Cellulose is a worker placement game that puts 1-5 players inside a plant cell, where they will compete over limited resources in order to undergo photosynthesis, produce carbohydrates, and build the cell wall to score points.
It builds on the basic DNA of Cytosis, and a lot will be familiar -- worker placement with flasks activating organelles, cell component cards, and some familiar resource conversions. But, it adds new exciting card combos, an area majority contest in the Vacuole, and serious engine-building potential to become more powerful as the game progresses. When we've shown it to fans of Cytosis, they've loved seeing some recognizable mechanisms used in new ways, with more complexity and lots of strategic diversity. Come check out the Kickstarter!
Steve & The Genius Games Team
A Cytosis Plant Cell Game, and On the Origin of Species live on Kickstarter NOW!
over 4 years ago
– Tue, Dec 03, 2019 at 12:01:25 AM
Hello Cytosis Fans,
It's been a while! We're reaching out today because we'd love your input on a project in the Cytosis line, we're looking for science consultants, and we want to fill you in on our current Kickstarter.
A Cytosis Plant Cell Game
I (Steve) have been working for the past few months with John (designer of Cytosis) on a new Cytosis game set in a Plant Cell. We're thrilled with how it's coming along. It's a worker placement game with many tie-ins to Cytosis, but a heavier engine-building component: as your plant gains access to more water and carbon dioxide, you can carry out photosynthesis more consistently and expand your energy and scoring options.
It also tells the plant cell "story" with some interesting tensions: Do you open the stomata and gain more carbon dioxide, knowing that you will lose access to water through evaporation? Do you spend scarce resources helping the plant grow taller with more leaves, or grow a deeper root structure, or start producing fruit? All the players can make decisions that contribute to the state of the cell, and all the players are affected by their consequences.
An early prototype
Here's where we'd like your help. At this point, we're happy with the shape of about 2/3 of the game. We're looking for (1) general input about what y'all would like to see from a game like this, and (2) any experts who would be interested in helping us ensure that the big picture feels right.
I put together a short survey here. What we really want to know is, what would make you excited for a Plant Cell game? Making sure we do lots of photosynthesis? Strong tie-ins to Cytosis? A scenario/campaign mode for different plant scenarios (fruit tree, cactus)? A heavier game? Let us know! The survey also gives you a chance to enter an email if you're interested in joining our science consultant team, or in participating in our play-testing when we get to that point in the next couple of months.
Look for this game on Kickstarter next year!
Immunology Tower Defense Game
John has also been hard at work designing a "tower defense"-style game about Immunology. He's been talking and thinking about this game for a while, and we've recently started playing prototypes.
This one is still early, but already very exciting, and we'd love to get expert input as soon as we're able. If any of y'all have a strong educational or professional background in the body's overall immune responses and the roles of the relevant systems and cells, please get in touch at [email protected].
On the Origin of Species
I also wanted to direct your attention to On the Origin of Species, live on Kickstarter now. This is the first game that Genius Games is publishing since acquiring Artana, under the Artana line.
Follow the journey of Charles Darwin through the Galapagos Islands and research the native wildlife in this beautifully-illustrated tile placement game.
Artana has a track record of taking the lives of historic scientists and creating a game that will immerse you in their stories. When we saw On The Origin of Species, we knew we had a perfect fit. The game was designed by Gerard Ascensi and Ferran Renalias, and will be licensed by Artana in English. We've already unlocked some great stretch goals. Check it out!
That's all for now!
Steve
The Artana & Genius Games Team
Cytosis Expansions & Promos! And... Periodic LIVE on Kickstarter!
over 5 years ago
– Fri, Sep 21, 2018 at 02:19:24 AM
Hello Cytosis Backers,
It’s been a while!! Hope you all had a good summer. A lot has been going on around here so I wanted to give you the run down on some of the latest happenings.
Cytosis Expansions...
Would you give me your feedback? I’ve got a TON of ideas for expansions. You know Cytosis about as well as anyone and I'd very much appreciate your thoughts – what expansions ideas do you like? What ideas do YOU have?!
We've designed four new cards that should be available as promo in early December, hopefully we'll have them available at PAX Unplugged. This promo pack includes two board modification cards, which give players additional placement options, and two new event cards!
Big news - on Tuesday we launched our Kickstarter for Periodic: A Game of the Elements - a strategy board game that takes place ON the Periodic Table. It's been an intense two days. We were fully funded on launch morning and just passed 520% funding earlier today!
Been working on this one for a while now. Genotype is a betting and manipulation game about cross-breeding pea plants (a la Gregor Mendel’s famous experiments)
Players compete over three generations of plants to predict the traits of new offspring, by controlling the parent plants’ genetic makeup (their genotype). The offspring are determined by a die-roll at the end of each round and become the starting parents for the next generation. Changing the parent genotypes dramatically alters the likelihood of the offspring genotypes, and you have to balance betting on outcomes with manipulating your chances for success.
