52 Pickup: Issue #1 - Escape the Pet Shop! and It Approaches!
Issue 1 (April 2023) of 52 Pickup is our first Standard Playing Card Edition, which contains two games you can play with a standard deck (or decks) of playing cards.
The Games
Escape the Pet Shop!
A co-op game for 1-2 players where you attempt to escape a Pet Shop by evading its owner! It contains elements of set collection, grid movement, and hand management.
It Approaches!
Something diabolical draws near. Out-bluff your opponents to keep your best resources before IT APPROACHES! A game for 2-4+ players per deck of cards. It contains elements of bluffing and memory.
Designer Notes
Escape the Pet Shop!
Escape the Pet Shop! is my attempt to simplify some of my favorite mechanics in co-op games, making it playable with a standard deck of cards. I believe there is plenty of opportunity for expansion, such as introducing character abilities for the players and bringing in a custom deck with art. You may see further development in this space.
The main games that inspired me were Forbidden Desert (Matt Leacock, 2013) and Transformers: The Deck Building Game (Dan Blanchette, Matt Hyra, 2021).
It Approaches!
It Approaches was designed to fit in the simplest of spaces, where you can play with a group of people at a very low skill level. My intention was to create a party game that still involves a bit of skill and strategy, rather than relying solely on luck.
The main games that inspired me were Get Bit! (Dave Chalker, 2007), Poker, and Liar’s Dice.
Credits
- Art by Josie Bedford (@josie.tattoos)
- Design by Dylan Byrne
- Produced by Daniel Gratwicke
Availability
52 Pickup is currently only available upon request (by emailing hello@citysquarestudios.com), at the Hamilton City Library Zine vending machine, or physically at markets we attend. We are currently working on making 52 Pickup more easily accessible both online and physically.
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More Info
You can find more information about 52 Pickup here.
