Search Spam is essentially an SEO-themed version of the parlor game Werewolf (or Mafia, depending on how you've played it). Begrudgingly (threw that in for ya, Rand), Wikipedia has a comprehensive entry about the game and how it's played, so give it a read if you're intrigued about the rules. Werewolf is a game of bullshitting, deceit, and persuasion...so we found it only natural to give it an SEO theme and repackage it as Search Spam. :D
One of Rand's friends who's also an artist drew caricatures of several well-known SEOs and search engine reps. These folks were divided into the White Hat and Black Hat players, with Danny Sullivan being the Reinclusion Requester (the "healer") and Matt Cutts being the Revealer of Hats (the "seer"):
Search Spam cards (photo courtesy of Ian Kennedy)
After seeing many confused faces, we got several groups together and taught everyone the ropes one by one. Pretty soon, there were lots of excited shouts and amusing reveals (I'm sure the booze helped quite a bit). We even had a "Tournament of Champions" consisting of the winningest players (and, of course, Rand and Matt):
The Tournament of Champions
The Tournament of Champions
At this point, things were getting a bit rowdy and loud (loudy?), and I had the voice akin to a 55 year-old chain smoking, sun bathing, slot playing spinster named Lurlene. Overall, however, it seemed as if everyone had a great time nerding it up playing Search Spam. The cards were well received, lots of people had fun playing the game, and it was a great networking opportunity.
Thanks to everyone who attended, and big thanks to Rand, Gillian, Scott, and Christine for organizing the event and ensuring that everything ran smoothly. We hope everyone who attended had a good time. If you didn't attend and want a pack of the Search Spam cards, we will have them available to order off our website soon. Until then, happy Werewolfing!
Thanks to everyone who attended, and big thanks to Rand, Gillian, Scott, and Christine for organizing the event and ensuring that everything ran smoothly. We hope everyone who attended had a good time. If you didn't attend and want a pack of the Search Spam cards, we will have them available to order off our website soon. Until then, happy Werewolfing!
If anyone from Google is wondering were their Google gadgets sign is, it is in the room where we played Werewolf. I stole the sign, then someone stole it from me and then I found it and then I left it under the table to hide it from whoever stole it from me and then I kept drinking and forgot about it.
We were sitting at the same table for awhile during this game feedthebot... thought you looked familiar. Too bad I didn't get a chance to introduce myself before having to leave, ah well next time.
I had a blast, despite my early demise at the winner's table. I got to pretend to be Danny Sullivan and openly mock Matt Cutts (in a nice way, of course); who could ask for more?
I like the guy sitting at the 11:55 position. Clearly he has fallen asleep and is dreaming: "I'm a tiger. Rarrgh!"
That's Rand :) The only person awake (you can see the back of his head) is Matt Cutts.
Matt provided commentary on his blackhat prowess:
I realized that the person to my left was the healer (”Danny Sullivan” in this game), and decided to pretend to be the healer myself. Then I realized that the person to my right was the seer (”Matt Cutts” in this game. I know — my head hurt too.). As the “whitehat healer” I convinced the other villagers to lynch the seer. I got voted out early in the game, but enough people believed I was the healer (hi Jonah!) that the villagers voted out the real healer soon afterwards. With no healer or seer left alive, the two remaining blackhats played like pros and won. Just so you know, if there’s video of me celebrating with a little dance and chanting “Blackhats rule! Blackhats Rule!”, that’s why. I was just celebrating our team’s victory.
Maybe werewolf will be the new WSOP, complete with ESPn commentary :)
Best comment I have ever read on SEOmoz. ;-)
I love how 'Night time' at the table makes everyone look like they're really, really hungover.
PS, A dingo stole my white-hat :(
Just because we were pretending to be asleep doesn't mean we weren't really, really hung over :)
That must have been really fun, do any of you wonder if the cards will have value like the Garbage Pail kids from the 80's
Thumbed for Garbage Pail Kids. Ah, the days of yesteryear...
We had a blast at this, thanks for hosting a kick ass time. We had to leave early to go see Ka (which rocked) but really wanted to stay longer. Someone was passing around a flask of moonshine which didn't hurt either :)
Fun event, thanks for organizing. I played four games, and was a Black Hat three times...what are the odds?
I'm happy other people remember Garbage Pail Kids. I recently went through all my childhood stuff still stored at my parents' place (yes, still - Bay Area partments are not known for their excessive size), and kept two important items: my Legos and about 400 Garbage Pail Kids cards! Someday they'll be worth something...
Haha, you keep telling yourself that... ;)
What a riot. I was killed off early in the last game, even with the Matt Cutts card. The real Matt Cutts taught me a good lesson. I wrote about it here:https://momentumseo.com/googles-matt-cutts-is-a-black-hat-a-true-story/
Could you please post a better picture of the cards so we can laugh our asses off at each one individually?
Careful though, the black hat cards may be similiar to the U.S. Government's approach to terrorism. I'd bet Matt Cutts paid SEOmoz to put out a set of black hat cards. In a few days he'll offer a reward for the capture of any of the black hat card members.
LOL, okay way too much Cocoa Puffs this morning. ;-)
It was great fun and it was a very interesting game where you had to root out the blackhats quick or they would win in short order. I made it to the Champs tables and outlasted Matt Cutts so in that light I felt like I won :) You Mozzers are just so darn creative, you have a good team there so keep up the good work.
-D
Speaking of cards, curious to know what you guys ended up settling on for the titles for your new bsuiness cards???
I'll get a post up about that shortly, with props to the folks who suggested titles we ended up using. :D
Hiho, perhaps you wanna make a deal with Martin Mißfeldt.
Some time ago he made an great "German SEO Poker Deck" and i think there are some cards still available. Here is the link, sorry, but the Post is only german. https://www.tagseoblog.de/seo-kartenspiel-zur-seo-campixx-inkl-assen-und
But i think it´s a great idea if you work together and make an "small winning game" like everyone can donate some dollars and everyone who donate a little bit has a chance to win a bundle of the Cards.
ps. sry for my worse english... :)
Thanks for a great evening! This was a great opportunity to meet and greet other people in the industry in a relaxed setting (the free drinks helped a lot!), even though they were all trying to kill me ... and vice versa. Who knew Matt Cutts could be "killed" by the black hats? I always thought that was an impossibility in SEO. ^__^
Dude, sometimes I hate my Job, I'm stuck working for clients when so much fun is to be had.
If anyone's still in Vegas on the 11th, let me know I have some list spots for Phil Hellmuths Christmas Party at the Hugh Hefner Sky Villa at the Palms, and you can tell me what I missed.
https://www.palms.com/suites_villas_2_b.php
Between that and the Google reception it was definitely a good time! Thanks for hosting that and it was very good to meet you and Jane!
Those cards are AMAZING! You should make copies and sell them (or give them away to Premium Members, he he).
Entertaining recap too. Did a good job of making me very jealous of not being there ;)
You should print these cards and give them away as presents or sell them. They are awesome.
Sounds like a lot of fun though
haha! That's awesome guys. Very creative. I'm looking forward to being able to order a set!
I am so bummed that I missed this. I'm going to beg/cheat/steal my way to the next SEOmoz party - this is my vow. There is nothing better than boozing it up with a bunch of fellow geeks, especially when a card game is involved. Who cares about learning stuff...
With a name like BigTequila . . . your post is even more approiately hilarious. ;-)
A little booz always makes a party game more fun.