Introducing Wyldcard
Behold! Physical playing cards which can change!
Based on an idea I had in 2014, built in my spare time over the past two years, I’ve finally completed my first physical prototypes.
Wyldcards are small plastic cards with e-ink screens (like a Kindle). When placed onto a plinth, the image on the card can be changed by a hidden computer. The cards also contain a memory chip, so they can store stats, moves, and keep changes and status effects from one game to the next. Plug your plinth into your friend’s and play against them.
I think these cards have the potential to unlock a new paradigm of tabletop gaming. They are rooted in the physical world, but can implement complex game mechanics run by a computer.
This has been my most ambitious project yet. I learned how to design electronics and circuit boards. I learned a new programming language called Rust and wrote my first driver, I upped my CAD skills, 3D printed, and did my first resin casting. I generated the images pictured on the cards above using an AI image synthesizer which I’m hosting on my own server.
I haven’t designed a game for them yet! I’ve got some ideas, and I’m curious to explore the new interactions and game mechanics these unlock. If you know anyone out there who’d want to play around with these, try out ideas, give suggestions, or nerd out on game design, send me an email: jonah@wyldcard.io
Special thanks to Ish, who inspired me to actually build something, and to Brady who taught me everything about electronics.
