EXISTENCE: Life and the Universe

EXISTENCE: Life & the Universe is 15.99$ only during the mint tin challenge! Do not miss this opportunity!;D This is THE Christmas gift for your unruly nephew!

Straight out of that mint tin in your pocket, let’s expand the Cosmos. In Existence, every game you play is the unique story of a new Universe, from its birth to its death, and of your forms of Life inside of it. Your goal: have these survive until the end of time.

So you players will run the Laws of Nature. You will condensate matter and energy out of the Big Bang, into a variety of dynamically evolving stellar systems. You will create life. Yes, you will struggle to expand across interstellar distances, while being constantly threatened by the cataclysmic lifecycle of the stars. Yes, your life forms will be challenged by cosmic events, nearby aliens and the cooling of the Universe. Yes, every time one of you will play, a billion of years will flow. And now you understand that in this ever-going quest for energy, the competition with the other forms of life and the risks of planetary collapse will soon leave you and your lifeforms restless. To be honest, there is a real doubt whether even a single one of you will be adaptive enough to have his or her species survive. Will you want to join forces to make it through ? Will you betray your interstellar neighbors so as to guarantee your victory? Maybe both. In any case, this will be no picnic!

Developed within the framework of a Master in Philosophy of Science, EXISTENCE, Life & the Universe is initially a mind experiment to explore our possible futures at astronomical scales. This interestingly led by accident to a unique mechanism for the gameplay, in which tactics and long run strategy meet negotiation, while allowing the emergence of an incredible variety of interesting situations for endless replays.

HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED

At your turn, you will do three actions.

The first action will be to run the Laws of Nature and to dynamically evolve the Universe through a Cosmic Action. Planets will appear. Stars will dim and fade out. Entire stellar systems will develop or die.

Second, you’ll play your Life Action, so as to create, multiply or develop your forms of life. You will choose to procreate where you see a potential for flourishment, and flee imminent cataclysms.

Third, you’ll pick a card and have two options.

1. Your first option will be to play the card, now or later, at any moment in the game. You would do so in order to submit a proposition regarding the evolution of the Universe, something like “Hey, cosmic Council, and what about a Supernovae, right now, that would eradicate every single life form in this solar system ?”.

2. Your second option will be to keep the card so as to discard it later in order to support, or oppose, a proposition of any other player.

You’ve understood now: you’ll try and evolve the universe so that your life form flourishes, and you’ll negotiate with the cosmic council so that they accept propositions in your favor. The thing is that every time you’ll vote pro or against the proposition made by another player, you’ll lose an option of yours. So you'ld better act cautiously if you want to make it on the long run. Also, you’ll have to be extremely careful not to disadvantage your friends with your propositions, otherwise it's likely they will end up as foes. Last but not least… it could be clever to keep a few cards ahead, so as not to end up helpless against a Cosmic Council opting for the universe turning harsh for your lifeforms.

ECOSYSTEM AND EXPANSIONS

Two expansions have been developed that can be played independently or in combination. These also fit in mint tins. You may buy these alone (in this case you need the original game to play), or as part of "Books" in which the original game is also included. Mint tins are great for moving around with the game. Books are perfect for your bookshelf, and you get the mint tins inside! The Big Book of Existence includes the original game, both extensions, a beautiful 6-Fold board, and some secret goodies.

EXISTENCE: Life & the Universe (The original game - Mint tin)

EXISTENCE: Cosmic Chronicles (First Extension - Mint tin)

EXISTENCE: The Meaning of Life (Second Extension - Mint tin)

EXISTENCE: Original game + Cosmic Chronicles(Packed as a BOOK)

EXISTENCE: Original game + The Meaning of Life (Packed as a BOOK)

EXISTENCE: Original game + Cosmic Chronicles + The Meaning of Life (Packed as a BIG BOOK)