NZ start-up launches crowd funding for cult card game Sooth
NZ start-up launches crowd funding for cult card game ‘Sooth’
The creators of Sooth, an infectious yet simple parlour game with a remarkable cult following, are today launching their campaign on New Zealand-based crowd funding platform Boosted. The campaign aims to raise the funds to produce the first edition of this unique card game in time for Christmas 2018.
The campaign launch is at Gypsy Tea Room, 455 Richmond Road in Grey Lynn, Auckland, 7pm tonight.
One of its creators describes Sooth as “a great ice breaker, social lubricant and instigator of interesting conversations – whether they’re metaphysical, political, opinionated, intimate, anything really. I’ve made many of my longest-lasting friendships at Sooth sessions.”
Each new edition will feature the art of a different New Zealand comic artist, with a set of Sooth consisting of 300 cards, each displaying a yes or no question on a very eclectic range of topics, and unique artwork.
What other people have said about Sooth:
“I like its simplicity,
non-competitiveness and inclusiveness.”
“A great way
to talk about the most random stuff with people you’ve
just met.”
“It’s kind of a cross between Scruples
and Trivial Pursuit, but really nothing like
either.”
“It's a game, a work of art, a shared
improvised performance poem.”
“It’s not like any
game I’ve ever played. I’m not even sure it’s a
game.”
“Legendary.”
“What a f***ing waste of
time.”
The Auckland-based duo behind Sooth are Cornelius Stone and Nik Smythe, who met over an impromptu game of Sooth in the mid ‘90s.
Cornelius is the creator of Sooth, who ensured the popularity of this social institution over the decades by hosting semi-regular pop-up Sooth games all over town, from places like DKD and Alleluya cafés to people’s living rooms, and even live on BFM. An established comic artist, Stone is the brains behind the Game and the bulk of the questions, and has drawn the artwork for the inaugural edition.
Nik Smythe is the co-designer and administrator. “We think now is the perfect time for Sooth,” he says. “I often hear people lamenting the fact that their social life happens mainly on social media. Sooth is kind of an antidote to the digital age.”
“The beauty of Sooth is you can play it
anywhere, anytime, with any number of people, and you can
join and leave without disrupting game play,” says Stone.
“It’s an all-ages game, and the first edition is going
to have something for everyone. But we do intend to produce
themed editions further down the track.”
Boosted crowd funding page: https://www.boosted.org.nz/projects/sooth
Launch
event: https://www.facebook.com/events/259219334681121/
Facebook
page: https://www.facebook.com/Sooth-199774590816268/
Twitter:
@Soothgame https://twitter.com/Soothgame