5. ENJOY! FANCY TOUCHES •If You Have a Corner Rounder, Go to Town Rounding the Corners

Home , 989 Studios, Cave Story, EverQuest, LittleBigPlanet, PaRappa the Rapper, Psygnosis

Videogame Edition + Expansion MAKING YOUR OWN METAGAME print-and-play 1. HOMESTYLE 1. STORE-MADE Print out pages 2-7 of Go to your local copy shop this document (just the and have them print the cards), preferably in OR cards on 80lb or heavier color on white card stock white card stock. (80lb or heavier).

2. PRINT THE BACKING PAGE (page 10) on the back of the Discussion Cards so that you can tell them apart from the Game Cards when they are face-down, like this:

3. CAREFULLY CUT out each card with scissors or a fancy paper cutter. 4. PRINT THE RULES on regular paper (front and back to save the polar bears. 5. ENJOY! FANCY TOUCHES •If you have a corner rounder, go to town rounding the corners. •Make a hand-crafted velvet-lined wooden box for the cards. •Laminate the cards so that you can play underwater.

! DEBATE CLUB 4 or more players

This is the basic version of the Metagame. Survive each round by arguing for your clever cultural comparison. If the critics don’t like what you say, you are knocked out and become a critic too. The final remaining player is the winner.

Setup. DEBATE CLUB MODS Separate the cards into two face-down decks: culture cards (the cards with pictures) and discus- Variations on the basic game. Feel free to mix and sion cards (the cards with questions). The player match and come up with your own way to play. who most recently finished reading a book begins METAGA.ME as the critic. The critic deals everyone else a hand of five culture cards. Critic’s choice. The Debate. for the critic that wants just a little more power The critic turns over a discussion card. If it has a The critic draws 3 discussion cards and picks one blank, the critic decides how to fill it. Everyone to use. chooses the card from their hand that best match- RULES DRAFT es the discussion card and places it face-down on Point out the critic. for 50-card prototype deck. the table. The critic calls on the players one by one a way to choose the first critic to reveal their card and explain why it is the best. Rather than starting with a critic in the game, Final game will have 250 cards everyone begins as a player. On the first round, The Judgment. draw a random discussion card. After everyone The critic picks the BEST and the WORST gives their arguments, at the count of 1-2-3, responses. The winning player gets the reward of everyone points at the person who did the worst. discarding any one card from their hand and The person with the most votes becomes the first drawing a new one. The losing player is knocked critic. Then play normally. out, discards his or her entire hand, and joins the critic. Surviving players each draw a new card. On The hunger game. THE METAGAME. DISCUSS. future rounds, the growing group of critics makes a strategic mod where you are starved for cards all decisions together (if there is a tie vote, the Each player draws a hand of culture cards equal to newest critic gets to break the tie). Special thanks to: Ida C. Benedetto, Max Temkin and the number of rounds that will be played that Esopus Magazine. game. Then deal a face-up row of the same Winning. number of discussion cards. Each round, the critic http://metaga.me The final player remaining is the winner and picks one of the face-up cards to use as the becomes the starting critic for the next game. discussion card that round. Players CANNOT draw © 2013 Local No. 12 any more cards - you have to strategize the best Colleen Macklin, John Sharp, & Eric Zimmerman way to use your dwindling hand of cards. HEAD TO HEAD CRITICS CIRCLE MASSIVELY MULTIPLAYER METAGAME 3 players 3 or more players 10 to 1000 or more players

A strategic variant for two bitter rivals and a critic. Round and round the critic goes... In this version This large-scale version of the game is good for The critic lays out 5 discussion cards and then the of the Metagame, there is a new critic each turn. big parties or events. Once it gets going, it can last 2 players carefully deploy culture cards from their There isn’t any debate or discussion - the critic for hours or even days. hands. Who. Will. Win? picks their favorite response without knowing who played which card.

