Badge Drop #3: Stars Shine for THREE

Fri, 06/28/2024 - 12:00pm by ohheyitselle

We don’t need an OBSERVATORY to Ob-SERVE that GLITTER in your eye, dear player. The way your eyes GLAZ over when PROUDly talking about the points you’ve gathered. We see it in everyone: the OLD players and the NEWCOMERS, the young players that GLOW UP into full-fledged SG regulars, and even in those future players when they ask “WHAT’S THE BIG BANNER ON THE LIBRARY ALL ABOUT???” 

Yes, yes. That glitter is in all those eyes and when we see it, know that we are ROOTING FOR YOU, dear player.  Cheering you on as you take your Summer Game playing OUT OF THIS WORLD and beyond!!!! 

If we had to give you a formal REVIEW, we’d certainly give you FIVE STARS!!!! Because you & ME? Well, we’re BIRDS OF A FEATHER. And this thing we’re doing? It’s absolute FIRE and it’s FOREVER (unless you don’t want to anymore, we’ll miss you but that’s fine too. We won’t be weird about it.)

Anyways… we got kinda carried away there but this week you’ll put your REVIEWS and STAR GIVINGS to the test!! OH! And there’s MORE BADGES! 

BADGE DROP #3

THANKS FOR PLAYING and for doing this thing we’re doing!!! 

Badge Drop #2: TWO Much Fun

Fri, 06/21/2024 - 12:00pm by emjane

GEE WHIZ, the 2024 Summer Game has been GOING SWIMMINGLY with *GASP* more than 7500 players already playing!!!!

But we see the SIGN, and it’s time to STOP this preamble because IT’S LAWN SIGN AND LIBRARY STOP CODE TIME!

We aren’t taking you for a RIDE, this is not a drill, Lawn and Library codes are here EARLIER THAN EVER BEFORE to give FUTURE-you ample time to FROLIC down that RAINBOW ROAD and find those codes!

LAWN & LIBRARY CODES!

What they are:
Starting NOW, you can create your very own code to display either on a Lawn Code Sign OR on a Library Code Card. Lawn Code Signs are special lawn signs (which we provide) that you place next to your sidewalk, street, or parking lot. If you have one from last year, GREAT NEWS! They’re reusable! (We suggest using Goo Gone to remove any hard-to-clean codes from last year). If you don’t have one, GREAT NEWS! We have them ready to hand out at every library location!

Library Code Cards are special mini code signs (which we also provide) that get zip-tied to one of our five adorable Summer Game Stops. What is a Summer Game Stop, you ask? It's an SG sign on a perforated pole outside each branch - kind of like a bus stop sign, or a train stop sign, or just a stop sign, BUT FOR FINDING CODES!!!

How they work
1. FIRST pick up a Lawn Code Sign OR Library Code Card from any AADL location (OR reuse your lawn sign from last year) BEFORE you register your code online…
2. THEN create the code by going to play.aadl.org, selecting the My Players quick link, and scrolling to “Player Details”. Click the link to "Create a Lawn or Library Code,” and follow the directions.
3. Write the code legibly in ALLCAPS on your sign/card.
4. Put it up in your lawn or on one of our Summer Game Stops! 
5. You have until August 11th to create a code to give players a chance to happen upon them before the game ends.
6. Use the Summer Game Map to get started with Summer Game Stop locations and Lawn Code pins to pick areas to EXPLORE for codes!
7. BIG NOTE: It’s not like Pokemon—even with map pins, you will still NOT BE ABLE TO CATCH ‘EM ALL!!!

But GUESS WHAT?!?! Lawn and Library Codes aren’t the only DYNAMITE that’s dropping today! It’s time for the start of Contributor Trophies!!!! Today, it’s LOG-edition! That’s right! Log that media content all summer long and EARN BADGES when you reach certain milestones! And remember to play the daily ScatterLOG and EARN BADGES for reaching milestones in that too! And this is just the start of the Contributor Trophy fun—more on that next week!

Plus we have usual Friday badge drop to OCCUPY your time!! 

BADGE DROP #2

Thanks for playing!! NOW WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!?! Let’s LAWN, LIBRARY, and LOG!!!

Badge Drop #1: The Start of Something ONEderful!

Fri, 06/14/2024 - 12:00pm by ohheyitselle

It’s the first Friday badge drop of the Summer Game and….it’s… IT’S… ALIIIIIIVE!!!! 

