Card Slingers Score and Icon

April 23rd, 2009  ~  Chris Hasney  ~  2 Comments 

The college kids making the bridge video game have asked me for an original score and an icon.  I don’t know how to create either one.  Any volunteers?  If we use your stuff you don’t get paid but you will get a credit on the credits page.

Bridge Man on Campus

April 22nd, 2009  ~  Chris Hasney  ~  1 Comment 

I made some bridge videos and for some reason one of them is really lagging in views.  It is called Bridge Man on Campus and is available to watch at www.youtube.com/7ntxx (If that doesn’t work try www.youtube.com/user/7ntxx)

Anyway, I’d be interested in viewpoints on why it’s not as popular as the others.  Current view count for BMOC is 83.

Linda is Official Winner

April 16th, 2009  ~  Chris Hasney  ~  No Comments 

It is now past April 15, tea party “no socialism here day” in the U.S., and Linda is now the official winner of the name the game contest with her entry of card slingers.  Linda, contact me please by e-mail for your books.

Internet Bridge Teacher Scam Alert

April 15th, 2009  ~  Chris Hasney  ~  46 Comments 

There’s a new scam afoot.  Bridge teachers get the following messages with different destination states:

Hi , My name is Keisha Briggs. My daughter would be  coming for 2 months 
holiday in the US (CA) and i want her to use the period of  her holiday to 
learn the fundamentals of Bridge Card Game beginning from April  30th. Could 
you please provide me with your rates, Location and qualification  and then 
we can move on from there. I await your quick response as soon as  possible, 
Thanks."

"I'm Tyrese Alejandro,My daughter would be coming  for 2 months holiday in 
the US (CA) and i want her to use the period of her  holiday to learn the 
fundamentals of Bridge Card Game begining from April  30th. Could you please 
provide me with your rates, Location and Qualifications  and then we can move 
on from there. I await your quick response as soon as  possible, "

Not sure what the point of the scam is.

Chris

35 Steps

April 13th, 2009  ~  Chris Hasney  ~  No Comments 

Helly Kemp of Queensland, Australia has asked that I help publicise the following:

THE 35 STEPS, the graphic, full colour, single page teaching aid and aide-memoire for new and intermediate bridge players.  It is further described and available at www.the35steps.com

This type of learning tool can be quite an aid to beginners as they play social bridge.  I wonder if we can allow it in the beginner adjunct tables in our regular duplicate games.  I like the idea of letting beginners use cheat sheets, notes, whatever so they go more things correctly from the start.

Contract Bridge Videos

April 11th, 2009  ~  Chris Hasney  ~  No Comments 

I visited my youtube site today and was shocked that there had been so few views.  There are four videos of college-age bridge players in a university and student union setting.  I hope you’ll take a look at them at http://www.youtube.com/7ntxx

These were shot with actors at Cochise Community College last fall.  We need to explore this medium as a way to expose our great game of contract bridge to the youth of America.  (The rest of the world doesn’t seem to have the same problem that we do in developing our replacements in the game.

Coming Soon!

April 10th, 2009  ~  Chris Hasney  ~  2 Comments 

Yesterday I saw the beginnings of the new contract bridge teaching game.  We are working with Linda’s title, slightly modified, calling the game Card Slingers.  I like this because it has the word “card” and is more generic than bridge-related stuff.  Since the game begins with card basics (what is a spade, etc.) it can even by useful to those trying to get kids interested in poker, gin, canasta, etc.  (The contest officially ends on the 15th, so if you want to try to beat Linda’s entry time is short!)

The graphics are not the best, but that’s to be expected at this level.  But they are fun, the characters wear western hats (black for bad guys, white for good guys) and there are both male and female non-player characters.  Controls are easy to use, and there are a lot of game explanations and teaching modules.  Players get to ask questions of a teacher character, who can answer or say “Go Away” depending on how many reputation points the player has accumulated.

Another neat feature is that the game will be downloadable as a .exe file and can be saved on the user’s computer for future play.  It can also be played from my site, and perhaps from another gaming site.

I’m looking forward to seeing the final game program.  I’m hoping that it will be a new tool to introduce folks, especially youngsters, to our great card game of contract bridge.  Oh, by the way, if it gets that far it will be oriented to rubber bridge, 4-deal style with duplicate scoring.

When completed the bridge game will be linked from http://www.simplicitybridge.com

Win three bridge books: Name this game!

March 18th, 2009  ~  Chris Hasney  ~  3 Comments 

Contest

Concept

I am developing a computer game with the help of a group of students, and it needs a name! It is based on the first chapter of my ebook Simplicity Bridge (which you can read for free at www.simplicitybridge.com/purchase.html). This action and role playing game introduces the player to rubber bridge through a series of minigames that follow an overarching storyline. It is not just a game about bridge; the card game is integrated into a larger game in order to draw in an audience of varying ages and teach people rubber bridge. The plot centers on a rather infamous gunslinger framed for a crime in an isolated town. The player must guide the protagonist through a series of challenges as he is pitted against enemies such as bounty hunters, mercenaries, and ultimately the corrupt town Sheriff. The goal is to have the player acquire a basic understanding of the rubber bridge while experiencing a fun and engrossing game.

Feature Set

The focus of the game is the minigames in which rubber bridge is taught and played. These are initiated through encounters with varying foes as the player progresses through different locations. Each minigame encounter builds on the last. Very early in the adventure, the player meets and befriends a bridge expert, who becomes a guiding figure. The player is shown how to play bridge in this series of minigames. In addition, the game features segments of combat, character interaction and exploration of the game world. The player character has the feature of a reputation, which affects interactions with other characters. Depending on how the player does in the bridge minigames, points are added to the reputation meter. Successfully completing the games or lessons nets the player a good reputation and positive reactions from non-player characters. Conversely, failing affects reputation and results in negative character interactions.

Target Audience

The game is intended for audiences ages 7 and up. The minigames involving bridge are built around the notion that the player has never played bridge or even necessarily seen a deck of cards. The main game is designed in a manner that allows the player to be gently eased into the concepts of role playing and adventure gaming.

Contest Details

The contest ends April 15, 2009. The contestant whose suggested title is selected to become the official name of the game will win a copy of my ebook Simplicity Bridge (valued at $19.95 US), the new book Team Tactics by Steve Bruno (valued at $18.00 US), and The Encyclopedia of Card Play Techniques at Bridge by Guy Levé. (valued at $33.95 US).  Post your ideas as a comment on this blog and be sure to include your email address. I look forward to reading your suggestions!