Hamsters vs. Robots, a Kubb battle adventure!
Concept
Concept overview
Kubb Background
Kubb is a Viking game originating in Scandinavia and gained popularity in the last few decades. It is a lawn game that is best described as a combination of bowling and bocce. The objective is to knock over the other team’s wooden blocks, known as Kubbs, by throwing wooden batons and then knock down the King Kubb in the middle. There are usually 6 batons used each round, and 5 kubbs on each side, and the King kubb, which is slightly bigger, in the center of the field. The fields are regulation size of 8 by 5 meters, but in backyard games, most families play at distances that are comfortable for their skill level.
Now, Kubb has a lot more complicated rules than just knocking down the kubbs and then the king. But the Kubb Battle Adventure has modified these rules to make the game easier because, if all these rules were followed, a round of Kubb could take anywhere from 10 minutes to well over an hour. For the full ruleset changes, see this document.
Testing of the modified ruleset showed, the games on average take 5-10 minutes, depending on team size. Team size will determine how many kubbs are on each side (increasing in quantity for more players). Each team goes to their side of the field and whichever team lost the last round, gets to throw first as an advantage. Each round, they attempt to knock down the other teams kubbs using the 6 batons. When all the kubbs are down, they must try to defeat the King Kubb in the center. Once a team has knocked down the other’s kubbs and king, they win and the other team loses. Then, they move onto the next field for another round.
The modified rules make the game accessible for all ages and becomes a simple and fun way to illustrate a battlefield storyline, such as our hamsters vs. robots.
Narrative
Many years ago, genetically altered hamsters evolved to human level intelligence. For some time, there was conflict among the humans and hamsters, as hamsters fought for their right to have a space on Earth as intelligent creatures. Today, in the year 2045, hamsters and humans have learned to live in peace in many major cities throughout the world, sharing space and working together. But, there are some mischievous hamsters who created robots to help them destroy humans! Initially these robots did their bidding, but they revolted, turning against their creators and all hamster kind. For two years, the hamsters and robots have been waging war, the hamsters wanting to destroy their creations and the robots fighting for their own freedom. Now, they each ask the humans for help to defeat one another. You must choose a side, and fight for them as you are teleported to battlegrounds in major locations around the world. Jump into the action in Hamsters vs. Robots, the Kubb battle adventure!
Experience Overview
The group splits into 2 teams of players, joining either the hamsters or robots.
The teams will then be led from the preshow, where the story was revealed, to the training field, where hamster and robot generals will teach the players the rules of the game by playing them. And even though this is a training field, whoever wins this initial field will determine what room they will go to next.
Hamsters vs. Robots focuses on replayability and nonlinear storyline, by giving the players the power to determine the story in their own hands. Each round that is played, whoever wins and loses determines what field the players will move to next. There are 22 fields in total, including the training field, which means there are 22 environments for the players to discover over multiple visits. This includes famous monuments like the Eifel Tower and the Coliseum, as well as Earth’s beautiful natural wonders like Mount Everest and the Great Barrier Reef.
