How to play Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego Official Game Rules

By: Dennis B. B. Taylor

Discover the Exciting Game of “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?”

Are you ready to embark on a thrilling adventure and test your knowledge of world geography? Look no further than the captivating game of “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” As you join me on this quest, we’ll explore the essential game rules together so that you can become a true detective and secure the title of world explorer extraordinaire!

Game Objective:

In this game, the notorious thief Carmen Sandiego has been traveling across the globe, committing her infamous crimes in various locations. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to track Carmen’s movements, arrest her, and recover the stolen treasures. By solving a series of clues and piecing together the evidence, you’ll be one step closer to capturing Carmen and restoring peace to the world.

Gameplay:

The game begins at ACME Detective Agency, where you’ll receive your first assignment. Each case leads you to a new city, where you must gather information from witnesses and gather clues to determine Carmen’s next destination. Be prepared to scrutinize the details, analyze the evidence, and make informed decisions if you want to outsmart Carmen and bring her to justice!

As you progress through the game, you’ll encounter various challenges that will test your knowledge of geography, history, and culture. Pay close attention to the information provided, as it will help you make the right choices and advance in your pursuit of Carmen. Remember, the world is your playground, and every piece of information is a valuable clue!

Winning the Game:

You win the game by making correct deductions and successfully apprehending Carmen Sandiego. Your score is based on the number of clues you used, so the fewer clues you rely on, the higher your rank will be. Aim for the top score and prove that you are the ultimate super-sleuth!

So, are you ready to join the ranks of the greatest detectives in the world? Sharpen your magnifying glass, dust off your detective hat, and embark on the thrilling journey of “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” The world awaits your investigative prowess!

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If you want to catch Carmen Sandiego, you need to find out where she’s hiding and figure out what she stole.

Getting Ready to Play

To prepare for the game, divide the cards into three different decks: V.I.L.E. Henchmen Cards, Loot Cards, and Location Cards.

Shuffle each deck of cards and place one V.I.L.E. Henchmen Card, one Loot Card, and one Location Card face down on the table, making sure not to peek at them.

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If there are three or four gumshoes playing, I’ll deal two cards of each type to each of you. And if there are only two gumshoes playing, I’ll deal three cards of each type to each of you.

You should arrange your cards in front of you, face down, in three columns. One column is for V.I.L.E. Henchmen, one column is for Loot, and one column is for Location. Make sure not to peek at your cards!

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Alright, here’s what you need to do to get started! First, grab the remaining decks of cards and put them face down on the table. Make sure they’re within everyone’s reach so that nobody has to stretch too far.

Now, it’s time for each of you to become a gumshoe! Take one of the Top Secret Evidence Journals and a dry-erase pen. These will be your tools for cracking the case.

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Gameplay

When it’s my turn, I get to look at one card. It can be any card, even my own. But here’s the catch – I have to jot down some important notes in my Top Secret Evidence Journal.

These notes are super important because later in the game, I might need to know which detective has a specific card and where it is in their card collection. Is it at the top, in the middle, or at the bottom?

Let me give you an example. If I find out that Mark’s top Location Card is New Delhi, I need to write “Mark/Top” next to New Delhi in my Top Secret Evidence Journal.

And hey, if I happen to spot All the Tea in China at the bottom of Amberley’s Loot Card column, I better jot down “Amberley/Bottom” next to it in my Top Secret Evidence Journal.

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Hint: Remember to write down every move in your Top Secret Evidence Journal, as the cards might change during the game.

Let’s Roll the Dice

I’m the youngest detective here, so I get to go first! During my turn, I’ll roll the dice and check out a card that matches the icon I rolled.

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Tracking Down Clues

Have you ever tried to solve a mystery? You know, like the ones in detective stories, where a skilled investigator meticulously pieces together clues to crack the case? Well, that’s exactly what I’m going to talk about.

When I look for answers, it’s like I’m following a trail. I gather information from different sources, like a detective questioning witnesses. But instead of a magnifying glass and a trench coat, I use my trusty computer and the internet. The digital realm is my crime scene, and the clues I find are like breadcrumbs leading me closer to the truth.

Every clue is essential. Just like a detective, I have to weigh each piece of evidence and determine its significance. Some clues might seem insignificant on their own, but when combined with others, they can unlock the answers I’m searching for. It’s like putting together a puzzle, one mysterious piece at a time.

But like any good detective knows, the task of finding clues is not always easy. Sometimes I hit dead ends, just like when you’re trying to solve a tricky riddle. It can be frustrating, but I won’t let it discourage me. After all, every failed attempt is an opportunity to learn and improve my detective skills.

