAT!—is the new Together To Gather card deck from my friends Jessie Shternshus and Lia James. Pitched as ”a card deck to inspire deep and meaningful connections,” I've had to privilege to see this conversation game evolve over the past many months. The trick here, and what sets this apart from so many other conversation starter types of deck is the ”two-deck conversation card set.” The first deck is for opening a conversation (this part is fairly common); the second deck is for digging deeper and leaning into what other people share. This second deck is basically like training wheels to become better listeners and more inquisitive about what other people are sharing.Nice.
Here's a recent post from Jessie giving a little more context.
There's also the whole Traveling Table Dinner Series and YouTube Show that goes along with this deck… But, topic for another day!
Speaking of friends (and MMC members!) who are making brilliant things…
100 visual frameworks
A few weeks ago, Dave Gray shared this passion project of his with me–and it's pretty amazing! Basically, as a long-time visual thinker, Dave has been accumulating—metaphorically and literally—100s of these go to visual patterns (+ metaphors), to “to help you think creatively, reframe challenging situations, and imagine possible strategies and solutions.” Think pendulums, funnels, puzzles, black holes, cycles, clouds, etc.
He's sharing these over at visualframeworks.com, has a poster for sale on etsy, and… has more planned for all this… I'll let Dave share more when he's ready. 😉
An HR Card Game?
“Be the last Manager standing in this fast-paced game of workplace relationship shenanigans!” I'm not sure if this a healthy game to play, or not. But… HR the Toxic Workplace Game is “a fast-paced card game for up to four players, where they hire and fire their way up the corporate ladder. Players can win by successfully launching projects or getting their fellow players fired on the spot.”
😬😂
Here's an interview with the creator: “How a Malaysian Game Designer Turned Human Resources Into a Playable Card Game.”
On types of problems
After sharing my types of problems musings with my friend Cassini, he directed me to this short TEDx talk from the amazing Harry Max: “The problem is not the problem” [VIDEO]. Personal stories, plus “a new model for diagnostic thinking” that will “change the way you envision and tackle problems.”
Game development map
While this ‘map’ is specific to game development, I think we can all relate to some part(s) of this. The quick turn around from “Ocean of ideas” to “Tides of Inaction”—that one hits a bit too close to home! [Source unknown 🙁]
***BONUS: More Solarpunk! [🌞🤛🏻]
If you didn't get enough Solarpunk stuff last week, here's one more article (another good overview + link roundup), and… AND… 🥁 two more new-to-me-since-last-week Solarpunk games:
First, Miru a “solo-first/ hexcrawling analog adventure game…”
…followed by Dragon Dowser, where you can “rescue and rear dragons in this solarpunk tabletop RPG for one player.”
I'm really not looking for this stuff—it just keeps crossing my path!