*cue perfectly timed lightning*

We here at SG Headquarters have been working relentlessly in our SG Laboratory (maybe even during dark and stormy nights for a creature feature vibe... but also maybe not) so we hope you LOVE our little badge creations we’ve made for you, but before we get to that…

WE HAVE SOME NEW SUMMER GAME HOUSEKEEPING NOTES: 

• You may notice a MOSS-TERIOUS change to the way badges are presented to make them less, well, MOSS-TERIOUS! The clues in most badges are now unlocked so you can see ALL the clues to a badge upfront!! We really CAN’T HELP OURSHELVES in trying to make badge playing more convenient and we hope this change to badges helps!! That being said, some trickier badges may still have hidden clues, so be on the lookout!!!

• Speaking of making badges more convenient, you may notice the new PLAY popout on the bottom right corner of your screen. This is a POWERHOUSE move on our part to make it faster to enter codes and get to various SG features; we created this lil buddy just for YOU to help you take your SG playing UP, UP, & AWAY!! 

• Long-term SG players may be used to checking in on Fridays only, but don’t forget we have SCATTERLOG, our new DAILY puzzle game!! There may even be some badges coming later this summer marking how many DAYS you play, so make like an NYT puzzle addict and turn SCATTERLOG into a daily habit this summer!

• A2CAF is THIS WEEKEND!!!! Come to the Downtown Library on June 15th and 16th from 11am-5pm to show your love of comics and get a whole lotta codes!!

Now that we’re all on the same page, we hope you’re FEELIN’ FAB as you begin your Summer Game 2024 journey!!!! We LOVE THE SUMMER GAME, and we wish the same for CHICKENS, DOGS, DRAGONS, and all creatures in between!!!

So now, without further ado……………..

BADGE DROP #1

Here's to the WHOLE SUMMER GAME AHEAD and THANKS FOR PLAYING!!! 

It's GO Time!!!

Thu, 06/13/2024 - 10:00am by ohheyitselle

Well, well, well. We meet again, dear Summer Game players… 

You may have noticed codes popping up around town, posted up on rogue lawn signs, or zoomin’ by on buses…  Just like the dandelions cropping up indicates a sign of Summer coming, surely these CODES must mean SUMMER GAME IS STARTING SOON!!!! 

“How soon???” you may ask with bated breath. We here at SG Headquarters are happily here to say that if you’re reading this, that means SUMMER GAME 2024 HAS OFFICIALLY STARTED so UN-BATE YOUR BREATH!! 

This is your official GREEN LIGHT to breathe normally and GOOOOOOOO!!!! 

RIGHT NOW, you can:

-START with our GETTING STARTED BADGES! 

-GO to each AADL location and collect codes! Each branch has a BIG ‘OL BANNER CODE as well as some BRANCH EXPLORER codes within each library building. CAN YOU FIND THEM ALL??? Be sure to pick up a Summer Game Explorer’s Guide from any of the desks to help in your search! This year, the Explorer’s Guide INCLUDES your Summer Game Card! HOW CONVENIENT!!! 

-PLAY our new DAILY puzzle game, Scatterlog!! While you’re Scatterloggin’, don’t forget about Points-o-Matic ! This option is ACTUALLY ENDLESS so BUCKLE UP, FOLKS.  

-VISIT the AADL catalog to rate and review some things you like (or don’t like??). WE WANNA KNOW!

-READ books, watch movies, listen to music, or download something cool from the catalog! Be sure to LOG your items each day!!

-ATTEND events either in-person or online and find the CODES EVERYWHERE! 

-CLEAR your schedule for BADGE DROPS at NOON every FRIDAY of SG...STARTING TOMORROW! 

-BRAINSTORM what code you want for your Lawn or Library code, coming to you NEXT WEEK on June 21st!! 

-SAVE up those sweet, sweet points for the SUMMER GAME SHOP opening on July 12th! 

-GET HYPED for absolutely no other reason besides the fact that SUMMER GAME SEASON HAS STARTED!!!!! 
 

Getting Started Badge Series 

Well what are you waiting for???? GET GOING and THANKS FOR PLAYING! 

COMING SOON: The Summer Game 2024!

Fri, 05/03/2024 - 10:22am by richretyi

The Summer Game starts THURSDAY, JUNE 13!

The Reading Game!
Badges, badges, badges galore! 
Lawn & Library codes!
The Summer Game Prize Shop!
More surprises than ever before!