Setup. Setup. Setup. Pick one player to be the critic. The critic deals a Pick a starting critic and deal everyone (including Give everyone who arrives a random hand of 4 hand of 7 culture cards to the two other players. the critic) a hand of 5 cards. culture cards and 2 discussion cards. Then the critic lays out a column of 5 discussion cards face-up. The critic decides how to fill in any The Question. The Challenge. blanks on discussion cards. Each round, the current critic draws a discussion You can challenge any other player by showing card and the other players submit their best culture them a culture card and a discussion card. If they The duel. card face-down to the critic, who shuffles them, accept, the challenged player responds with one of The critic turns her back on the game so she can’t reveals them, and then picks his or her favorite their own culture cards. see anything. While the critic can’t see, players without knowing who played it. alternate turns putting a content card face-up next The Debate. to a discussion card. You can only play once on The Answer. Both sides make arguments about whose culture each discussion card. Also, you must avoid playing Whenever you win a round, take the discussion card is the best match. Any nearby bystanders on a discussion card where your opponent just card from that round as a scoring token and place vote on the winner, who randomly draws a card played - unless it is the only one left. it in front of you on the table. The winner becomes from the loser’s entire collection of cards. the critic for the next round. Everyone draws back The verdict. up to five cards. The End. When both players have played on every discus- At the end of the event, count your cards. The sion card, the critic can look at the cards. The critic Winning. player who has collected the most cards is the decides who wins each comparison without The first player to accumulate enough discussion winner. knowing who played which card. The player who cards in front of them wins. Play to three cards for wins the most comparisons is the victor and a quick game, four cards for a serious brawl, or becomes the critic for the next game. five cards for an epic contest.

Critics Circle Mod: Think fast! What if a player runs out of cards? Slam your chosen culture card as quickly as You decide. You might refresh players that run out possible on the table. The last player to put down a of cards, or give everyone new cards at set card does not get to play that round. intervals. Or maybe you invent silly things players can do to "earn" cards. It's up to you - it's your party! Adventure America’s Army Angry Birds . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Tablet Infographics Tablet Infographics Rachel E. Morris DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 1979 Atari 2002 US Army, 2009 Rovio Mobile Secret Level PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER Atari 2600 Atari PLATFORM PUBLISHER mobile Clickgamer PC, Xbox US Army, Media, Chilingo Ubisoft

Any Kinect Game Asteroids Bejeweled . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Michelle Lim Nicolas Cinquegrani K. Thor Jensen

DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 2010 various 1979 Atari 2001 PopCap PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER Xbox Kinect various arcade Atari various PopCap

Call of Duty: Bioshock Burnout Black Ops . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Jeanne Kelly Raymund Anlocotan / Raydiant Jeanne Kelly

DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 2007 2K Boston 2001 Criterion Games 2010 Treyarch PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PC, consoles 2k Games consoles Acclaim PC, consoles Activision Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Civilization III Counter-Strike . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Rachel E. Morris Nicolas Cinquegrani Jeanne Kelly

DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 1997 KCE Tokyo 2001 Firaxis Games, 1999 Minh "Gooseman" Le Westlake Interactive and Jess "Cliffe" Cliffe PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PlayStation Konami PLATFORM PUBLISHER PC Infogrames PC independent

Cow Clicker Crayon Physics Deluxe Dance Dance Revolution . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Ian Bogost Jeanne Kelly Rachel E. Morris DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 2010 Ian Bogost 2009 Petri Purho 1998 KCE Tokyo PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER Facebook Ian Bogost PC Petri Purho arcade Konami

Defender Deus Ex Diablo . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Tablet Infographics K. Thor Jensen Adam S Doyle DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 1980 Williams Electronics 2002 Ion Storm 1997 Blizzard North PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER arcade Williams Electronics PC Eidos PC Blizzard Diner Dash Donkey Kong DOOM . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Tablet Infographics Tablet Infographics Jeanne Kelly DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 2003 Gamelab 1981 Nintendo 1993 id Software PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PC PlayFirst arcade Nintendo PC id Software, GT Interactive

Dope Wars Dragon’s Lair Duck Hunt . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

K. Thor Jensen Adam S Doyle Carolina Moya DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 1984 John E. Dell 1983 Advanced 1984 Nintendo PLATFORM PUBLISHER Microcomputer Systems PLATFORM PUBLISHER PC independent PLATFORM PUBLISHER NES Nintendo arcade Cinematronics, Taito

Epic Mickey EverQuest Far Cry 2 . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Katie Skelly Adam S Doyle Jeanne Kelly DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 2010 Junction Point Studios 1999 989 Studios 2008 Ubisoft Montreal PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER Wii Disney PC Sony Online PC, consoles Ubisoft FarmVille Final Fantasy VII Flower . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Tablet Infographics Raymund Anlocotan / Raydiant Joseph Laquinte DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 2009 Zynga 1997 Squaresoft 2009 Thatgamecompany PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER Facebook Zynga PlayStation Squaresoft PS3 Sony

