** Missed this project?   You can still get your Phystix™ by going to www.Phystix.com **

Please see FAQ below at bottom of page for more information.

A quick game demonstration:

My local Channel 3 News clip:

My local Channel 3 News program, 3 Plus You, was kind enough to host me on their show.  It was a lot of fun despite all the nervousness I had.

** NEW ** Phystix & Stones™

These are special Phystix™ blocks that have a marble in them. These are add-on packs to the Phystix™ game. Each pack contains 14 blocks with 6 of them having marbles in the small holes and the other 6 in the large hole and 2 of them having marbles in both of the holes. (The two marble blocks are great for dead-ending a branch.)

To make the game more challenging and colorful these Phystix & Stones™ packs give you different weight and leverage options. Buy as many packs as you want to make the game as interesting as you want. You can even buy different color packs to add to the game. (Different colors will be added in the Add-On section below as I post them. If you have a favorite color of marble that you would like to see, then please let me know in the comment section.)

Exclusive to Kickstarters is the special green marble Phystix & Stones™ which is being offered as an Add-On at the bottom of this page. Only available for this project.

Please check the Add-On section at the bottom for new Phystix & Stones™ available to anyone who makes a pledge.

What in the world is Phystix™?

Phystix™ is a patent pending, next generation of wood block stacking games, consisting of an unstable base with 54 triangular wooden blocks. Except with Phystix™, you don't stack at all.  The triangular wooden pieces are uniquely designed so that they are inserted into each other.  Because of this, you are able to branch out from the base in all directions and angles.

The base is an unstable base being basically a semi-sphere.  It is similar to those toys that wobble but they don't fall down.  Because of this, it makes the game more challenging than traditional stacking games in that not only do you have to balance the pieces, but you have to place them in a way that keeps the base from falling over.  (The base in the prototype is made out of concrete.  I can pour and form concrete, but I do not have the lathe machine to form the base out of wood.  This is another piece of equipment I really need your help with to make this game.  The pledge goal will help me to get this machinery so your base will be made out of wood like the rest of the game.)

From the base you have a wooden block projection with holes in it.  This is where you first put the triangular pieces to form the branches.  It is unique in that the holes offer players a way to make the game more challenging.  The lower holes offer a more stable base with a lesser challenge; the higher holes makes the base more unstable and your balancing skill is challenged even more.

The unique design of the triangular pieces allows them to be inserted into each other.  Because of this, a player is challenged to place the pieces in a way that will keep them from rotating while at the same time keeping the base balanced.  During the game the branches can rotate at any junction causing the whole structure to move in a different direction.

Phystix™ can be played by one or more people, which makes it a great party game.  It is exciting in that you don't just balance going up, but you are balancing in all directions.

The object of the game is to continue to place pieces forming branches and branches off of branches, without causing the structure to collapse or one of the pieces touching the playing surface like a table.  Each player takes a turn placing a piece in a way that will cause the next player to have a more challenging time of placing a piece.  If a triangular piece hits the playing surface or the structure collapses, the last person who touched it is eliminated from the game.

Why the name Phystix™?

Phystix™ is a merging of the words physics and stix(short for sticks).

Physics is for the leverage and fulcrum laws of physics required to keep the game balanced.

Stix is for the wooden blocks that are used.

Christmas early bird special:

My estimated delivery time is in February of 2013.  This is to allow me time to make the games to fulfill the rewards.  The elves have told me that I will have some games available before Christmas, so I am offering 200 of them for the early birds.  100 of them are just for the game and the other 100 are for those backers who want a game and the other swag.  The early bird rewards cost the same as the regular rewards of equal value, but they are limited to the first 200 backers.  Of course, it is possible that I will have more than 200 games before Christmas, but I don't want to promise you will get yours then (nobody wants to be the Grinch).  So if you want to see these under the tree, then pick the early bird reward over on the right of your computer screen.  If you don't care to get your game before Christmas then please select one of the other reward options and save the early bird rewards for those who don't want disappointed loved ones on Christmas morning.

Phystix™ Art

Phystix™ is a game, but it actually becomes a nice piece of art as you build the structure up.  When not playing the game, you could form a piece of art and leave it out for others to admire.

You don't have to use the base. Due to the uniquely designed blocks, you can create your own works of art.  If this game is successful, we will offer as a stretch reward the blocks without the base if you want them for other art projects.  If there is enough support for this, we will even consider making a customer gallery on the Phystix™ website to show off your works of art.

Who is Mutant Minds™?

Mutant Minds, LLC is a new invention and design company.  So new, it is actually being kickstarted by the Phystix™ project.  The founder, Jonathan T. Thompson, has been an inventor (on paper) for over 24 years and is ready to unleash the ideas he has scribbled in notebooks.  It is the goal of Mutant Minds™ to produce our inventions using American materials and American workers.  We will give up those extra "millions", just so we can provide jobs to our neighbors who want to work.

The Mutations:

If you want to know what I am talking about, then look at this post.