As I progress in my investigation, my curiosity grows. A new clue sparks excitement and motivates me to keep digging. And when I finally uncover the truth, it’s like solving the biggest mystery of all.

So, when you find yourself faced with a puzzling question or a complex problem, think like a detective. Piece together the clues, follow the trail, and don’t be afraid to venture into the unknown. Who knows, you might just stumble upon the answer you’ve been searching for all along.

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When it’s my turn, I take a look at one of my own cards. Let’s say I roll Loot – I can look at one of my Loot Cards, but I have to keep it a secret from the others. I take a peek and then put the card back, face down, right where it was. I make sure to jot down a note in my Top Secret Evidence Journal so I don’t forget what I saw.

I have to keep doing this on every turn until I’ve seen all of my Loot Cards. Once I’ve checked out all of my own cards, then I can start looking at what the other gumshoes have in their hands.

This rule about looking at my own cards first applies to Location Cards and Henchmen Cards too. It’s important to follow this rule throughout the entire game. And remember, the game might surprise me with new Loot, Location, and Henchmen Cards as it goes on.

When you get a new card, don’t peek at another gumshoe’s card of the same type until you’ve had a chance to look at your own.

Putting the Pieces Together

Your mission is to find as many matching Loot and Location Cards as you can, in order to eliminate them and uncover Carmen Sandiego’s whereabouts. By doing this, you’ll eventually discover one Loot-Location Card combination. Here’s how you can accomplish that:

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I want to tell you about something really cool – Loot Cards and Location Cards! They’re part of this awesome game I’ve been playing called “Carmen Sandiego”.

So, here’s the deal: every Loot Card corresponds to a specific Location Card. And guess what? In your Top Secret Evidence Journal, you can find all the information about how the loot and locations match up. It’s like a secret code!

Let me give you an example. The Grand Canyon matches up with Arizona. And you know what else? Gandhi’s glasses match New Delhi. How cool is that?

Here’s the really exciting part. Because you’ve been taking such great notes in your Journal, you probably know where some matching Loot and Location Cards are. That’s a big advantage for you!

But let’s say you don’t know where Carmen is yet. That’s okay! If you think you know where matching Loot and Location Cards are, even if it’s another gumshoe who has the cards, you can still call it out. You never know, it could be the key to finding Carmen!

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This is an extra move you can make during your normal turn, either at the beginning or end.

Guess which Loot and Location Cards go together. If you’re right, put the Loot Card and the Location Card face up, out of the game. Then, flip over any Henchmen Card you want and set it aside. You can match any Henchmen Card (except Carmen) with any Loot-Location Card pair.

Whenever you make a successful match, you can swap one of your own Loot, Location, or Henchmen Cards with one in the middle of the table, but you can’t look at either card. This is called “Closing In.” Remember, it’s up to you whether to use this move in the beginning or end of your turn!

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When you accidentally flip over cards that don’t match, I have to warn you: the gumshoe on your left will snatch one of their Loot or Location Cards (face down) and swap it for a card on the table.

Be careful! If you mistakenly uncover Carmen herself, your cover is completely blown; she steals the loot and escapes. Game over. You can find more information about catching Carmen below.

Getting more Cards

After every turn, it’s important to make sure you have enough cards. If you don’t have the same number of face-down cards that you started with, it’s time to pick some more. You can choose one or more cards from the decks on the table.

Pick a card and place it face down in front of you without looking at it. If there aren’t enough cards left for everyone, don’t worry. Start with the gumshoe who made the last match and continue clockwise from there.

Closing in on Carmen

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Listen up! Picture this: there’s only one Loot Card, one Location Card, and one Henchmen Card chillin’ in the center of the table. You want to catch Carmen Sandiego and snag a matching Loot-Location Card combo to pin her down later. Easy, peasy, right?

So, here’s the deal: take control of those cards in the center. And here’s a tip for all you savvy detectives: consult your Top Secret Evidence Journal and only move the cards you already know into the center. That way, you’ll be one step closer to cracking the case!

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When you make a successful match, you have the option to swap one of your own cards with a card from the center of the table. However, you can only swap cards of the same type.

For instance, if you decide to move your Loot Card to the center, you must take the current Loot Card from the center and replace it with your own. Remember, swapping cards is not mandatory.

Tip: If you already know which cards are in the center of the table, you might choose not to swap any cards.

If you run out of cards entirely, you can swap another player’s card with a card from the center of the table without looking at either of them.

When you take a card from the center, place it face down in front of you, not in front of the player whose card you used.