Gran Turismo Grim Fandango Grand Theft Auto III . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Raymund Anlocotan / Raydiant Rachel E. Morris Katie Skelly DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 1997 Polyphony Digital 1998 LucasArts 2001 DMA Design PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PlayStation Sony PC LucasArts PS2 Rockstar Games, Take Two Interactive

Guitar Hero Half-Life Heavy Rain . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Katie Skelly Heather Nunnelly Heather Nunnelly DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 2005 Harmonix 1998 Valve 2010 Quantic Dream PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER consoles Red Octane PC, consoles Sierra PS3 Sony Ico Jet Grind Radio Katamari Damacy

Adam S Doyle Miguel Sternberg Becky Heritage DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 2001 Team Ico 2000 Smilebit 2004 Namco PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PS2 Sony Dreamcast Sega PS2 Namco

The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker Lemmings LittleBigPlanet

Rachel E. Morris Carolina Moya Heather Nunnelly DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 2002 Nintendo 1991 DMA Design 2008 Media Molecule PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER GameCube Nintendo PC Psygnosis PS3 Sony

John Madden Football Super Mario Kart Mass Effect

K. Thor Jensen Rachel E. Morris Heather Nunnelly DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 1988 EA 1992 Nintendo 2007 BioWare PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PC, consoles EA SNES Nintendo PC, Xbox 360 Microsoft, EA Mike Tyson’s Metagame Metal Gear Solid Punch-Out!!

Metagame . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

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2011 DATE Local No. 12 G1-GM046/100 PUBLISHER Local No. 12

DATE 2011 PLATFORM Cardgame DEVELOPER Local No. 12 PUBLISHER Local No. 12 G1-GM046/100 DATE 2011 PLATFORM Cardgame Miguel Sternberg Tablet Infographics DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 2011 Local No. 12 1998 Konami 1987 Nintendo PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER paper Local No. 12 PlayStation Konami NES Nintendo

Minecraft Mortal Kombat Ms. Pac-Man . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Michelle Lim K. Thor Jensen Adam S Doyle DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 2009 - Mojang Specifications 1992 Midway 1981 Bally, Midway, PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER General Computer Corp. PC Mojang Specifications arcade Midway PLATFORM PUBLISHER arcade Bally, Midway, Namco

Myst Nintendogs The Oregon Trail . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Jeanne Kelly Nicolas Cinquegrani Colleen Macklin DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 1993 Cyan 2005 Nintendo 1971 MECC PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PC Brøderbund DS Nintendo PC Brøderbund Pac-Man PaRappa the Rapper Passage . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Tablet Infographics Carolina Moya Joseph Laquinte DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 1980 Namco 1996 NanaOn-Sha 2007 Jason Rohrer PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER arcade Namco, Midway PlayStation Sony PC independent

Peggle Pitfall! Plants vs. Zombies . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Jeanne Kelly Adam S Doyle Tablet Infographics DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 2007 PopCap 1982 Activision 2009 PopCap PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PC PopCap Atari 2600 Activision PC PopCap

Pokémon Pole Position Pong . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Raymund Anlocotan / Raydiant Becky Heritage Tablet Infographics DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 1998 Game Freak 1982 Namco 1972 Atari PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER Game Boy Nintendo arcade Namco, Atari arcade Atari Portal Prince of Persia Rez . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Raymund Anlocotan / Raydiant Jeanne Kelly Katie Skelly DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 2007 Valve 1989 Brøderbund 2001 United Game Artists PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PC, consoles Valve Apple II Brøderbund PS2, Dreamcast Sega

Rogue Scrabulous Scribblenauts . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Rachel E. Morris Tablet Infographics Raymund Anlocotan / Raydiant DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 1980 Michael Toy & 2007 Lexulous 2009 5th Cell Glen Wichman PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER Facebook Lexulous Nintendo DS Warner Bros. PC independent

The Secret of Monkey Island Shadow of the Colossus Sid Meier’s Pirates! . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Nicolas Cinquegrani Rachel E. Morris Adam S Doyle DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 1990 Lucasfilm Games 2005 Team Ico 1987 MicroProse PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PC LucasArts PS2 Sony PC MicroProse Sissy’s Magical SimCity Ponycorn Adventure Sonic the Hedgehog . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Tablet Infographics Cassie Creighton, age 5 Kim Kiser DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 1989 Maxis 2011 Cassie & Ryan Creighton 1991 Sonic Team PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PC Brøderbund PC Untold Entertainment Genesis Sega