It took me three days to build the Phystix™ prototype.  So if you like what you see above, then you will really like the finished CNC routed wooden pieces that will go into your Phystix™ game.  That is why I need your help to get this game out.  For it to get out into the hands of game enthusiast, I really need professional equipment to do it.  I am certainly not going to spend three days with a  drill and saw to make each of a thousand games.  That is 3000 days and over 8 years (yes, I used a calculator).  Of course I could ask my family and friends to pick up a drill and saw, but you wouldn't want to pay that much for a game.

Here are some pix of the mutations:

Don't tell my wife you saw this mess on her back porch or I will never be able to come out of the basement.

That is a lot of holes.  A lot of drilling for 9 pieces.  One game has 54 pieces!

What If You Beat Your Goal?

The best part is what happens if we go over our goal. The more that is pledged, the more we will be able to develop the Phystix™ game and offer more rewards.  Not only that, but if we go way over, we will be able to work on other projects in our Mutant Minds™ lab (my basement) and present them here to you on Kickstarter.  How cool is that?  The gift that keeps on giving.

What If I Have No Idea How Kickstarter Works?

If you're not familiar with Kickstarter or how it will work, here's a brief overview (or you can read the official one, here). For the next 30 days, you'll be able to make pledges to help support this project, ranging from $1 to whatever you can afford without your spouse/parent/financial adviser slapping you. For your pledge, you can select one of the reward packages—listed to the right—of equal or lesser value to your pledge. You can always pledge more than the minimum to get a reward if you want (and for some packages, you'll need to do so if it must be shipped internationally). Your credit card or other account will not actually be charged at the time you make your pledge, and you can change your mind right up to the final deadline.

If the final deadline comes and we've reached our goal, then everyone gets charged the amount they pledged at once and we get to work making the Phystix™ game and mailing them out to you. But if for some reason we don't meet our goal, then the whole thing is called off. No one gets charged, no fees are applied, everyone just keeps their money. So there's no risk of putting up money and then the Phystix™ project never getting off the ground. Of course, if we fail to meet the goal, then no one gets any rewards, and I will go off and cry somewhere (maybe one tear).  Actually, it will be back to the drawing board to see how we can do it better.

Office and College Fun

There are those times in life when you are part of a group, and the unpleasant task of assigning someone to do the dirty job will come up.  Don't draw sticks to see who gets the short stick; instead, play a quick game of Phystix™.  The loser has to "take out the trash".  This also gives you an excuse to play games at work.  :-)

Phystix™  Add-Ons

Signature Backer Blocks with numbered certificates

The first 500 backers with a reward that contains a game will get a Signature Backer Block , which has the author's signature and comes with a numbered Backer Certificate.  (Mutation * 3 - is just a signed Backer Block with no certificate.)

The certificates will be numbered in order according to when you placed your pledge, so the earlier, the lower the number.  For example:  Backer 10 of 500 Backers.

If you are a Backer that pledges for a reward with multiple games, then you get a Signature Backer Block and certificate for each game.

Why are Signature Backer Blocks with certificates so important?  Well, the value is in the collectability.   A lot of adults would like to own a Rubik's Cube with Mr. Rubik's signature on it.  Not to mention a signed certificate with it!  So hopefully, one day, my grandchildren will ask, "You really created that?" :-)

Signature:  J T Thompson

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Phystix™ in other types of woods:

To get your game in a higher quality hardwood, add these dollar amounts to your pledge.  For example: You pledge $35 for reward Mutation * 5 and you want it in bamboo, so you add an additional $20 to make the pledge total $55 or more.

Remember that if you upgrade your pledge by adding dollars, the new dollar amount is not the added dollars, but the total dollars to be pledged.

$20 category -

Bamboo  -   weight 22  hardness 1650

Although really not a wood, bamboo is hard enough to be used as flooring. 

(Note: The base will be made out of hardwood, but the projection and playing pieces will be made out of bamboo. If later I determine that it is feasible to make the base out of bamboo, then I will do it.)

Red Oak  -  weight 48  hardness 1290

Cherry  -  weight 36  hardness 950

Walnut  -  weight 40  hardness 1010

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$25 category -

Mahogany  -  weight 40  hardness 800

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$35 category -

Purple Heart  -  weight 58  hardness 2713

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$50 category

Zebrawood  -  weight 46  hardness 1658

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$110 category -

Teak  -  weight 42  hardness 1155

Please remember that you are viewing these wood images on a computer screen and they may not look exactly that way in person.  If in doubt, please visit a hardwood supplier in your area to see actual samples.  Of course, that won't be 100% accurate either since there are different ways to cut a board.

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Phystix & Stones™

Kickstarter exclusive, special green marble pack of 14 - $12

Each pack contains 14 blocks with 6 of them having marbles in the small holes and the other 6 in the large hole and 2 of them having marbles in both of the holes. (The two marble blocks are great for dead-ending a branch.)

Only available for this project.

Various other colored marble packs of 14 - $12

Each pack contains 14 blocks with 6 of them having marbles in the small holes and the other 6 in the large hole and 2 of them having marbles in both of the holes. (The two marble blocks are great for dead-ending a branch.)

If there is another color of marble you would like, please send me a message and I will see what I can do.

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Phystix & Stones™ Necklace

Kickstarter exclusive, special green marble necklace - $10  

Only available for this project.

Various other colored marble necklaces - $10 each

Same colors available as the Phystix & Stones™ packs.

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