Returning to the Void

Epic Games releases $12 million worth of Paragon assets for free

The Project

Video game interactive tarot experience

Have you ever had a dream you didn't believe in, until someone else said they have the same dream and are crazy enough to go for it if you will?

Eventually your "other half" gives up but, you can't. You've sacrificed too much to stop trying. Instead, you decide to research a game design you know is "niche" or is it?

Betheseda where they went wrong with Game of Nancy Design.

Why Paragon?

John Wasilczyk: When we started this project, we had the opportunity to make anything. It's incredibly rare in that regard. Being a more senior team, we appreciate how rare the opportunity is. Turns out we have a lot of guys on the team who either love MOBAs and have for quite some time, or over the course of making this game, have grown to know and love them. - "Epic Talks Moving From Gears of War to MOBAs with Paragon"

March 19, 2018 Epic Games announced a full array art assets from their MOBA Paragon would be released for up and coming developers to use and learn from. Also Cards are a mechanic in Paragon which allow players to upgrade their heroes in-game by increasing their stats or incorporating active and passive abilities into their hero's build. Players choose a deck to bring into a match and then purchase these cards for use in-game.

Paragon Has Old Italian and Greek Roots

Paragon derives from the Old Italian word paragone, which literally means "touchstone." In modern English, paragon signifies a standard against which something should be judged. Ultimately, paragon comes from the Greek parakonan, meaning "to sharpen," from the prefix para- ("alongside of") and akonē, meaning "whetstone."

I'm not sure if the community will like my vision but honestly, I'm doing it for more than just Paragon players, I'm doing it b/c I'm determined to honor and complete Executive Producer John Wasilczyk, currently Improbable, Vice President, London Games Studio, challenge to "make anything" and enjoy having a lot of creative freedom.

This project is my homage to game development, different forms of "magic" and their proper place in bringing community together.

Is Anyone Else Doing Something Similar?

Yes, DONTNOD Entertainment and Microsoft Game Studios Publishing are developing "Tell Me Why" with guidance from LGBTQ, cultural and mental health advocates. Checkpoint is run by health professionals who love games (and gamers who love mental health!)

The Coping Companion is their high quality, illustrated card deck. A powerful tool containing over fifty evidence based tips for dealing with everyday stress and anxiety, as well as crises, distress and panic symptoms. Take the entire deck or just pick out the cards which resonate with you!

Educational Goals

Has your game development team ever stalled as a result of that one specific skillset role that just can't be filled? The team at AskGameDev has seen the absence of these game development team members literally sink game development projects - and often at the biggest studios in the industry.

By utilizing the assets provided by Epic Games we can learn, reverse engineer and document best practices for others to develop these much needed skillsets.

CheckPoint Companion Deck

A personalized well-being assistant, made by and for gamers, you can use in any way that suits you.

Each card contains a unique coping tip taken from a number of psychological therapies, including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Behavioural Activation and more.

The Companion Deck is designed to be a quick reminder of a skill you can learn or that you already have. When you feel like you would benefit from one of these tools, flick through your deck. Some of the cards can give inspiration for ways to think about the situation, handle the problem or recruit help. Others are there to guide you through a calming exercise. And many are designed to remind you that you already have the strength to get through this – a confidence we often lose in challenging moments.

Everyone is different, and what works for someone else might not be the right fit for you. Try a number of cards out and see what feels best. As you progress on your journey for wellbeing and resilience, your personal deck may change. There are five categories of card, which are color-coded: Grounding and Mindfulness, Everyday Basics, Mindful Mantras, Thought Exercises and Problem Solving.

8-Bit Tarot

The 8-Bit Tarot is a standard 78-card tarot deck based on the classic designs of the Rider-Waite deck, but with a classic arcade pixel art treatment. Each card was designed by Indigo Kelleigh at the resolution of 88×152 pixels using only the colors in the default 8-bit Mac OS color palette.

