Crackuda

Some popular fads come and go, trending one day and gone the next. And some stay around and are cultural milestones that last for decades, if not centuries, part of the common cultural consciousness in the Galaxy. Crackuda is the latter.
Originally conceived as a game unique to the Comet, the format became wildly popular and spread through the galaxy through all of the Comet's ports of call. Many variations exist, many unique to the planets and cultures who have put their own unique spin on the game. The original Crackuda set remains intact and is used today much as it was when the game was first designed. Even though the props and setup is outdated, Comet Crackuda or Classic Crackuda is still very popular and a big draw for Crackuda fans.

History

Crackuda began as a unique draw for the Comet, a game that could only be played on the ship. Play sessions were filmed and sent out as advertising material for the singular pleasures of the Comet, which helped spread the popularity of the game. It was both a spectator and audience participation game, and part of the game of chance was whether or not a spectator would be called on to play. Celebrity Crackuda, Charity Crackuda, and Children's Crackuda are all popular themes for games. All Shooting Star Cruiseliners have their own Crackuda setups, and there have been several high stakes betting scandals, especially surrounding popular All-Star games.

Execution

In its essence, Crackuda is easy enough to play - there's even a home version. It can be played with as few as two people (head-to-head Crackuda), or as many as ten (the maximum number of starting points on the board). Home versions are played on tabletop sized boards; Comet Crackuda is played on a virtual maze floor 110 meters long by 65 meters wide. There are two ways to win - the first person to reach the center of the Maze, or the last player standing on the board. The rules listed here are for Comet Crackuda.
Players advance square by square, moving forward a number of squares determined by random number generation with either dice at home, or random number generation algorithms (purists prefer dice rolled by players, and some enthusiasts have their own custom made dice sets). After a player advances, they activate a challenge card for their spot, which they must complete before their turn is over. If two players land on the same square they must both compete for the Challenge, and the loser is eliminated from the game. There are six categories of challenge cards in Classic Crackuda:

Intellectual: A player must correctly answer a trivia question, complete a puzzle, or solve a riddle. The challenges are randomised and changed out every session. For themed games the challenge is in line with the theme.

Physical: A player must complete some type of physical challenge, which can be anything including a simple sports challenge, an endurance challenge, or an eating challenge. Many of the more popular challenges can involve audience participation, and are often repeated in a season or even a single game.

Performance: Performance challenges are audience favorites and the participants must create some sort of performance based on the challenge. Examples include dancing, lipsyncing, improvisational comedy, singing, and recitations. Player versus player performances are especially popular as the audience votes for the winner of the challenge.

Randomisation: Some element of the board is randomised; the maze layout changes, the player positions are shuffled, the types of challenge are altered. Sometimes players are added or removed, depending on the number of current active players.

Setback: Setback challenges always set the players back in some way or another, whether denying them turns, making them go back spaces, or sending them back to the beginning.

Triumph: Triumph challenges are the rarest challenges - often they include something like an extra turn, denying other players a turn, or advancing a set amount of spaces. In every game there is a single triumph challenge with a special prize.

Players who win challenges in professional games can win unique prizes or credit. The prizes on the Comet today are more practical and much less high end, but Crackuda is still a big enough draw that the game's producer, Sabador, can offer excellent prizes from sponsors.
Players are removed from the game when they fail challenges, and are allowed to keep whatever prizes they have already won. The game ends when a player reaches the center of the maze, or when only one player remains. Games that end in a draw (both players fail a PVP challenge)then the player who has won the most challenges and/or gotten the furthest wins.

Components and tools

The home version of the game includes a customizable maze board, dice, ten figure pieces, and a set of 100 challenge cards. More sophisticated versions include random number generators, customised dice and figures, and randomly generated challenge cards and mazes.
Studio or professional versions are often customised to their environment, and though they have similar base components they are as unique as the places they are played.

Participants

For simple home games, there are 2-10 players, often with one player or observer tracking challenge wins.
Studio and professional versions are much more elaborate; on the Comet, Crackuda is hosted by Sabador, a former professional Crackuda player who chose to retire on the Comet and host their game. Because of Sabador's energy and experience in designing individual mazes and challenges, games of Crackuda streamed from the Comet are very popular.
The Comet has a recording and editing suite for their Crackuda games, and arena seating for an audience. Games are run every two hours with auxilliary staff, often as practice or rehearsal for streamed professional games. Some of the staff help design and implement the challenges, including a professional music team and athletes and coaches for the physical style challenges.

Observance

Crackuda is an extremely engaging game, and many people attend games to both spectate and participate. Many studio versions of Crackuda have challenge cards that engage directly with the audience, such as "Sing a romantic song to the person sitting in row 2 seat 12"; or polling the audience for help with puzzles, to sports challenges that include catching balls thrown from the audience.
Game breaks in a studio game include skits written by sponsors and live product placement and commercials. Sabador's weekly high stakes Crackuda games have dancers, professional effects, celebrity guest judges, and live music. Often there are product giveaways and audience contests. Comedians and cheerleaders perform to keep the mood and the energy of a Crackuda game up.