Submarine Seconds

Ping... Ping... Ping...

The sonar searches ceaselessly for you at the bottom of the ocean - torpedoes armed and ready to blow you and your submarine out of the water.

All that stands between you and a terrible crushing end, is your precise paper maps, your trusty stopwatch, and your exceptional sense of timing.

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This tiny, business-card sized, game has you as the captain of a submarine - your challenge is to estimate time as accurately as possible!

You can play this game anywhere you have access to an accurate clock - a waiting room, bus stop, etc.

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Instructions

1. Select two routes from the map (Eg. Siren's Horn (27) + Abyssian (28))
2. Open a Stopwatch app and hide the numbers.
3. Hold a deep breath*. Start the stopwatch.
4. Estimate when the seconds passed equals the route length and tap 'pause'.
5. Resume breathing.
6. Compare the total time with the route time. (E.g. Actual time: 28.7s = +1.7s)
7. Repeat steps 3, 4, and 5 for route two.
8. Your score is based on the difference between your total time and the route total. (E.g. Route total: 55s. Actual time: 53.7s. Difference: -1.3s. Outcome: Scrapes and leaks.)

* Holding your breath is an optional mechanic, for flavour and added challenge. You are welcome to choose not to do so.

Outcomes

• +/- 0 seconds to 0.5 seconds: Perfect!
• +/- 0.5 seconds to 1 second: Close escape!
• +/- 1 second to 2 seconds: Scrapes and Leaks.
• +/- 2 seconds to 3 seconds: Floods and Fires...
• +/- Over 3 seconds: All Hands Lost.

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Intention

This is a game about measuring how accurately you can estimate time.

Holding your breath is both flavour (because you're 'underwater' and the fictional setting is very tense) and to bring an additional sense of urgency that may further confound your ability to calmly estimate time.

Two routes are chosen, so that once you find your results from the first route (whether you have under- or over-estimated) you can try to adjust on the second route to fix your offset, and adjust slower or faster.

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Difficulty Modifiers

Choose shorter routes for a quicker, easier, game (that involves holding your breath for less time).

Choose longer routes for a slightly longer, harder, game, and with more chance to compound any minor tempo errors.

Do two routes at a time to increase difficulty further. (Please take care if using the optional breath-holding mechanic.)

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Assorted Thoughts

• Can be used to pass the time; waiting in line, at a bus stop, or waiting for an appointment.
• May be successful at keeping children focused and quiet for a minute or two.
• Can be played while walking. Do not hold your breath during strenuous exercise.
• Inspired by the chasm escape sequence in The Hunt For Red October (1990).