An interview about Puluc, the ancient Mayan game

Dr. Erik Stanley: What inspired you to create your own version of Bul/Puluc and other ancient games?

Tony: My first encounter with the multitude of ancient games that mankind played over the years, was through R.C Bell`s book called "Board and Table Games from Many Civilizations" published in 1979. Being a game designer, I wanted to create my own versions of these marvelous board games.

How did you first learn about Bul/Puluc and its rules? Did you research its history and cultural context while designing your version?

For the game's rules I needed something more visual than a book's pages, so I watched a couple of videos explaining how the game is played. For the game's history and cultural context, I read a lot of articles and blogs analyzing the game's history and possiblities of it existing before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores in Mesoamerica.

What challenges did you face when creating your version of Bul/Puluc, whether cultural, technical, or design-related?

The main difficulty was creating a design that would be feasible to engrave on the materials I am using. I was lucky enough thanks to a previous research I made on the mayan calendar, so I had some information about some designs the mayans where using on their calendar, so the calendar gave me a good starting point for the completion of the board design. Also, in most of the games I am designing, the main playing pieces are glass beads, but I couldn''t include them on Puluc, because the pieces need to be staked on piles if I wanted the game to be practical and easy to play. So, I had to go on a different direction, and the answer was simple: wooden discs.

Can you describe some of the aesthetic and artistic choices you made in designing your game (e.g., visual style, game pieces, or board layout)?

The main theme I wanted to implement on the game board, was something reminiscent of playing fields that the Mesoamericans had for intense athletic games, like Pok ta Pok. In my opinion, Bul/Puluc is an intense game and I needed the board to give the feeling of that tension.

What was your process for playtesting Bul/Puluc? Did any unexpected outcomes or player feedback lead to changes in your design?

I first played the game with some close friends and family, during game nights that more than a couple of games were coming on the table. What surprised me was during the days after that, when most of the people that played the game kept asking me about it and making comments about how much fun they had playing it. I played the game with people that didn't quite share the same passion I have for historical board games, and the game stood out among the modern games we played during that night, so that gave me the hint that I was on the right track.

Have you incorporated any unique features or modifications to make the game more accessible or engaging?

The feature I incorporate in all the games I am making, is engraving the board on faux leather, thus creating a game pouch that you can open and play the game on the inside of the pouch. By doing so, I made the game portable and easy to carry, while keeping the board big in size, 35cm/13.78inches.

Have you played Bul/Puluc much yourself? If so, what do you enjoy most about it?

I am always playing the games I am making, and I played Bul/Puluc a lot, not just because I am enjoying it myself, but also because my friends and family enjoyed it as well. One of the game's features that makes it so exciting for us, is the fact that even when you are almost one step away from losing, you may turn the tide, and make a huge comeback and even win the game, with just one piece.

Do you think playing Bul/Puluc can help people better understand Maya culture or history? If so, how?

From what I have seen in Puluc and other mayan games, like Patolli, mayans loved games of chance and gamble. Such preferences are characteristic of cultures that are advanced enough to allow for pastimes and doing things for fun, or as a hobby. Also, the game itself I believe might be a trigger to explore mayan history.

What impact do you hope your version of Bul/Puluc will have on those who play it?

My main motives are two: Fun and Knowledge. If someone plays the game, has a good time, and while doing that learns a thing or two about the mayans, I would be more than content.

What do you see as the significance of recreating ancient games like Bul/Puluc in the modern world?

An ancient board game has a part of history that comes along with it. Just the thought that countless generations before us sat around and enjoyed the same game that we are enjoying today, makes me feel connected to our course as a species, that we have so much in common with our ancestors. It seems simple and fun, but it is also like a window in time, like bringing a part of the past to the modern world and interact with it. You can't play with a museum exhibit, but a recreated ancient board game is lots of fun, engaging and educational.

Get your own copy of Puluc, the ancient Mayan board game here.