Monsieur Polo is a mobile indie folk game played outdoors in open spaces. Players download an app and can optionally use provided equipment like horns and a steering wheel. The game involves one player as "Monsieur Polo" who tries to tag other players, called "Drifters", by using a phone-connected wheel to call their horns. The game is designed for social interaction and silliness. An online platform allows players to connect as a community.
2. Monsieur Polo
®
WHAT
A mobile Indie Folk game for WHERE
smartphones in 3 parts: Any open city space:
1. a downloadable app a courtyard, a park, a plaza
11. optional gear
111. an online community WHEN
WHO Day or night any weekend,
when time is ample and
Social urban dwellers who are
spirits are high
looking to play an outdoor game
with new people
3. Monsieur Polo
®
GAME PRINCIPLES DESIGN PRINCIPLES
Portable and simple to set up Mobile and sharable, simple and low-cost
Compelling from a distance Game’s structure requires silly behavior
Fun and easy to learn Modeled after traditional folk games
Focus is on players & social interactions Online platform for community
Flexible game structure Players’ performance fascinates more than
digital experience ☞ underwhelming tech
4. Monsieur Polo
®
TOUCH POINTS
Monsieur Polo website
Apple or iTunes store
Encountering game outdoors
SOCIAL + EMOTIONAL VALUES
Users opt-in to game when in the mood to play.
Joy and fun are created through spontaneous play
and silly movements.
ENVIRONMENT-SENSITIVE
GPS-tracking technology alerts users when 3 or
more players are in the same open space
6. Meet Amelie
PROFILE
32-year-old new resident in Boston
NEEDS
Wishes she had more time to play outdoors when
not working at her 9-5 office job.
Seeks new opportunities for socializing and
meeting people.
INTERESTS
Regular board game player
Medium-level tech savviness
7. Amelie shops for a new game
TOUCH POINT
Amelie sees Monsieur Polo in the Apple Store
and decides to take a look.
8. Inside the box she finds...
Congratulations!
your code is:
nxkfn7jh3pw
Marco’s Tips find monsieur IN THE BOX
Shhh... Top Secret!
players online
don’t make noise
go to bed early
& I. Certificate of purchase and App Store code
never trust friends make new friends
II. Set of three iPhone horns and one wheel
everybody loses
getting lost is hard
☞Visit
www.mpolo.com
III. Instruction manual
9. How does it work?
Drifter’s Horn
“drifter” players wear
this phone-powered
horn around their
neck. each horn emits
a different colored
light during night
play.
the horns double
in utility as music
speakers and a
flashlight.
Monsieur’s Wheel IN THE BOX
the “monsieur” player plugs her
phone into the wheel. monsieur can
use the wheel to call drifter horns.
10. The First Game
CHECKING IN
The next day, Amelie is wandering in Boston
Common and feels like playing the game. She
decides to check in on her Monsieur Polo app.
Upon checking in, the app:
(1) records her location
(11) determines if she is in an open space
(111) determines if there are 3 or more other
players in the vicinity
PRINCIPLES AT WORK
Mobile and sharable
Portable and simple to set up
11. NOTIFICATION
Suddenly, a special Monsieur Polo tone sounds
from Amelie’s phone.
PRINCIPLES AT WORK
Mobile and sharable
Portable and simple to set up
12. PLAYER ALERT
In the distance, she notices another group
whose phones are also sounding.
PRINCIPLES AT WORK
Mobile and sharable
Portable and simple to set up
13. PLAYER GATHERING
The players meet and begin playing Monsieur
Polo. Some have their own gear, while others
PRINCIPLES AT WORK choose to play without any gear.
Mobile and sharable Luckily, Amelie has brought her set today.
Portable and simple to set up
14. THE GAME BEGINS
Amelie lends her Monsieur’s wheel to Sarah,
who assumes the role of Monsieur Polo.
PRINCIPLES AT WORK
Mobile and sharable
Portable and simple to set up
15. DRIFTERS WANDER
A Monsieur Polo, Sarah must close her eyes
while the other players (the “Drifters”) wander.
PRINCIPLES AT WORK
Focus is on players & social interactions
Game’s structure requires silly behavior
16. DRIFTERS WANDER
A Monsieur Polo, Sarah must close her eyes
while the other players (the “Drifters”) wander.
PRINCIPLES AT WORK
Focus is on players & social interactions
Game’s structure requires silly behavior
17. CALL AND REVEAL
“Monsieur” can request a call from her wheel at
any moment. When this happens, every player’s
PRINCIPLES AT WORK phone sounds, revealing their location.
Focus is on players & social interactions
Game’s structure requires silly behavior
18. TAGGING THE DRIFTERS
If Monsieur Polo catches a player, that player
is out. However, because creative cheating is
PRINCIPLES AT WORK encouraged, out Drifters can still try to guide
PRINCIPLESto learn
Fun and easy AT WORK or misguide Monsieur towards other Drifters.
Fun and gameto learn.
Flexible easy structure
19. Psst! She’s
right here!
TAGGING THE DRIFTERS
If Monsieur Polo catches a player, that player
is out. However, because creative cheating is
PRINCIPLES AT WORK encouraged, out Drifters can still try to guide
PRINCIPLESto learn
Fun and easy AT WORK or misguide Monsieur towards other Drifters.
Fun and gameto learn.
Flexible easy structure
20. Mwah You’ ll never
hahaha! catch me!
That was
close!
CHILDLIKE FUN
Throughout, much laughing and joking takes
place from the players’ ridiculous movements
PRINCIPLES AT WORK and antics.
Focus is on players & social interactions
Game’s structure requires silly behavior
21. DOCUMENTING THE GAME
Players can also take pictures or capture live
stream videos using the Monsieur Polo app,
PRINCIPLES AT WORK which uploads it straight to the game’s website.
Mobile and shareable
Online platform for community
22. THE END HATH ARRIVED
The game continues until only one drifter
remains untagged.
23. Rats!
A WINNER IS BORN
The remaining player wins the game and is
crowned the new Monsieur Polo.
24. A NEW GAME BEGINS
Amelie is having so much fun that she decides to
stick around for a few more rounds.
28. LIGHTS FOR NIGHT
AT NIGHT
Plus, they just look cool - especially as the
game gets going!
29. LIKE MOTHS TO A FLAME
LIGHTS FOR NIGHT
Plus, they just lookis drawn to the lights, and
Soon, a crowd cool - especially as the
game gets going! have a group of spectators
the players now
cheering them on.
PRINCIPLES AT WORK
Compelling from a distance
30. NEW PLAYERS EMERGE
LIGHTS FOR NIGHT
Plus, they just look cool - especially as the
Two spectators even become new players
game getsquickly downloading the Monsieur
after going!
Polo app on their phones.
PRINCIPLES AT WORK
Fun and easy to learn
31. Post-game connecting
MPOLO.COM
At home later that evening, Amelie revisits the video
she uploaded during her first game. She posts it
in the Boston Monsieur Polo group. Some of the
players find Amelie online and they all make plans
for another game next weekend. She can’t wait!
PRINCIPLES AT WORK
Online platform for
community
32. nology
Tech
IPHONE HORN STAND PRISMATIC LIGHT SHOW
Boosts iPhone speaker volume by Handheld light “turns the
up to three times without any ad- room into a night club”
ditional power
Double reflective heads
Non-slip rubberized grip
HANDHELD LASER IPHONE DIGITAL GAME
STEERING WHEEL