Solar Gardens Offers A Greener Tomorrow With A Board Game Today
Solar Gardens puts the concept of urban sustainability into a tile laying game. Players compete to build the most lovely rooftop garden at the top of their futuristic skyscraper. While the gardens in the game built by the players are big and forward looking, the original design started as a small look to the past.
'I first played Alex's original prototype when it was a Zen garden game,' said Eric Slauson, co-designer of Solar Gardens. 'It was much more zoomed in. A little tiny space that you were building.'
'It was koi ponds, little pagoda statues, things like that,' said Alex Culter, co-designer of Solar Gardens. 'It was very peaceful and pastoral like a lot of tile laying games are. But I knew at some level it was a theme that would get bumped up or replaced. The theme was kind of a placeholder. We knew that once we found a publisher that felt very strongly about the mechanics that we could shape the theme in whatever direction we wanted to go.'
FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™
Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase
Pinpoint By Linkedin
Guess The Category
Queens By Linkedin
Crown Each Region
Crossclimb By Linkedin
Unlock A Trivia Ladder
They found Darrington Press, who not only made a deal to publish the game but also make it one of their big debuts at Gen Con. While the company has been getting rave reviews for Daggerheart they are making moves into the board game space with titles like Queen By Midnight. Even with their non-RPG games, Darrington Press wants to tell stories.
'I was familiar with their general vibe, world building and positivity around the table,' said Slauson. 'I thought this would be a good fit. We sent them the zen garden version. They had a blast playing it in the office. Of course, everyone who plays it does. They came back with 'what about elevating the scope a little bit? What if we're thinking about sustainability? What if we're thinking about community gardening?' That was the first prompt. What can this look like in a larger sense? I'm a theme first designer. I love theme, I love world building. So I ran with that and Alex let me change the prototype.'
Tile laying games offer communal experience that's competitive but also can feel cooperative. Everyone is trying to build something together but also trying to make the best possible version of the thing. With one tile to pick or pass every turn, there's a risk that keeps everyone's attention during the game.
'The most fun aspect of this game is the push your luck [element],' said Cutler. 'Every single turn, every single player is making a choice. Whether you're the lead-off player or you're in the last position, you're still making choices about what's coming to you. Your valuation is changing every single turn of every single round. Is this tile good for me? Is this tile good for someone else? I think it adds a lot of layers to the game. I think it's a game that can be played with a group that's very friendly and calm. But also, the first time I ever played the game with Eric was at Gen Con with a large group of people.I have never heard more sailor mouthed crap talking at one table.'
'Even though it's a tile layer and you're doing the drafting and the placement you do in a lot of other dry, Euro kind of games,' said Slauson, 'because it's so social, because everyone interacts every tile someone drafts you care about. Everybody is watching what everybody else's board is doing. There are so many moments of reaction. We found that people who play in a more reserved style can't help but cheer.'
In addition to the theming, Darrington Press is making sure each copy of the game sold helps sustainability in the real world. Solar Gardens is made of biodegradable, plastic-free materials and uses paper stickers to hold the game box together in transit. As part of the National Forest Foundation's Sapling Program, each copy sold helps fund reforestation efforts in U.S. national parks.
'No matter how cutthroat [you are] as a player, you're still being benevolent,' said Slauson. 'I showed you! I built a perfect garden for society!'
