September 12 @ 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
The Emerson Day of Play is a day of connection, fun, and in-person play at the UnCommon Corner and Harpoon Beer Garden, located at the corner of Boylston and Tremont in the Boston Common. The event is inspired by the Come Out and Play Festivals in New York, San Francisco and Philadelphia.
Emerson students and local game designers have built six original, in-person outdoor games to get Bostonians new and old excited about the new school year. Visitors will run, jump, hunt goblins, laugh through games of chess, hit a target or two, experience the epic highs and lows of moving in Boston, learn the time-honored art of constructing giant sandwiches, and try not to explode in the process. We welcome all students, families, and passers-by to drop in or spend all day with us at the UnCommon Corner between 12 and 5PM. Play, be loud, have fun and meet some new friends!
Bean Time!
Bean Time! Is a physical sorting game that challenges two teams, or two individuals, to complete as many sorted coffee recipes as they can in 60 seconds. Each recipe calls for a specific combination of coffee beans and other ingredients that can be found in a bag shared by players.
A recipe is completed when the number of ingredients called for is placed in a team’s coffee cup. Teams can choose to play competitively, winning by individually having the most recipe cards completed, or cooperatively by collectively having more recipe cards than previous rounds. Because Bean Time! takes only 60 seconds, the game offers quick, replayable fun.
Game Designers:
Meg Thurmeier, Carol Cheng, Takara Bayley-Gale
Cafe Quest
Cafe Quest is a paper-based scavenger hunt that challenges young players to explore the environment for clues, solve simple puzzles, and gather information in order to solve the case of stolen coffee beans. Players take on the role of a detective as they travel throughout the Uncommon Corner and interact with various “witnesses” including staff members and original hand-drawn characters.
To begins players are provided a mission briefing, pencils and an investigation log. From there, they move through five locations to complete puzzles and solve the case. Gameplay takes about 15-20 minutes.
Game Designers:
Andrew Chen, Xuan Jiang, Maggie Stewart
Cozy Grandpa Hipster Sweaters
Cozy Grandpa Hipster Sweaters is a fast-paced memory matching game where two players race to design a colorful sweater using recycled materials. Players take turns looking through a grid of 36 coffee coaster cards and attempt to find two matching coasters. If a player finds a match, they run to a fabric recycling bin and find the fabric strip that matches their pattern. This strip is then added to their sweater. The first player to complete their sweater wins.
Cozy Grandpa Hipster Sweaters helps younger players build skills in memory retention, and offers lessons in sustainability and upcycling. The game also provides players a photo opportunity with their finished sweaters.
Game Designers:
Maggie Stewart, Xiaoyang Wu, Xinyu Morris
Dunk the Donuts
Dunk the Donuts is a competitive two player game where the goal is to knock donuts and other food items from their display stands. The game is set over a large coffee cup which food falls into when knocked down. Each food item has a point value and the player that obtains the most points wins. Bonus points can also be earned by landing a donut hole (the object players throw) into the golden cup. The competitive spirit of Dunk the Donuts and its focus on physical accuracy helps teach players physical coordination and respectful competition.
Game Designers:
Armando Barbosa, Takara Bayley-Gale, and Qihao “Anthony” Hong
Who’s on Shift?
Who’s on Shift? is a 4-6 player social deduction game. Each player takes on the role of a staff member at a newly opened restaurant. Players will be assigned as manager, loyal employee, or troublemaker. The manager and regular employees want to keep the restaurant running smoothly for 4 days. The troublemaker wants to cause problems so the restaurant closes.
Each day players decide which player “goes on shift” and the player on shift is able to play cards in secret that affect gameplay. Who’s on Shift? is a social game that requires strong attention to detail, deception and focused communication.
Game Designers:
Shuo Deng, Qihao Hong, Yutao Liu