[Oskitone]’s Hardware Hustle is a printable roll-and-write tabletop game that can be played on a single sheet of paper. It simulates attempting to run a small hardware business sustainably. Buy parts, make products, and sell them without burning yourself out!
If you’re not familiar with roll-and-write games, it’s a genre in which players take turns by rolling dice and then choosing how to assign those values in a game space as they progress from turn to turn. In the case of Hardware Hustle, it’s primarily a resource management game in which a player will be purchasing parts, assembling widgets, selling those widgets, and improving processes all while managing both money and opportunity costs.
The inspiration for Hardware Hustle comes from [Oskitone]’s own experience designing, building, and selling things like open-sourced, hackable synth kits that are known for their thoughtful design and fantastic use of 3D printing.
The game is in open beta-testing mode, so if you’d like to give it a try, head over to the PDF download section of the GitHub repository. Don’t forget to share your thoughts with the feedback form after playing. (If you’re wondering why a printable tabletop game has source code on GitHub, it’s because the game’s printable sheets are generated by JavaScript, making adjustments and tweaks and version control easier.)
Create in Tabletop Simulator.
Play Capitalism like it is 1995
Its like with all simulations they are for learning but doesnt fit into the reality. Sadly ehajo (german electric engineer) on youtube closed also his small electronic shop. You can not compete with mass production.
drug wars?
We’re talking the TI-85 version, right?
It’s quite a nice puzzle in managing your resources. Either by managing the ‘energy’ to ensure you get the upgrades, or use up all the energy and money to buy as many parts as possible. It works quite well.
In my three quick games, I’ve got ~50 cash quite quickly, but ran out of things to do in later turns. For the last game, I found a way to steam roll my last game. As after upgrading Buy Make and twice Sell, you can buy the required parts for a basic widget, build it and sell it without spending any energy.
Pretty sweet game, having run a few hardware companies myself I found it too relatable.
Played with my 10 year old and he beat me first round but I still managed to get 126. Will for sure play some more.