Solar Gardens is available directly from Darrington Press and online retailers like Amazon.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Is Margot Robbie Returning As Harley Quinn In The DCU? New Report Offers Possible Answers
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The superhero genre is wildly popular, which is why various studios have their own shared universe. Co-CEO James Gunn is the creative architect of the new DCU, with the first slate of projects titled Gods and Monsters. Prior to this he worked on The Suicide Squad (streaming now with a HBO Max subscription), which was actually set in the now-ended DCEU. Fans have been wondering if Margot Robbie would be returning as Harley Quinn, and a new report might have offered some much-needed answers. Throughout the years Robbie played Harley three times in live action: Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey, and The Suicide Squad. While James Gunn confirmed a few heroes were sticking around, fans were left wondering about Robbie. A new report from THR's Heat Vision newsletter claimed that: Harley Quinn, theoretically but probably not, could still be played by James Gunn's The Suicide Squad star Margot Robbie. Obviously this is not a confirmation from the studio, and we might want to take it with a grain of salt. But since Gunn has never given any indication that he plans on collaborating again with Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn in the future, it's not looking great. Back in January of 2024, Gunn confirmed there were not plans to bring back Margot Robbie's Harley just yet. And while he expressed interest in working with her again, it's possible that her tenure as the beloved DC antihero has come to an end. HBO Max: Plans start from $9.99 a monthHBO Max is the streaming home for all things DC. Pay $9.99 a month for its With Ads plan, with three tiers available for an HBO Max subscription. You can also prepay for a year and save up to 20%.View Deal The same report claimed that Weapons director Zach Creggers working on a possible upcoming DC movie called Henchmen. It would focus on the lower level criminals who work for Gotham's villains, but would also feature Joker and Harley Quinn. It remains to be seen if this project comes together, and who would play the latter character. Personally, I wish that Margot Robbie would continue playing Harley Quinn in the DC Universe. She crushed the role under three different directors and three very different projects. And whoever possibly replaces her in the burgeoning shared universe is going to have some very big shoes to fill. So why not bring the Barbie star back for future projects as Ms. Quinzel? Perhaps James Gunn's plans for the character include a full reboot, with her once again serving as Joker's girlfriend and assistant. This would be a major step backward from the character development we saw from Robbie's version throughout the DCEU. I'm just spitballing here, but there are plenty of reasons why the Oscar nominee not might reprise her signature role. For now we'll just have to wait for some official word from James Gunn, Robbie, or the studio. The next DC movie expected to hit theaters is Supergirl on June 26th of next year as part of the 2026 movie release list.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Why Blockchain Is Needed Now That AI Is Predicted To Kill The Internet
The time is coming when most people will not believe anything that lands in their inbox or shows up in a social feed. That is why some experts are warning AI could kill the Internet. I have always liked listening to Neil deGrasse Tyson because he can take something complex and make it feel easy to understand. Some of his predictions feel so far away they are less disturbing, like when he talks about the Earth and Sun being destroyed millions of years from now. His comment that AI could be the 'nail in the coffin' for the Internet is different. That is close enough to impact business in the near future. Think about how Tom Cruise imitators who look so much like him, or those obvious fake videos of world leaders dancing together that everyone knows are a joke. When the imitation is obvious, it can be entertaining. When it is not, that is when it becomes a problem. If customers cannot tell what is real online, the way companies market, sell, and communicate will have to change immediately. Blockchain could become the only way to prove a person or company is real and that their message is authentic. Why Blockchain Could Take Over If Online Trust Disappears For many people, blockchain still means cryptocurrency. In my conversation with Wolfgang Koester, who has decades of experience in currency markets, he explained how blockchain's real potential is much broader. Blockchain is simply a secure, transparent way to prove that something is genuine, whether it is a payment, a contract, or a message. If people stop trusting what they see online, they will stop opening emails, clicking ads, and buying from websites. Scams will blend in so well that they are impossible to spot. Blockchain can fix that by creating a permanent record that cannot be changed without detection. That kind of certainty will be essential before anyone buys, subscribes, or signs up for anything online. How Marketing Would Change With Blockchain If AI-generated fakes take over, blockchain-backed marketing will not be optional. Imagine an ad with a QR code that lets someone confirm in seconds that it came from the actual brand. Influencers will need to link every post to a verified identity, which will remove fake accounts and deepfakes from the picture. Brands may also move their communities into smaller, verified networks where every member is authenticated. Loyalty programs could be stored in blockchain-secured digital wallets so customers know their rewards and discounts are real. How Buying Would Change With Blockchain Right now, buying online depends on trust. People trust the