Your New Favourite Card Game NAMECHAIN Is Launching On August 10th

NAMECHAIN is the brand new card game created by Carrigaline’s Dylan Gregson launching on August 10th. 

Dylan Gregson, 24, is from Carrigaline and a former pupil of Shanbally NS and Rochestown College. Having graduated from Biochemistry in UCC, he now works for Johnson & Johnson. 

“Back in school, when we were about 15 or 16, we used to play a game at lunch that we called The Name Game. The idea was simple: say the name of any famous person, then link the next name using the first letter of the previous person’s surname.” Dylan Gregson told The Carrigdhoun, “But over time, we started adding more twists. Special rules, specific categories, extra challenges, reversals, timers all the things that made the game even funnier and more competitive. The problem was, trying to explain all of that out loud never really worked. It needed cards.

Gregson started developing the game early this year. Having moved to Limerick for work, Gregson ended up having a lot of spare time on his hands, and admitted the idea sat in his notes for months before this, but I eventually started to develop the concept.

NAMECHAIN launches on August 10th

“I originally printed my first prototype from the UK. Costing over €100 for a single deck. I brought it to different groups, and audiences from grandparents to work. Took all the feedback I could on board and went out to develop the 2nd prototype. A lot changed, I halved the number of cards, changed colours, thickness of the card, even prompts”

Determined to keep it Irish made, Gregson searched for an Irish manufacturer, which proved more difficult than first thought, “I almost gave up on an Irish company manufacturing it for me. I had a supplier lined up in China, however between lead times, and logistics it just wasn’t for me. I stuck with my guns, and went back hunting for an Irish supplier. That’s when I came across SNAP. I’d previously used them for other printing jobs, between work events, and college committees.”

Gregson admitted that not everyone clicks with it at first, but believes NAMECHAIN can be played by anyone. “The rules are simple, and easy to understand. It’s quick and easy, has an element of subjectiveness, gets people to put away their phones and spend some quality time together. It’s been great seeing people play something I made. It's really rewarding when friends, family and strangers enjoy it.”

Hoping for a successful first drop, Gregson believes “that proof of purchase will serve as its own marketing I hope. Word of mouth, leading to more interest. Long term I’d love to see NAMECHAIN in Irish stores. Right next to other reputable card games in places like easons, and smyths.

Eventually going international. Even though this is the strategy and future I’ll work towards. For now, I want to focus on the next few months, promoting it as best as I can.”

How to Play NAMECHAIN

Objective

Be the last player remaining by correctly naming people that match the prompt cards while following the NAMECHAIN rule.

Setup

Shuffle the prompt deck.

Each player takes:

1 Red SKIP card

1 Yellow CHALLENGE card

1 Blue SEARCH card

The youngest player starts.

The NAMECHAIN Rule

The first letter of the first name you say must match the first letter of the previous player’s surname.

Example:

Lionel Messi (Athlete)

↓

Matt Damon (Actor)

↓

David Attenborough (Famous Person)

↓

Andrew Garfield (Actor)

Taking Your Turn

Flip the top prompt card.

Choose a timer that suits your group. A 30-second timer is recommended, but you can play with no timer, a longer timer, or any time limit you prefer.

Say a name that:

Matches the prompt card.

Follows the NAMECHAIN rule.

If you are using a timer and do not answer before it ends, you are out for that round.

Reversals

If a name has the same first and last initial, shout “REVERSAL!”

Example

Michael McIntyre

The direction of play immediately reverses.

Power Cards

Red SKIP

Discard the current prompt card and draw a new one.

Yellow CHALLENGE

Challenge another player’s answer. The table decides whether the answer counts.

Blue SEARCH

Briefly use your phone to confirm a name if the table agrees. The extent of what you are allowed to search is up to the table’s discretion.

Winning

Play continues until only one player remains.

The last remaining player wins.

If the prompt deck runs out, reshuffle it and continue playing.

NAMECHAIN game can be purchased online at www.namechaingame.com. Dylan is also hoping to do some pop up shops around Cork, and possibly Dublin in the near future. Follow NAMECHAIN on Instagram and TikTok to stay in the loop.