Martian Bubbles

Martian Bubbles is a game that uses Icehouse pieces, which are designed and sold by those wonderful people at Looney Labs.

Number of Players

1 or more

Equipment

1 Icehouse stash (15 pieces) per player

1 full bathtub

Determining Who Goes First

The player who has most recently taken a bath goes first.

Rules

Fill the bathtub with water. Depending on the size of the bathtub and the friendliness of the group, players either get into the bathtub or sit beside it.

On your turn, take one of the pieces from your stash. Then do the following:

  1. Using one hand, lower your piece until it touches the bottom of the bathtub. You'll want to trap some air in it. Do not touch any already-played pieces with any part of your body.
  2. Release as much air as you want from underneath the piece. You must keep at least some part of the piece in contact with the bottom of the bathtub as you do this.
  3. Let go of the piece.
This piece has now been played, and your turn is over.

Scoring

Scoring occurs at the end of the game. You score one point for each of your pieces that has some part sticking up out of the water but that is still trapping some air beneath it. The player with the highest score wins.

End of the Game

The game is over when all pieces have been played.

Credits

Many thanks to Looney Labs for making the pieces and for fostering an atmosphere that encourages game creation.

Thanks also to the Boston Warren of the Mad Lab Rabbits for dragging me into the whole scene.

Special thanks to Cthulhia for the ears and for helping playtest the game.

And much thanks to my many hours of baths. Ah, baths.

kevin@aq.org

Return to Kevin's aq.org page.
Last modified: 21 July 2002