Tag: games

How Many S’porean Milestones Have You Achieved? This Card Game Will Tell You How You Fare

Singapore has long been lauded as the best and safest place in Asia to raise your kids. Even better if you’re an expat.

However, as a Singaporean (born and raised), I can tell you that it’s not all roses and daisies. Singapore has consistently topped the rankings for being the MOST EXPENSIVE city in the world to live in.

Cost of living has increased (because capitalism and globalisation waits for no scrub to earn more money), while our wages have not.

The Singaporean dream used to be owning the 5Cs – Cash, Car, Credit Card, Condo, and Country Club (membership).

Now the millennial’s 5Cs consists of Career, Cheap Everything (air tickets, food, clothes), Connection, Cashless Payment, and Crying. Trust me, I’m a millennial.

Our Singaporean Dream is just to have our place, a heated shower, a decent paying job, and hope to be able to retire before we die from work.

If you’re as “optimistic” as I am about living the Singaporean Dream, you can “sign up” for a trial by playing this locally-made card game aptly named “The Singaporean Dream“.

The Singaporean Dream Is (Not) A Game

This card game will see you pit your survival skills with other Singaporeans, as you pay, steal and sabo your way to being the perfect Singaporean.

Pick Your Avatar

You start with 5 personas to choose from – the Auntie, the CBD OL (Office Lady), the Complain Queen, the NSF, and the Ah Beng.

Very local archetypes here.

Live, Collect, Win

There are 3 types of cards in the game – Action Cards, Cash Cards, and Dream Cards.

So the main goal of the game, is to accumulate and amass as many Singaporean Dreams (Dream Cards) as you can before the pile of “Dream Cards” runs out.

There are 2 ways you can collect Dream Cards.

1. Buy Dream Cards with Cash Cards.
2. Gain Dream Cards with Action Cards.

It’s quite an accurate depiction of the Singaporean life though. You’re either rich enough to accomplish a Singaporean Dream, or you work towards achieving the Singaporean Dream, like the rest of us.

Some of the Action Cards include “Getting A Seat In A Crowded MRT”, “Dating An Angmoh”, “Kena STOMP-ed”, and “Cutting A Queue”.

Each turn, you draw 2 cards from the Action Cards pile, and you can play up to 2 actions per turn.

Repeat until the pile of Dream Cards runs out! The player with the most Singaporean Dreams wins the game!

There are 104 illustrated cards in a deck and each card is hand-drawn by the creator, Theresa (She’s a millennial).

So don’t tell me millennials don’t work for anything because I’m sick of it.

If you’ve been to Mind Cafe recently, you might’ve been one of the few fortunate ones to play the game when it was on trial there.

You can pledge an amount for their Kickstarter campaign if you’re looking to get your hands on a deck.

In the meantime, how are you really faring in your real-life quest for the Singaporean Dream?

Also read Popular Filipino Fries Chain Potato Corner Opens A S’pore Outlet At Orchard

(Header Image Source: The Singaporean Dream)

8 Fun NYE Plans That Are Better Than Counting Down With Strangers At Marina Bay

New Year’s Eve is right around the corner, and from the beach to the clubs, there are plenty of countdown parties happening here on our little red dot.

If dancing into the new year and kissing strangers at the stroke of midnight isn’t quite what you had in mind for NYE, there are many other ways you can close off the year that don’t involve insane crowds and bad cell service – yep, we’ve all been there.

If you’re looking for a more low-key affair that’s still loads of fun, here are 9 ideas you can consider.

1. Mahjong The Night Away

Gather your mahjong kakis, load up on sustenance (i.e. coffee, chips, cup noodles) and mahjong into the final moments of 2017!

Whether you play with no money or choose to raise the stakes, you’re bound to have a good time. Who knows, maybe you’ll even make yourself your first bit of cash for 2018.

2. Have A Games Night

If mahjong isn’t your cup of tea, why not have a Games Night?

Get everyone to bring their favourite card and board games (Monopoly Deal, Limpeh Says, What Do You Meme), and for even more variety, there are tons of apps that are just a (free) download away. Here are some of our favourites: Guess The Word SG, Charades!, Psych!, and Undercover.

The rules are simple, and there is plenty of fun to go around. Just don’t get too competitive, because you don’t want to start the new year with a few less friends!

3. Steamboat Party

Steamboat is never a bad idea.

