Whether you know it or not, you have core values. As intelligent, self-aware beings we make the majority of our decisions based on beliefs rather than impulses. There’s only one problem: how do you define your core values?
You've probably worked on your core values before or the core values for a company, but that's probably how it felt—like work. We came up with Coriosity because, after looking at every core value finder we could dig up, we realized they were all missing something: replay value. You take a big list, by yourself, sort it, get your five results, then move on. We knew we could create something with a bit more staying power.
Part of the “secret sauce” of Coriosity is the question prompts that precede each decision. Things like, “You can only wear one t-shirt for the rest of your life … what does it say?” These questions help color the choices a player makes. This random element keeps each round fresh and adds levity to what could otherwise, to some, feel like a chore.
In the beginning...
Coriosity was first conceived of as a web application. Take a virtual deck of value cards, deal it out in small groups, then use various mechanics to whittle the deck down from 50 to five. Simple enough, but there was something a bit cold about it. It felt like a race to finish. We debated over colors and animations and rules (a lot) but none of that would change the underlying issue. How can we bring Coriosity to life?
Then someone on our team (thanks Brooke) had a game-changing idea: why don’t we make the values into physical cards. Hmmm. As creators of digital goods, the idea of making something we could hold in our hands got us all super excited. More importantly, though, it gave us a chance to introduce the missing ingredient: socializing—another defining human quality.