• Start the Reading Game and get Library codes on THURSDAY, JUNE 13!
• Our first Summer Game badge drop is FRIDAY, JUNE 14!
• Lawn & Library codes launch FRIDAY, JUNE 21!
• The Summer Game Shop opens in JULY!
• Come to the Summer Game Spectacular on SATURDAY, JULY 27!
• Celebrate the Game Over Gala with us on SUNDAY, AUGUST 25!

There's so much more to announce, so stay tuned to our social media channels or this space for more info in the coming weeks! 

Not sure what the Summer Game is? Check out our Getting Started page to get a peek at what all the fuss is about.

All Wrapped Up!!

Thu, 09/14/2023 - 11:00am by SaraP

We’ve got everyone’s favorite Summer Game feast-for-the-eyes right here and bready to go and GUESS WHAT?! It involves some BREAD! It also involves CRUNCHING! Because what we have here is our super famous, super-sized, and super flavorful SUMMER GAME WRAP!!! *cough cough* (it’s a wrap-up post with bread puns!) *cough* Let’s CRUNCH the NUMBERS!!!

A RECIPE for the PERFECT SUMMER GAME WRAP:

BADGES
You knead 266 badges to make this year’s perfect wrap. Then your community will gobble them up (um… earn them) 379,246 times! That’s an average of 1,426 earns/nom-noms per badge!!!
Note: for a truly classic twist on this year’s wrap, season to taste with one (or all) of our top 3 badges:
- Spot TheRide (earned 6224 times)
- Log Jammer (earned 5104 times)
- Super Summer Reader (earned 4585 times)

CODES (essential for a good summer wrap!)
Sprinkle a total of 2,877 codes ALL OVER TOWN and the internets!
Make sure at least 1,293 were lawn codes and then give your loyal fans a CHALLAH BACK for spreading all that SG LOVE!!
But how many BITES does it take to get to the center of a SUMMER GAME???
Exactly 2,009,716 bites!!! That’s how many times those codes will be chomped!
Average breademptions per code: 699!

POINTS
Last year's wrap called for 233,700,673 points squished in amongst all those player, badge, and code toppings.
THIS year’s WHOPPER of a WRAP requires a total of 289,233,436 mouth-watering points!!!
That’s like a 23.8% increase in secret sauce!! You'll really be raking in the DOUGH!!

We saved the best, most important ingredient for last: THE PLAYERS!!!

PLAYERS 
The secret ingredient that holds this whole enchilada together (is that a sandwich??) . . . The sesame seeds on the bun . . . The yeast that makes it all rise to the TOP . . . is YOU!!!
So be sure to whip up 25% MORE PLAYERS than last year (which was a record-breaking year!).
Your perfect SG Wrap will be chock-full of each and every one of this year’s NEW RECORD-BREAKING 12,660 players. (Last year we “only” had 10,114). Not too crumby at all, you guys!

Special thanks to all our little cinnamon buns who participated this year–you make Summer Game livin’ a whole lot SWEETER :D

Until next year, THANKS FOR PLAYING!!!

Badge Drop #12: The Last Inning

Fri, 08/25/2023 - 12:00pm by ohheyitselle

It’s the bottom of the 12th inning here at SG Field and the bases are LOADED!!! IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS!!!

On 1st base, we have all those CODE SPOTTERS who have spent all summer traipsing around town looking for LAWN & LIBRARY codes and are ready to RUN HOME to clean their Lawn Code signs with Goo Gone-like products then place them in storage! OR they may be running to return their sign to any AADL location for the lovely library employees to save and repurpose next summer! WHO CAN SAY WHERE THEY ARE RUNNING?! Running in either direction is acceptable because the same signs will be back next year (but with different codes, of course)!!!

On 2nd base, there’s the ever-diligent BADGER FINISHERS who have been waiting all summer for the coveted COMPLETIONIST BADGES dropping RIGHT NOW. Ooooh yes, their work earning ALL the badges in their favorite badge series pays off TODAY!

On 3rd base, we’ve got EVENT ATTENDEES who are ready to run pointedly NOT home, but to the GAME OVER GALA for some last minute Summer Game Points!!! It’s unclear whether that effects the ending of this metaphorical baseball game but that is for someone else to figure out!!!

At bat is… YOU, our ever-diligent LIBRARY LOVER!!!!! You have spent all summer long raking in the points and spreading the Summer Game love so it’s time to KNOCK IT OUTTA THE PARK because the Game ends on Sunday at 11:59pm!!!!

Post Summer Game, you can still SWING by the Summer Game Shop and spend those sweet, sweet SG points before the shop closes at the end of the day on Monday, September 4th!!