If you have the time, go shopping for the ingredients together. Load up your trolleys, over-buy, and go all out! And make sure to grab a ton of alcohol on your way out. The idea is that no one makes it to midnight without feeling nicely buzzed.

4. Go Night Cycling

If lazing around and stuffing your face with chips and soda isn’t your idea of a good time, here’s a more active NYE proposition – night cycling.

Plan a route, maybe even to Marina Bay Sands, if you and your party want to catch the fireworks. The best part is, now that there are so many bike-sharing providers in Singapore, you can just pick up a bike, and leave it wherever you end your journey!

A word of caution though: You may begin 2018 with a sore bum. But it’ll be worth it, we promise.

5. Sing K Until You Lose Your Voice

Instead of losing your voice scream-singing at a party, why not do it in the comfort of a KTV, among your most (and least) talented friends?

7. Go For A Super-Singaporean Countdown

2018 Lai Liao!

[caption id="attachment_32513" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Image Credit: Facebook

To reserve a table, call 6337 9416 or email [email protected].

8. Prawn To Your Heart’s Content

This is a bit of a random one, but hear us out.

[caption id="attachment_32514" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Image Credit: pick a venue that’s near the fireworks, all the better!

9. End The Year On A Literal High

To end the year on a literal high, head down to Universal Studios Singapore.

Whether you’re someone who likes to go out to party, or someone who prefers to chill at home with your favourite people, here are some fun ideas that will definitely make for an amazing New Year’s Eve!

Incredibly easy to put together and organize, we wish you the very best time, and a very Happy New Year in advance!

Also read Banksy And 49 Other Street Artists Will Be Showing Their Best Works In S’pore This January

(Header Image Source: What Do You Meme)

You Can Literally Run Around Shooting Zombies In S’pore’s First Warehouse Scale VR Gaming Experience

Technology has changed our lives in many ways, and one of the most exciting areas we’ve seen this happen is in the arena of gaming.

We’ve gone from watching our character on a screen to playing as our characters through a virtual reality (VR) headset. Soon, we’ll be able to roam virtual worlds freely with the help of Zero Latency‘s state-of-the-art VR systems.

The global leader in free-roaming multi-player virtual reality gaming, Zero Latency is a company that originates from Melbourne.

With Zero Latency regarded as one of the world’s best virtual reality gaming experiences, and with over 10 locations spread across the world, you can expect VR gaming at its finest when it launches in Singapore in late November this year.

The company will not only be bringing us a free-roaming gaming experience, but also a warehouse scale one that’s guaranteed to thrill anyone who loves playing video games.

A Whole New Level Of Immersiveness

Opening at Suntec City, Zero Latency will bring a brand new level of immersiveness to its catalogue of games which so far includes Zombie Survival, Singularity, and Engineerium.

Zombies not your thing? Maybe an interstellar adventure is!

Leave planet Earth and enter an interstellar-themed shooting game with Singularity, where you’ll fight against robots, killer drones and gun turrets as you wander the narrow corridors, lifts, and zero-gravity environment of a space station.

Ready, Set, Play

If you’re concerned about running into walls and hurting yourself, don’t worry. With 200 square meters of game space (and a much larger virtual space), and some tricks Zero Latency has up its sleeves, bumping into things will be the least of your worries as you play.

Curious to try this experience for yourself?

It’ll cost $69 per person to play, and the price is inclusive of a 15 minute briefing and 30 minutes of actual game play. Look out for Zero Latency’s launch special, where players will only need to pay a discounted rate of $59.

If you’d like to try your hand at more than one game during your session, or want a double session, opt for one of their packages, which allows you to do either of these things at a better rate.

Up to 8 players can play per session, so bear this in mind when you make plans with your mates!

Zero Latency is bringing VR gaming at its finest to Singapore, and we cannot wait to try it. Unfortunately, we still have to wait for a bit before we can get one of those headsets onto our heads, but we’re sure it’ll be worth the wait!

Also read You Can Jalan Jalan Down Memory Lane At This Nostalgic Festival Of Eats And Treats

No Holds Bar-ed – 5 Bars That Let You Take On Karaoke, Arcade Games And More

There’s only how many rounds of ‘never have I ever’ and ‘five-ten’ before you start to question how many more shots you have to go before you blackout. Sometimes you just want to drink and have fun, but the only thing you can do is send in endless song requests to the current live band.