site, the seller, and the payment processor. AI can create perfect copies of all three, making it nearly impossible to know if a purchase is safe. Blockchain marketplaces would ensure every product listing, payment, and delivery confirmation is verified and recorded permanently. Only verified brands could sell products, and reviews would be tied to verified buyers. Payments would confirm both sides of the transaction in real time. The Companies Building Blockchain And Verification Technology There is a small group of companies already working on this. One of them could easily become the next Amazon or Google. They are building the foundation for a verified Internet, and if they succeed, every business and individual will depend on them. Humanity Protocol, valued at over a billion dollars, uses palm scans to confirm identity so impersonation becomes almost impossible. Proof of Humanity combines video verification with community vouching to create permanent identity records that could eliminate bot-driven social media accounts. is a coalition of news organizations that uses blockchain to certify the authenticity of articles and press releases. The New York Times has experimented with verifying photo metadata to slow the spread of misinformation. If any one company becomes the go-to source for verifying every message, document, and transaction, it could control the trust layer of the Internet, which is trillion-dollar territory. When Blockchain Could Go Mainstream I wrote about QR codes almost 20 years ago when few people cared. Then the pandemic made them essential, and suddenly they were everywhere. Blockchain verification could follow that same pattern. If AI-driven misinformation keeps growing, blockchain could be the norm in five to seven years. That timeline could shrink if a massive fraud wipes out public confidence in the Internet. What It Could Cost To Deal With A Blockchain Future And Why To Start Now Costs will vary widely. A smaller business might be able to integrate blockchain verification for tens of thousands of dollars. Larger companies could spend millions to update marketing systems, e-commerce sites, and customer databases. Waiting until the crisis hits will drive costs even higher because everyone will be trying to get it done at the same time. Testing blockchain tools now, within the next year or two, gives time to adapt, train employees, and help customers get used to verification before it becomes urgent. What HR Leaders And Consultants Should Be Doing To Prepare For Blockchain HR leaders and consultants will need to prepare entire workforces for blockchain-based verification. This starts by explaining why it matters and linking it to brand reputation, recruiting, and customer trust. Employees need to understand the risks of deepfakes, impersonation scams, and AI-generated misinformation. Consultants can help identify the areas most vulnerable if trust in digital communication collapses. That might include hiring processes where AI could fake résumés or interviews, or ensuring onboarding and training materials come from verified sources. HR can also test adding verification tags to job postings, candidate communications, and internal announcements. Building partnerships with blockchain identity and security providers right now makes sense. Running a small pilot in one or two areas, such as recruiting or internal communications, will make the transition easier when verification becomes standard. The Future Of A Blockchain-Verified Internet Neil deGrasse Tyson's warning should make every organization think about how to maintain credibility in a world where seeing is no longer believing. Blockchain offers a path to rebuilding trust, but it will change how marketing, sales, and customer relationships work. Companies that prepare now by finding the right partners, training teams, and helping customers get used to verification will be the ones people turn to when authenticity becomes the most valuable currency on the Internet.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Today's NYT Strands Puzzle: Hints, Spangram And Answers For Thursday, August 14th
Another day, another Strands puzzle to solve. It's been foggy and overcast in Los Angeles. I'll miss the cool ocean breeze when I head back to the desert. But I won't miss the city. Too many cars! Too many people! In any case, let's uncover some words. Looking for yesterday's Strands? Find hints, clues and answers right here. Strands is the newest game in the New York Times' stable of puzzle games. It's a fun twist on classic word search games. Every day we're given a new theme and then tasked with uncovering all the words on the grid that fit that theme, including a spangram that spans two sides of the board. One of these words is the spangram which crosses from one side of the grid to another and reveals even more about the day's theme. Spoilers ahead. Today's Strands Hints Read on for today's theme and some hints to help you uncover today's words. Today's Theme: Honest-to-goodness FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder Hint: Not fake. Clue: Sincere, verifiable. Here are the first two letters of each word: Remember, spoilers ahead! What Are Today's Strands Answers? Today's spangram is: BONAFIDE Here's the full list of words: Here's the completed Strands grid: This was quite tricky mostly because the majority of words were long, and some were just words I wouldn't think of in this context even though I use them myself, like KOSHER. Sometimes you see words quickly. I saw LEGIT and was able to extrapolate that to LEGITIMATE. Others, like GENUINE, stubbornly hide for the longest time. But I got there eventually . . . . How did you do on your Strands today? Let me know on Twitter and Facebook. Be sure to check out my blog for my daily Wordle guides as well as all my other writing about TV shows, streaming guides, movie reviews, video game coverage and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
