The Eye of Judgment: The Furniture of Sanity
Cloth maps used to be a pretty big deal, back when Ultima IV was packing them in, thwarting Xerox machines everywhere. In the case of The Eye of Judgment, however, they tend to be more a source of frustration than of nerdy shouts of "Cool!". Reader Matt had it up to here (see forehead) with the included fabric play mat, easily bumped camera and need for constant lighting, so he built a custom EOJ table for himself and his sons to use when playing the PlayStation 3 collectible card game.
As fans of the PlayStation Eye title will note, who have probably played the man who goes by the handle Havok, the layout of the wooden play area is aesthetically in-keeping with the game's logo. Throw a couple beverage holders on the side and you've got a retail ready product.
Good work and smart thinkin', Matt. Thanks for the tip.
1:00 PM on Wed Jan 23 2008
by Michael McWhertor
View: AU Comments (0) | US Comments (43 comments)
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I'll make one of these if it will help me beat the blasted computer on the normal skill level.
I was actually just thinking of getting particle board from Home Depot and some Velcro or something to stick the mat on.
doubtful
Many games can be won using just the starter deck that came with the product upon buying it. Fold in a couple of the cards from the booster that was also in the game pack, and you have a formidable deck, without the need to spend another dime.
Much like Poker, there is a lot of strategy, but also a significant amount of luck involved as well - since the cards are drawn "at random" by the CPU.
MokTaskmaster
Been playing EOJ since launch and I continue to be impressed with the game. The other night I had a 80 minute duel with another player that almost ended due to us exhausting our decks (something I have never seen). Kudos to Wizards for designing a game more dependent on strategy than just buying good cards.
great-q
@Kia: I usually dont gloat but...okenny=owned owned owned. And to okenny: dont even try to comeback with something like "well she's probably ugly and has never had a boyfriend." That shit wont work.
convergecrew
@moshakirby: It's probably a comment on how few people are playing the game and the small size of the community (now remember these are not my opinions and only my interpretation of what he is saying).
And how is playing Eye of judgment. I recommended to a friend of mine not to get it seeing as how it's simply a trading card game in video game form. Meaning that one would have to buy a lot of cards and thus spent a hefty sum on the game.
Spiderbait
*beautiful
okenny :)
@Kirbytheslayer: Kirbytheslayer: I call THAT (!) compensation.
...
That is the number one complaint. I still wonder about the nature of the physical cards itself. Was it necessary to use that instead of DLC? Do people who play card games do it for the sake of laying a smack-down with the cards?
...
As for this contraption, I wonder how it looks with the light on through the Playstation Eye... I bet it's beautful (no sarcasm).
okenny :)
@Kirbytheslayer: Kirbytheslayer: Aye, especially if (like me) you bought a bunch of booster decks, sorted them into 30 card decks, and then let them all get mixed up anyway.
TitillatedOcelot (NinjaBall [psn] Callabrantus [xbl])
@Kirbytheslayer: Kirbytheslayer: Yeah, the searching your deck thing was kind of annoying ...you really have to organize it by elements before you start -- or spread it out, like you said.
jayntampa
@okenny :): You know his avatar pic is his girlfriend, right?
@okenny :): The worst thing about the game was being forced to have your whole deck laid out before you so you could find your cards quickly.
It was messy.
Kirbytheslayer: Kirbytheslayer
I really <3 this game -- v. cool, great design, neat tech, but I'll be damned if I can ever really play it! I need to go buy a special lamp, just for it... My basement is just too damn dark, even in the daytime.
omnibot2000XL
creator should do a writeup on how to make it for great justice
Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science.
@PeterQC: Faux said it was sin. I actually think the mechanics of this game (of the Eye really) could be used to do some amazing things. I felt though that the game did many things wrong in a futile attempt to curb cheating. For the record: I would not be caught dead playing this game (yes it does make sense!!!) and I am so not a nerd! *grabs football*
okenny :)
@jayntampa: You know how many Wikipedia entries I had to create recently because my theories keep getting questions?!! Evidence doesn't make itself you know... that's hard work >:(
...
btw: don't ever admit you play games like this to a girl. I swear your penis will fall off and your body will regress back to it's virgin state. If you are a girl then a.s.l.?
okenny :)
@okenny :): What so bad about it? It's just a hobbie, not worse then playing video games
PeterQC
I would totally buy that. I may have a new project on my hands.
