Review: Compose Yourself by ThinkFun


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We received a copy of the new game from ThinkFun called Compose Yourself to play with and review. Our opinions are our own, 100%. We enjoyed playing this game for quite a while right out of the box. It is very simple but requires that you have either an internet connected mobile device or are using a computer to play. It is pretty great because you get to hear the song that you make as you play. Then you can change it around and see how else it can sound.

The idea is brilliant and was invented by world-famous composer and cellist Philip Sheppard. The story is that he was working on composing some music and that he was using transparent paper to put down his notes. Then he thought, what if I flip the notes upside down, or mirrored vertically, or horizontally. He experimented with how that changed the music and the idea for Compose Yourself happened. Philip worked with ThinkFun and created the game and then with an orchestra behind him he composed all the pieces of music that are used in the game.

Wide view of Philip Sheppard conducting the orchestra
Wide view of Philip Sheppard conducting the orchestra (Photo Credit: Tom Bowles)

Right out of the box kids can start making their own music. There are very simple rules to play. Lay out 4 cards. You can flip them over, mirror them vertically or horizontally and on each side in the top left corner is a number. Enter that number into the Compose Yourself site to pull up that piece of music. Once you have laid out four cards you can start the music playing to hear what you made. But that is not all you can then add three ore lines of four cards of music together and make a longer song. When you play it back you can then send it out via Social media or e-mail it to yourself. I emailed a couple of songs out to Allison so she could hear them.

Eva’s song – Second ShotContinue reading Review: Compose Yourself by ThinkFun

Yoda to the Rescue


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I know that these toys are not the proper representation of the scene in Star Wars. The Yoda is too old and those are Storm Troopers and not Clones. But a guy at work brought in the Republic Gunship so I figured I’d do some sort of representation with my figures.

I’ve been watching Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Netflix and getting more and more into Star Wars. The cartoon really good. I’m not sure if I’m going to let the kids watch it yet because characters do end up dying. I’m only on season one but it is really well done.

I’m becoming more and more excited about the return of Star Wars Rebels next weekend and then Episode 7 this Christmas. I think with the countdown calendar it has made me even more excited for the Star Wars toys. I never had them at all when I was a kid and I guess I’m making up for lost time.