The pitch timer is running out on the Summer Game, so we’re gonna THROW you these COMPLETIONIST BADGES!!!

BADGE DROP #12

In our very biased opinion, you hit a GRAND SLAM, dear player.  There’s nothing left for us here at SG Field to do but give one big THANK YOU FOR PLAYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Badge Drop #11: Room for More

Fri, 08/18/2023 - 12:00pm by SaraP

Don’t tell us. We already know. You can see the end of summer approaching quicker than a SCHOOL bus (or a regular bus) when you’ve made one too many GOOFS and you’re late to the stop. Been there, done that. Well, buses aside, you better FLY like the wind if you want to make a FINAL trip to your local Summer Game Stop, CROSS off all those WORDS, or go on one last code-hunting BONANZA. That’s because SG Headquarters will go POOF and turn back into a regular old set of cubicles when the clock strikes 11:59pm on the last day of the Game in 9 days!!! For real though, the last day to play the 2023 Game is Sunday, August 27, but (just between SG friends) SG Headquarters will remain as magical as ever, because we’re always prepping for the next one!! And you know EATS ALL GOOD, when we go out with a SUPER SONIC bang at the GAME OVER GALA on that last day, so don't miss it! Plus, you’ll still be able to spend points on those not-at-all-secret TREASURES in the Summer Game Shop through Monday, September 4th!

The POWER of the badge drop is calling and we hear the masses screaming into their devices: “DON’T LEAVE ME HANGING—not yet!!!”. Fear NOT, dear players, the NIGHT is still young. In fact it’s so young that it’s still only noon on a badge-drop Friday!!! And until the school bus gets here, THERE’S ALWAYS ROOM FOR . . . more badges (and JELL-O). So here you go (at least about the badges)!!!

BADGE DROP #11

As always, THANKS for PLAYING!!!

Badge Drop #10: The Big TEN

Fri, 08/11/2023 - 12:00pm by ohheyitselle

THE BIG TEN IS HERE!!!! Noooo, not football. The TENTH BADGE DROP, of course!!!! 

Summer Game season is truly an A-MAIZE-ING time of the year. Heck, dare we say it’s the BEST season of the year?????? At least IN THIS CORNER of SG Headquarters, we DO dare to say it!!!!!! Seeing PURE GRINS plastered on the faces of those on points PARADE????? PENSIVEly playing through badges week after week?? Can you even beat that?!?! Ah, such a sweet time. 

But there’s no need to be L00KING BACK yet, because we still have plenty of summer left!!!

Oh, and speaking of TIME LEFT…Don’t catch yourself in a STICKY SITUATION by forgetting to create a LAWN or LIBRARY code!!!! The deadline for Lawn and Library Code creating is end of day on AUGUST 13th so act now!!! After that, ALL PRETZ ARE OFF and the final FEROCIOUS code searching MAYHEM begins!!!!

Keep all that in mind, but for now…

BADGE DROP #10

Enjoy these fresh badges and THANKS FOR PLAYING!!!

Badge Drop #9: Embrace the LEGO!

Fri, 08/04/2023 - 12:00pm by SaraP

Hello players! It’s August 4th and you know what that means, right?! We still have a whole TWENTY-FOUR DAYS of Summer Game to play!!! So SHUFFLE those calendars, round up those KIDS, and get ready to SAMPLE seventeen all new badges!! But please don’t actually rearrange your calendars. Unless of course it’s for the RETURN of one of our favorite events of the year: the 18th Annual LEGO Contest!!! It seems KIMPOSSIBLE to imagine a world in which our SUPER fans need extra motivation to EMBRACE a Sunday of brick-based competition, but we made a badge for that (just in case). So, RACE on over to the Sheraton Hotel on Sunday 8/6 to enter your creations and nab some codes!

Another GOOEY little fact for you: players have until August 13th to create LAWN CODES. So if you want to give back to your community by giving away points, it’s time to get your ACT together, friends!! On the other hand, we totally understand if you’d rather CAMP out on your lawn with a chilled can of sparkling water and an equally chill mixTAPE to enjoy the DOG RAYS of SUMMER *without* 10,000 people slowly cruising by your residence writing down that code. OH WAIT! That’s one of the many reasons we have LIBRARY CODES!!!! You’ve got until August 13th to make LIBRARY CODES, too.

But, wait! What’s that?! We hear a buzzing—a promising HUM! It must be the engines at SG Headquarters gearing up for . . . THE BADGE DROP . . .

BADGE DROP #9

Say hi to CHICKEN for us! And THANKS for PLAYING!!!