We rounded up a couple of our favorite haunts where you and your squad can chill at without ever getting bored. Choose from beer pong, arcade games, giant Jenga, Quiz Night – the list is endless!

1. Hopheads 

Hopheads isn’t your typical underground bar. Besides their super Instagrammable interiors and amazing range of craft beers, they’ve loaded up on all sorts of games to ensure that there will be nary a boring moment.

Besides the usual dart machines, foosball table and pool table, Hopheads offers a huge range of board games like the infamous Cards Against Humanities and huge Jenga. Need to test your hand-to-eye coordination after one too many drinks? There’s even a ping pong table. I don’t know about you, but drunk ping pong is pretty hilarious.

Once you’ve had your fill of fun, replenish your energy with their food offerings. Hopheads has all the usual bar bites like nachos and wings, and heavier dishes like pizzas, pasta and burgers. A must try is their Waffle Burger ($18.90), where the chicken is fried to perfection and comes sandwiched in two waffles and drizzled in maple syrup. The combination of sweet and savoury flavors is just what you need after an intense game of beer pong.

Hopheads
Address: 178 Clemenceau Ave Haw Par Glass Tower B1-00, Singapore 239926
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat 11.30am-12am
Contact: 6904 4019
Website

2. Stickies

Stickies is probably known for their insanely cheap happy hour promotions. I mean, their beers, wines and housepours are priced by the hour! Which means if you go at 12 noon, your beer is on the house (but you have to get some food) Their beer towers are also cheaper than most places in Clarke Quay at $55 for a three liter tower.

Aside from their ridiculously awesome deals, their entertainment options are pretty comprehensive too. Their darts, board games and pool are all free to play, and gamers will love the Playstation 4. If you love awful jokes, try Joking Hazard, a game where you compete to see who can come up with the worst comic strip. Another favorite is Exploding Kittens, which is a kitten version of the popular Russian Roulette card game.

Challenge the house to a game of beer pong, and if you win, you don’t have to pay! But if you lose, that’s going to cost you $50 a game.

Stickies has also just opened another outlet at Sunset Hill, so Westies don’t have to travel all the way to the city to have some fun!

Check out what else we have to say about Stickies here.

Stickies 
Address: 11 Keng Cheow St,#01-10, Singapore 059608
Opening Hours: Mon – Sun, 12pm -12am
Contact: 6443 7564
You can use ‘the card too small’ as an excuse anymore (Image Credit: clubcastlegroup)[/caption]

Club Castle is like a playground, but for the alcoholics. With LED chairs and tables so that you can see what you’re doing in the dark, Club Castle exudes arcade vibes, complete with games and booze.

Giant poker cards will definitely get a laugh when you’re trying to hide your hand from the person next to you, while a rotating wheel will put a spin on your drinking game. Put your vocals to the test with some karaoke, or play the claw machine to take home a souvenir.

https://www.facebook.com/clubcastlegroup/videos/1891088651218228/

Club Castle
Address: 10 Neo Tiew Lane 2 #01-10 Singapore 718813,D’Kranji Farm Resort
Opening Hours: Mon – Sun, 10.30am – 3am
Contact: 9722 4018
Website

4. Obar 

Obar loves its music as much you do, which is why you can catch live performances or even put on a show of your own at their karaoke pub outlets. Nothing like a couple of drinks to help you let down your hair and belt out a couple of songs!

There are a lot of Obar branches all over Singapore, but only the outlet at Tradehub 21 offers more than karaoke, with ping pong, foosball tables and dart boards for you to while the night away!

Obar at TradeHub 21
Address: 8 Boon Lay Way, Singapore 609964
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 11:30am – 1am, Sat & Sun: 4pm – 1am
Contact: 9050 0973
Website

5. Molly Malone’s Irish Pub

Ever wondered what an Irish pub feels like?

Bringing back the ago ol’ tradition of Quiz Night, Molly Malone’s holds a weekly quiz on Monday nights that that is free to enter. Put your knowledge skills to the test, and you might win a bucket of beer and bragging rights if you come out first.

On the other days, you might be able to join in their Killer Pool, where you are awarded with a $50 bar tab if you are the last man, or challenge their Cards of Humanities Championship round to see who is the best worst human being.

