Wicker Park Studio Creates Card Game Inspired By L Train

CHICAGO — A design studio in Wicker Park has created a card game based on Chicago's L Train, complete with line stops, track colors and quintessential L moments. Chicago-based Transit Tees, an official manufacturer of CTA products, is launching LOOP: The Elevated Card Game. The studio is holding a launch event Nov. 15 at Transit Tees in Wicker Park.

The new game is designed to capture the "realistic, edgy" commuter experience on the L — players encounter Buskers, Train Car Preachers and Manspreading commuters, and have experiences such as Fell Asleep on the Train, Sat in Puddle and Went to Wrong Airport.

Transit Tees owner and founder, Tim Gillengerten, called Chicago transit riders "true urban warriors."

“They encounter and deal with many obstacles in their daily commute and, in our opinion, have an ‘elevated’ ability to navigate our train system. We would joke around the studio about all the hilarious, and not so hilarious, things that happened to us on the ‘L’ and came up with the brilliant idea to merge art, design and all that’s irreverent about living in and getting around a big city in creating LOOP: The Elevated Card Game.”

The game is available in a pre-sale now for $20, but its official sale will begin on Thursday, Nov.15, online and at both Transit Tees stores in Wicker Park (1371 N. Milwaukee Ave.) and Andersonville (5226 N. Clark St.).

A free public launch event will be held Nov. 15, which is the 6th anniversary of Transit Tees' Wicker Park location. The event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at 1371 N. Milwaukee Avenue. Guests will be the first to play the new game and enjoy light bites and refreshments from Antique Taco and Revolution Brewery, the studio announced. No RSVP is required.

The Elevated Card Game is the first-ever game created by the locally-owned and operated company, which designs and produces transit-themed apparel, housewares and accessory products.

"The transit system's signage, maps, and colors are the epitome of contemporary artwork and remind us of game play action," said artist Tom LaPlante, who spearheaded the project at Transit Tees' in-house design studio. "The graphic look of the LOOP game is inspired by the look, shape, colors and icons of the Chicago's 'L' system."

All of the game's L Transfers are accurate, and all Stops include the precise coordinates on Chicago’s grid, the game designers said. Each deck also includes an iconic ‘L’ Map Card with facts about the train system and its history.

Images courtesy of Transit Tees