HAGE
Oh him! I have him as a friend. My God he's amazing at UT3.
IntelSilver
@okenny :): I think you're making a pretty big jump there ... I've never played a larp in my life, but I like card and board games.
jayntampa
I asked myself why but then I realized that the same people (that are adults) who play mythical card games are the same larpers who cut out wooden thunderbolts and lop them at each others in the woods. Yes, I'm talking about crazy people O_o. Other than that, it's some pretty impressive wood work skills (for a crazy person :p ).
okenny :)
@baked ham:
It's okay man, we feel for you.
suya123
I'd make one of these if I still lived near my toolshead. But alas, I moved cross country to New York, and have access to no tools and barely 1 % of my videogames. I think I'll go cry into my mug of ale now.
baked ham
lol I was the first one to respond to the creator on the official EOJ forums this morning...I think this is awesome...much better than the cloth that came with the game. I may have to follow in his footsteps and make my own rendition.
Seiven
VERY cool... i want one.
I was using the cloth, and it kept shifting and moving, so I purchasied a 1x1 ft. piece of tile(for a $1) from Home Depot. I then drew the board lines using a permanent marker. The board NEVER moves during gameplay!!
rallyRays
I'm fine with the cloth, it's the lighting that drives me nuts
It's impossible to play at night because the room my PS3's in simply doesn't have enough lights to light the whole thing evenly enough for the PS Eye to pick up every space
JeffPaine
Wow, that guy must be a professional carpenter or something.
suya123
Cool.
The whole mat thing is actually why I gave up on EoJ.
Five online matches, and every single one of them ended with camera disconnection problems due to the mat slipping.
It didn't matter who was winning, one of us was guaranteed to end up dropping out of the match.
Kirbytheslayer: Kirbytheslayer
That's very nice! I was wondering if the recent update actually improved card recognition by the camera, because I haven't had as many problems after the update.
jayntampa
Oh my god.... that's so awesome. The game actually knows what elements are on the field?
Kai_
thats cool now if i was only that crafty to make myself one :(
DarkTravesty
Very cool. I have been thinking about getting a glass overlay for mine but I have to admit that looks very cool. He should consider making and selling those.
chip5541
Very nice, I'd like one of these for my home
Sparx88
havok? :(
havoks
now thats cool. way better than that cheap cloth
resetbutton
Above= Got problems.
fyren
@havoks: Maybe they assume the PSN community is really small and we all know each other.
moshakirby
Thats cool :) I have yet to try the game, I got the camera too and it fascinates me but for some reason I have yet to try it. Maybe it is because of the card decks etc money. It looks cool though
Irenicus-the one and only
@Nyobari: Why not just use something like Apprentice or Magic Workshop with custom card sets? Is there much room for smart play in EoJ? I've considered playing it, but the cost is rough between 50-70 for the game and about $500 for a full-full set.
Anemone
Im about tempted to do a poor mans solution and use masking tape + my kotatsu table to mark out the boundaries and such. :x
Witzbold
@okenny :): Female here. And I'll tell you what. A guy with the confidence to stick to his guns and admit his hobbies is a lot more attractive than someone like you who thinks card games and such are too nerdy to mention.
That aside, that's an awesome table. Nice mat replacement while still keeping the feel of the game!
Kia
Oh damn! I so would buy one of those, since at times the cloth drives me insane trying to get it to stay flat on the small surface I have it on.
Witzbold
The only thing EoJ is useful for is the Eye & stand so you can play other CCGs that are much better than EoJ through your PS3.
Nyobari
@okenny :): Going all digital just well... would have killed the games gimmik. Really the whole aspect that made people notice the game was tht it had an interesting concept to it. Also its nice that the cards are physical objects as it actually allows a person to play the game without the PS3, and yes its very possible. All you need is some markers or tokens of some sort for record keeping and you can fully play EOJ without the PS3.... think it was Kotaku that even posted an article on someones custom game board they made to play the game anywhere.
Anyways along with the gimmik, it creates cross promotion. They wanted to attract CCG players to the PS3 and the game, while also attracting the video gamers.
Kyle81
That is slick.
NoBullet