Molly Malone’s Irish Pub
Address: 56 Circular Road, 049411
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat, 11am – 1 am
Contact: 6536 2029
Andsoforth’s Unique Dining Experience Serves Up Dinner With A Side Of Theatre

(Header Image Source: Choong Yi Sze)

9 Exciting Ways To Kill Time In Changi Airport When You’re Stuck In Transit

Changi Airport – the pride and joy of Singapore.

Yesterday, its status as a world class airport was further confirmed as Changi Airport was once again crowned Best Airport in the World. This would be the eighth time it’s won the honour!

While most, if not all of us Singaporeans have been to Changi Airport at some point, not all of us have explored it enough to know everything it has to offer.

Whether you’re stuck in transit or have arrived at the airport hours too early for your flight, here are 9 exciting things you can do at the airport to pass the time!

1. Entertainment Deck

The Entertainment Deck is the place to go for a group with diverse interests. You’ll find more than just a few sets of Xbox 360s and Playstation 3s, a Wii room, and even a LAN cafe you can use for free!

Singaporeans Are Going Crazy Over Pokemon Go! Here’s The Evidence!

When baked cheese tart hit our shores, we thought the queue was crazy. But when Pokemon Go landed in Singapore, Singaporeans take crazy to a whole new level!

Day or night, shine or very hot sunshine, Singaporeans are all out Poke-hunting and we have the evidence!

1. Hougang is gungho…real gungho

When word about “rare” Pokemon such as Gyarados was spotted at Block 401 of Hougang Avenue, the precinct gained notorious reputation overnight.

2. ….doesn’t matter day or night

Hot sun? What hot sun? Nothing is hotter than a Charizard that I’m about to catch!

3.  Punggol Park is not spared either

It’s normal to see a park with people in sports attire but in flip flops and their smartphone on their hands? That’s the Pokemon effect!

5. Yishun Park at night

Dear, we’re not going to the movies tonight. Instead, let’s go catch some Pokemon! Pokemon Go – redefining date nights.

6. Orchard Road

How to get a bunch of youths going on a public holiday? Organise a Poke-crawl on National Day!

The event started at 1pm (read: hottest time of the day) and yet our Singaporean youths braved the heat to be the very best! In fact, the turnout was so massive that Poke-crawlers were chased away by the security staff of ION!

7. Orchard At Night

Just look at how everyone sits together so uniformly! It sure looks like they’re about to start a choir performance! Actually, they’re sticking as close as possible to leech from each other’s lure.

8. Chinese Garden, Jurong

It may look less crowded in this picture but the Chinese Garden is a hot spot for Pokemon GO players as it houses 20 rest stops and 3 gyms. It’s very spacious so it’s great for people who don’t like crowd.

9. Vivo City

We Singaporeans are all about efficiency. If we can get our shopping done at Vivo and catch some Pokemon too, why not?

10. Bishan Park

Remember how people used to say that Bishan Park is really scary at night? This was taken at 1:30am and the park is still lively and buzzing!

11. East Coast Park

East Coast Park is home to one of Singapore’s most haunting ghost stories. It’s one of those places people try to avoid going to at night. But ever since the launch of Pokemon Go, we’ve seen some really brave Singaporeans. And it’s the Hungry Ghost Festival now…

Do you have evidence of the Pokemon Go craze in your neighbourhood? Drop us a comment and share with us!

Header image source: Straits Times

Also, read Pokemon Go Guide: How To Catch Pikachu & Where To Catch ‘Em All

Pokemon Go Guide: How To Catch Pikachu & Where To Catch ‘Em All!

The Pokemon Go craze has hit Singapore. Unless you live a social-media-free life, your news feed is probably swamped with all things Pokemon. Like it or not, this craze is probably gonna be around for a couple of months. Whether you’re already playing, or late to the game, here’s our guide that will help you ace Pokemon Go!

Hidden Tips Every Trainer Should Know

Get A Pikachu When You Start

Incense is extremely useful if you want to bring Pokemon towards your location. To activate Incense, tap the Pokeball, followed by ‘Items’ and click Incense (make sure you have Incense in your inventory, otherwise, get it at Pokestops). A robot vacuum cleaner looking item will show up and you’ll need to tap it one more time to activate it. A clock will appear and count down for 30 minutes. Incense works really well when you’re on the go. If you activate Incense when you’re static, you’ll only be able to lure one Pokemon in every 5-6 minutes.