Available in two fun formats, now from TheGameCrafter.com:

Super 8-Bit Tarot is a full-sized tarot deck, great for a playful reading.

Or, the Pocket 8-Bit Tarot presents the 8-Bit Tarot in its original miniature format, perfect for portability or small-handed readers.

The Deck includes:

78 full color 2.75×4.75-inch tarot cards
Understanding 8-Bit Tarot – Descriptions of each card’s meanings
Worlds of 8-Bit Tarot – Pixel-art map of the traditional Celtic Cross spread
Retro-styled tuck box

I know a LOT of people into Tarot who also play video games. When I asked US Games why this is, they attributed the problem to licensing and when I asked game developers - the simplest answer is ... the Game of Nancy, a turn-based game in which players change teams from round to round. The deck really didn't do as well as it could have but since 2016, "Bathesda has become a bad developer" so, why not try for myself?

Shoutout to Sam of Companion in Shadow for sharing the Super 8-Bit Tarot available on Game Crafter.

TableTop or Board Game

Trust Me, I’m Psychic

a game of silly soothsaying for players aged 12 and up.

Do you believe psychics can glimpse into the future or that all psychics are frauds? The mystical and hysterical game of Trust Me, I’m Psychic might change your thinking! In this unpredictable game of predictions, you ask questions about your future or provide insights into the future of the other players. Whether you’re a Psychic or a Fraud, use your imagination to spin a fantastical fortune for the Customer where storytelling is key.

VR

Kismet

Throughout the experience's year-long production, the Kismet team has grown in size from one person, creator David Chontos, who conceived Kismet at first as a personal passion project, into a team of 25 talented artists, producers, and developers.

Making of ...

Crowdfunded

Divinuet: a musical tarot reading game

An interactive experience for PC and Mac that generates unique music based on tarot readings.

$1,649 pledged of $5,500 goal
73 backers
Funding for this project on Kickstarter was canceled by the project creator on Sep 13 2019 and moved to IndieGoGo
IndieGoGo results :$3,952 USD by 152 backers on Nov 8, 2019

Other Kickstarter Project Examples

The Adventurer's Tarot

A glittering, fantasy-themed card oracle for use in 5th Edition D&D (and other fantasy role playing games.)

The Legend of Tarot - a Tarot deck for gamers

392 backers pledged $16,870 to help bring this project to life.

Last updated October 9, 2014

Other Paragon 2.0 Projects

Since its new year and Quantamphysx has found himself basically jobless he decided to make this video on current Paragon or Paragon2.0 projects. Here's the original one started on Reddit.

I'm way too busy researching 7D technology, supporting myself and meeting new people to have even tried so I am very grateful to him for doing it.

State of the Project

Since starting this project in 2016:

moved more than three times, including being homeless or "squatting" with the owner's permission
changed teams members like a revolving door entrance
finished healing from breaking up with my original partner
found more and more failed attempts by others

I've spoken to respected people in the Tarot community and received mixed reviews. Some are happy with me trying to shake up the status quo. Others, see this project as an attack on their beliefs and way of life. No one has discouraged me. Quite the contrary, each one has offered very concise advice gained from their own experience with creating a deck, doing readings or phases of game development. Each one has always left me with the same impression.

The creation of a deck changes you, your life and how you see things.

Definitely, I was going to create a formal open source project to allow others to pick up the ball but someone told me, "Nah, just keep being yourself. Ignore all of the fan fare, everything you've read to be <fill in the blank> and let the deck express itself."

There's a little white book in the works but I'm not finished editing it and yeah, that one since losing my "other half" it's going to take much longer for me to figure out what he can do in his sleep. Besides, the more I learn about how practitioners choose decks and learn to read - the more I discover everyone will have their own take on the card meaning. Not to mention, when its done I plan to have rules for a few games included.

Appendix

A small list of resources, organizations and people who have been a part of this journey.

Artists

Top Playing Card Designers