So, each round players take turns placing one of their action cubes, either as a bet, which may earn points for any future generation; or to determine a parent’s genotype in one trait area. If a player matches one of the public genotype goals for a parent, they may receive a special bonus power for the round and a parent token, which can be collected for points at end-game scoring.
Player with the most points at the end of three generations wins.
Science Words
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Science Words is social word game revolving around scientific terminology. Co-developer Eric Slauson and I are working on a competitive version and a semi-cooperative version of this one.
Basically, each round there's a Cluegiver who's trying to get players to guess a specific science term by giving them single word clues. Here's the challenge though - each clue has to begin with some letter of the science term (excluding the first letter of the term). Depending on whether you're playing the competitive or semi-cooperative version, there are different points awarded in different ways depending on how many clues were given and how soon you submit your guess.
We've already laughed a lot playing this one... it's a puzzler for sure.
Linkage
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Do any of you remember Linkage? :-)
It was my very first published game (and first Kickstarter) from years ago! It’s about the process of DNA to RNA translation. The thing is…the science is solid, but I was a new designer and the game play is only so-so. BUT, I’ve had so many requests to re-print, that I decided to just do a complete re-vamp of gameplay that illuminates the science just as well, but has more interesting decisions.
Email [email protected] if you’d like to play through the new Linkage and she can send you a Print & Play link.
Overflowing with appreciation,
John
Subatomic is LIVE on Kickstarter & Tom Vasel's GLOWING review of Cytosis
about 6 years ago
– Wed, Feb 07, 2018 at 12:46:54 AM
Subatomic: An Atom Building Game just went live this morning. We surpassed our funding goal in only a few hours and already hit our first Stretch Goal and likely going to hit another hit another (Adding a 5th Scientist Card) by the end of the day.
Particle Physics and Chemistry Collide!
Subatomic is themed around the intersection of particle physics and chemistry! At it's core, Subatomic is a deck-building game with a light Area Majority mechanic for end game points.
Players start with a hand of Up Quarks, Down Quarks and Particle/Wave Duality cards, which they use to form protons, neutrons, and electrons. Players combine these subatomic particles to either build available Elements or buy even more powerful cards for their deck.
There a LOT I am excited about with the Subatomic Collector's Edition but the Custom Metal coins and the Custom Annihilation track marker are two that I am particularly excited about!
If you haven't yet, would you check out the Subatomic campaign and consider backing? You can check out the components, Stretch Goals and game play more in depth there.
Last teaser.... the Collector's Edition of Subatomic will have metal coins that replace the cardboard Energy Tokens as well as four other upgrades...
Tom Vasel left a glowing review for Cytosis on the Dice Tower! It was a highlight of my day (my month, really) to hear him say “It's one I can give my wholehearted recommendation for!"
Overflowing with appreciation,
John
Cytosis shipping update, Cytosis Rulebook translations and Subatomic Update
over 6 years ago
– Fri, Dec 08, 2017 at 10:37:29 PM
Hello Cytosis Backers,
Shipping Update and Issues
If your game hasn’t showed up, please email us at:
[email protected], subject line “Cytosis Issue - Backer [your KS backer number]" and preferably using the email you use for Kickstarter, or send that info as well.
We’ve been holding Cytosis back from retailers so that you all had a chance to receive your copies. If you’ve seen Cytosis in retail up until this point, it’s because that retailer was a Kickstarter backer themselves!
How to Play - Rules Video
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Cytosis Rulebook Translations
The French Translation, Spanish Translation and the German Translation of the Cytosis Rulebook are on Board Game Geek! This is the first time we've crowd sourced translations and want to thank you guys a million times over for your work!! Many thanks to those of you who collaborated to make this happen! You are amazing. There are several more translations that are in the works and I'll let you know when I post them on BGG.
Anyone work for a book store, science center or other local science based store?
A local St Louis bookstore I frequent that now carries our books! :-)
I know I asked once before, but I'm focusing a ton of my time and energy right now connecting with retailers and would love your help. So, would any of you be interested in advocating on our behalf to sell our games and/or books in your favorite local shops?
If you reach out to a shop, and they end up ordering our games or books, I'd love to send you 2 games of your choice of Peptide, Ion, Covalence, or Virulence, or a full set of books, as a thank you!!!
If this is something you're interested in, shoot an email to [email protected] subject line "Genius Games Ambassador" and we'll get you more info.
Subatomic Update
A few of the cards and board laid out on the table...
To those of you who playtested the Subatomic PnP and send us feedback - WOW. Thanks for the insightful critiques and suggestions. I'm still working my way through all the feedback - can't wait to give everything a try. With all the issues with Cytosis shipping I haven't had much time to work on Subatomic, but hopefully very soon :-)
If you'd like to jump into playing the Subatomic PnP, here's the Subatomic Dropbox Link.
Much of the Subatomic playtesting feedback/critique/suggestions/discussion is happening on this FB page, so feel free to jump in!
Next steps for Subatomic are to integrate final game development changes, start prepping the files and begin prep for our Kickstarter. (At this point I'm thinking we'll launch before Spring 2018 - I'll keep you all in the loop.)
