Manufacturer Sample #05

Four prototypes of Fart Juice are now in reviewers' sweaty hands being fervently played (I hope)!

In the meantime, I have received another manufacturer sample.

This one came in a nicely constructed box, and contained a number of card samples labelled clearly. They were:

280gsm Chinese black core with linen finish

310gsm German black core with linen finish

300gsm "white paper" with plain finish

350gsm "white paper" with plain finish

100% PVC cards (plastic cards)

Let's run through them.

280gsm Chinese black core with linen finish

The 280gsm Chinese black core with linen finish felt nice. Had good "snap-back" (that is, where you flick the top corner of the card and check its return to its original position). They shuffled nicely. They bent without creasing. They have a nice black core:

The only thing I didn't like about them was that the linen finish, when the cards rubbed against each other, was a bit "sticky". The linen finish must be a bit "rougher" than other cards I have seen/felt, which causes them to "catch" slightly on the linen finish of each other.

310gsm German black core with linen finish

I am discovering that German black core is very good. These cards were excellent. Good "shap-back". Good feel. Linen finish was not "sticky" like the 280gsm Chinese black core linen finish.

300gsm "white paper" with plain finish

The printing on these cards was fine. But at the moment my concern is card quality. These cards do not have a "core". When the manufacturers call it "white paper" or "art paper" (or give it no description apart from the gsm value) what they mean is: it is normal cardboard--no core; not sandwiched. The result is a card that feels okay to begin with, but is far more prone to getting creases and dints on the edges. They don't shuffle as well, either. The trade off, of course, is price.

350gsm "white paper" with plain finish

These cards also had no "core". Being 350gsm, they were quite thick and present a sturdy appearance. But they suffer the same inherent problems as with the 300gsm white paper cards. Also, I think 350gsm is too thick for playing cards. Don't feel good in the hand, and difficult to shuffle.

100% PVC cards (plastic cards)

I haven't had 100% PVC (ie plastic) card samples until now. They are very different. I haven't tried, but they feel almost indestructible. That is their main advantage over "paper" cards. But they are much more expensive.

I do not think they make for a nice playing experience. They just don't feel right.

Having said that, I will keep them in mind for another card game I am developing for young children (aged 4+). There are fewer cards than Fart Juice, and if they were 100% PVC, they would have a much longer life-span in the hands of little tykes!

Miscellaneous photos