4 TO THE FLOOR!

4 to the FLOOR is a card game based on matching 8 patterns in 8 different colors. The cards have 4 segments in which each segment has a pattern in one of the eight colors: red, blue, purple, green, orange, yellow, pink and turquoise. On the upper right corner of the cards, there is an index which the players should pay attention to while trying to match up a card they have with a card put on the floor by one of the other players. The player should assume that the segments are numbered from 1 to 4, with segment near the index is #1, the next 3 are respectively #2, #3, #4.



When I first started brainstorming, I was planning to create a card game whose purpose was mainly matching. Then I started thinking about how the matching concept could be extended further from the idea of matching identical cards. My first design was similar to the final version but, instead of rectangular segments, consisted of 5 hoops, each hoop containing a different colored pattern. However the potential confusion with numbering the hoops(from inside out or vice versa) and the problem with inefficient use card's inner face due to circular design made me change to rectangular segments aligned one over the other.

Then I started creating graphical patterns and randomly produced several ones. My main inspiration was a set of designs which we usually see around such as fish scale, a pattern on a gift wrap etc. I turned them into graphical, simple patterns and used them in the creation of the patterns within the card game.

On the left and below are the final versions of both faces of the card and the joker card. The designs vary among 8 patterns and 8 colors, in either of the 4 segments. The index on the upper right corner has nothing to do with the segments. It should be taken into account when the player has to see if the card on the floor matches with any of the cards in hand.

How to play:

• 4 to the FLOOR is a game played by 2-4 people. Each player is given 4 cards, initially, along with a start-up card put on the floor before beginning to distribute the cards.





• The player next to the distributer starts first and looks to see if s/he has any cards with index patterns that matches the card on the floor. A card "matches" with another if the color, or the exact pattern displayed in the index box matches the color or the exact pattern in the indicated segment of the card on the floor.





• If the card matches the player gets all of the cards on the floor.



• If it doesn't match, s/he throws one of his/her cards on the floor for the next player.



• The next player follows the same procedure



• After a player collects all the cards put on the floor, a card from the deck is put to restart the cycle.



• If a player is out of cards, s/he can get 4 cards from the deck.



• If a player has a joker, s/he can use it to get all of the cards on the floor since it's assumed to match any of the cards.



• If a player has a card that is identical to the card thrown on the floor, s/he automatically wins.

Purpose: The player who compiles cards the most, wins.

I chose patterns because I am interested in graphic design and I like playing with shapes, especially overlapping ones. I wanted the design to be simple because the matching involved in the game is not a simple one like matching identical cards. I tried to avoid complex shapes in order to help the player easily distinguish between patterns and colors and to facilitate and accelerate the matching process.

Now, it's time to go from 4 to the FLOOR! Enjoy!

-Sadel Serra DILMENER