Make Good Use Of Pink Petailed PokeStops

Once you’ve reached Level 5, you’ll be able to access gyms and put your mons in battles. Gym battles can be a little chaotic mess of tapping and swiping (tap to attack, swipe to dodge). During battles, you should keep your eyes at the series of squares underneath your Pokemon’s HP bar. When all the squares turn blue, you can unleash your mon’s “Special Power”. You can only use this special power once per battle.

Catching Pokemon For Candy

Where To Catch ‘Em All?

Now that you’ve got some tricks up your sleeves, head to these hot spots around Singapore to expand your Pokedex. Just remember to be aware of your surroundings! Don’t put yourself and others in danger.

1.  Orchard Road

Just look at the number of PokeStops! No surprise that Singapore’s most happening road is one of the most happening places to Poke hunt. According to  eight Pokemon Gyms and 78 Pokestops can be found at 4 parks –  Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, River Safari and the Singapore Zoo. The WRS has also developed Poke maps to help Trainers get the most from their hunt. One word of advice: Animals generally do not like intruders. Do not enter any of the animal exhibits!

4. MRTs

[caption id="attachment_12097" align="alignnone" width="870"] Image source: maxres

Also read: Better Safe Than Sorry? But These 10 Hungry Ghost Superstitions Are Unbelievable!

8 Useful Apps For Chinese New Year

It’s the last week of January, and this means that we are just a week away from Chinese New Year! Here are 8 useful apps you can download for the festive season.

1. Zalora

Fretting over what to wear? Check out Zalora‘s exclusively curated CNY collection featuring florals and lace for the ladies, and bright colours for the men. Apart from clothing, there are also shoes, bags, and accessories. Shopping on Zalora is a fuss-free process. Simply add the items into your cart, and choose your preferred payment and delivery option. Zalora also offers a free 30-day return policy, but do check the terms and conditions just in case your item falls under a non-refundable brand.

Developer: Zalora South East Asia Pte Ltd

2. Seven

If you feel peckish about missing a workout during CNY, exercise in the comfort of your own home with this app, Seven. The Full Body workout instruction (12 exercises with a 10 second rest between each move) is unlocked for free. All you need is a wall, a chair, and 7 minutes!

Developer: Perigee AB

3. Gothere.sg

Going to a friend’s or relative’s house for the first time? Use Gothere.sg. You just have to key in the postal code or street name of your starting point and your destination. This app provides step-by-step directions, whether you are a driver or commuter on public transport. Also, it compares the time taken on alternative routes.

Gothere.sg has a lite version where you can try out the full version for 14 days. The full version costs $5.98 on the App Store.

Developer: GoThere LLP

4. Guess The Word SG

   
There’ll never be a dull moment with this game! A crowd favourite, Guess The Word SG is a charade game for Singaporeans, by Singaporeans. Gameplay is easy – hold your phone against your forehead and guess the word displayed on your screen from the hints or actions of your friends before the timer runs out. Choose from local-themed decks like SG Loves Acronyms, Brands We Love, and Makan Time. There’s even a Gong Xi Gong Xi deck – how apt!

Developer: Nectary Studio Pte Ltd

5. Charades! Guess Words with Kids

   
If you’re surrounded by young children at a gathering, entertain them with this game of charades. Charades! works the same way as Guess The Word SG, except that its decks are designed with children in mind. Categories include Toys and Games, Disney Characters, and Things That Are Red.

Developer: FatChicken Studios

6. Movies by inSing.com

For those who want to catch a film during Chinese New Year, Movies will be useful. Use this app to browse for movies to watch, showtimes, or a cinema near you. Beat those queues at the box office by booking your tickets through this app!

Developer: Singtel Digital Media Pte Ltd

7. CNY Greeting

   
If you have yet to send your CNY greetings, CNY Greeting will do the trick for you. It offers 20 festive e-card backgrounds, and you can even customise the card with a message. For a personal touch, snap a photo and decorate it with numerous cute monkey stickers. You can save your creations to your camera roll or share them via email, Facebook and Instagram.

Developer: Suw Lan Ang

8. CNY Dumplings

   
This dumpling app resembles a Cooking Mama game! Roll dough, choose a filling, seal the dumplings and boil them to create the symbolic food item which represents wealth and unity in Chinese culture. At the end of the game, you can key in a message and share the well-wishes with your loved ones. Alternatively, round up your family and friends to enjoy some dumplings together!

Developer: OglivyOne, LLC