Space Invaders Spelunky StarCraft . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Tablet Infographics Rachel E. Morris Raymund Anlocotan / Raydiant DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 1978 Taito Corporation 2008 Derek Yu 1998 Blizzard PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER arcade Midway PC independent PC Blizzard

Street Fighter II Super Mario 64 Super Meat Boy . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Rachel E. Morris Raymund Anlocotan / Raydiant Jeanne Kelly DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 1991 Capcom 1996 Nintendo 2010 Team Meat PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER arcade Capcom Nintendo 64 Nintendo XBLA independent Tekken Tetris The Sims . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Carolina Moya Becky Heritage Heather Nunnelly DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 1994 Namco 1984 Alexey Pajitnov 2000 Maxis PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER arcade Namco PC various PC EA

Uncharted 2: Ultima III: Exodus Among Thieves VVVVVV . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Jeanne Kelly Raymund Anlocotan / Raydiant Rachel E. Morris DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 1983 Richard Gariott 2009 Naughty Dog 2010 Terry Cavanagh PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PC Origin Systems PS3 Sony PC distractionware

WarioWare, Inc.: Where in the World Warcraft II Mega Microgame$! is Carmen Sandiego? . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Adam S Doyle Katie Skelly Tablet Infographics DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 1995 Blizzard 2003 Nintendo 1985 Brøderbund PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PC Blizzard Game Boy Nintendo PC Brøderbund Advance Wii Sports World of Goo World of Warcraft . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Raymund Anlocotan / Raydiant Carolina Moya Becky Heritage DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 2006 Nintendo 2008 2D Boy 2004 Blizzard PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER Wii Nintendo PC, WiiWare independent PC Blizzard

Super Mario World 2: Worms Yoshi’s Island Zork . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Nicolas Cinquegrani Adam S Doyle Miguel Sternberg DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 1995 Team17 1995 Nintendo 1980 Infocom PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PC, consoles Ocean SNES Nintendo PC Personal Software, Infocom

Breakout Braid D.O.T.A. . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Tablet Infographics Rachel E. Morris Crolina Moya

DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER DATE DEVELOPER 1976 Atari 2008 Number None 2003 Eul PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER PLATFORM PUBLISHER arcade Atari XBLA Microsoft PC, Mac independent Cave Story . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Rachel E. Morris DATE DEVELOPER 2004 Pixel PLATFORM PUBLISHER PC independent . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA METAGA.ME METAGA.ME METAGA.ME

METAGA.ME METAGA.ME METAGA.ME

METAGA.ME METAGA.ME METAGA.ME . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Jon Nichols . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA METAGA.ME METAGA.ME METAGA.ME

METAGA.ME METAGA.ME METAGA.ME

METAGA.ME METAGA.ME METAGA.ME Which is a Which is a Which better way better way is simply a to spend to waste better game? 10 years? two minutes? . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Which should Which Which gets be put in a deserves more better over 1,000-year respect than time? time capsule? it gets? . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Which Which should created a Which is be required more intense more sexist? in school? subculture? . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA Which Which Which is more is more is more of a frustrating unpredictable? work of art? to play? . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Which had Which is more Which has a bigger culturally been more impact on sophisticated? influential? the industry? . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Which Which is a Which is more of an better guide would make embarrassment to life? a better novel? to all games? . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA Which Which is the one that Which created a everybody is sexier? bigger buzz? loves to hate? . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Which Which lets players Which gives the express has more player more themselves randomness? freedom? more? . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Which Which Which has a more is more is more satisfying core open-ended? complex? mechanic? . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA Which Which Which is is a better is more more realistic? simulation elegant? of its subject? . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Which has Which is Which has made more funnier? a better title? players cry? . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Which Which is more Which is is more of meditative more tragic? a sport? to play? . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA Which Which Which demands is more requires more more of its hardcore? finesse? players? . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Which Which makes Which has better better use is more characters? of space? educational? . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Which has more Which Which meaningful is more is more social strategic? commercial? interaction? . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA Which Which is Which tells makes better more like a better story? use of audio? a movie? . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA

Which is more visually beautiful? . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA . ME METAGA METAGA.ME METAGA.ME METAGA.ME

METAGA.ME METAGA.ME METAGA.ME