So, here’s how it works: If you accidentally flip over cards that don’t match during the game, the detective sitting next to you has a chance to swap one of their own cards with one of the center cards. Yep, you guessed it – your turn is done, and it’s now the detective’s turn to play.

Capturing Carmen

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When you play Loot, Location, and Henchmen Cards and remove them from the game, you’ll eventually narrow down Carmen’s location. And once you do, you’ll also figure out the specific Loot-Location Card set in the center of the table.

Here’s a clue: Carmen can only match with Loot and Location Cards in the center of the table, and they have to be a perfect match. So, even if you know where Carmen is, don’t issue a warrant until you’re sure the Loot-Location Card set in the center matches perfectly.

The Game Ends

If you believe you’ve identified the Loot-Location Card set in the center of the table and Carmen’s location, go ahead and call out your answer!

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Alright, listen up! Here’s what you gotta do. First, I’m gonna lay out some Loot and Location cards on the table. Keep your eyes peeled, because we want them to match.

If you spot a match, it’s time to make your move. Flip over one of the Henchmen Cards you suspect is Carmen, even if it’s hiding under another gumshoe’s card. Now, here’s the important part: if it turns out to be Carmen, that’s a win for you, my friend!

But hold on, things can get tricky. If the Loot and Location Cards don’t match, or the Henchmen Card you flip isn’t Carmen, it’s time for Plan B. The gumshoe sitting to your left gets a chance to swap one of their cards with one from the center of the table, no peeking allowed. And then the cycle continues until all the exposed cards on the table have been switched out.

Once every card in the center of the table has been swapped, the game keeps going, starting with the gumshoe on your left. And remember, folks, the name of the game is to find Carmen!

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If the Loot and Location Cards don’t match, you stay in the game. If the Henchmen you revealed isn’t Carmen, you’re out of the game.

Tough break! If every gumshoe except one is eliminated from the game, that gumshoe automatically wins.

The first gumshoe to find a match between Loot and Location and successfully reveal Carmen wins the game.

Let me give you an example of how the game is played.

Julie is playing with Amberley and Mark. Julie goes first since she’s the youngest. She rolls the die and lands on Loot. She looks at her top Loot Card and remembers what she saw in her Journal.

After a few turns, Julie still hasn’t seen all of her cards, but here’s what she knows so far:

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So here’s what happened: during my turn, I rolled the Location die and got New Delhi. But here’s the thing – I’ve already checked all of my own Location cards, so I figured I’d take a peek at Mark’s top Location Card instead. And guess what? It was New Delhi! How about that? I made a note of it in my Journal.

Now, here’s the interesting part: I also happened to know that Mark had the same Location Card as my top Loot Card (Gandhi’s Glasses). But I decided not to jump the gun and issue a warrant just yet. Why? Well, let me explain. I haven’t looked at any Villain cards yet, and the last thing I want is to accidentally uncover Carmen. So I decided to hold off.

Fast forward to my next turn. I rolled the die, and this time it landed on Henchmen. I took a look at my top Henchmen card, and, well, let’s just say I wasn’t too thrilled. Turns out I had Yu I B. Bummer. So now, here’s what I know:

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Now I’m all set to make a match. I shout, “I have a warrant!” and reveal my top Loot Card (Gandhi’s Glasses), my top Henchmen card (Yul B. Sorry), and Mark’s top Location card (New Delhi).

I’ve successfully caught Yul B. Sorry in New Delhi with Gandhi’s Glasses – great job! I put all three of these cards aside, out of the game.

Since I made a successful match, I get to swap one of the cards on the table with one of my own cards.

I decide to place my New York Location Card on the table and take the Location Card from the table, placing it face down in front of me without looking at it.

I’m playing a game with my friend Mark. Every turn, we draw cards and place them face down in front of us. I draw one Henchmen Card and one Loot Card from the draw piles, while Mark draws one Location Card. It’s an exciting moment because it adds an element of surprise to the game. Now, I can’t wait to see what I’ve got!

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Next up, I get to roll the Loot dice! Let’s see what treasures await me. Oh, and just a reminder, I haven’t taken a peek at all of my cards yet. Okay, here we go!

I got The Statue of Liberty’s Torch! That’s awesome! It’s a perfect match for the New York Location Card I placed in the center of the table. How lucky am I?

Now, let me check out my known cards:

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When it’s my turn again, I roll the Location die. I haven’t seen all of my Location Cards yet, so I check out the one on top, which is Oslo. Here are the cards I know:

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When it’s my turn again, I get to roll the dice for Loot. I haven’t seen all of my own Loot Cards yet, so I flip over the bottom one from my pile. It’s Hudson Bay. Here are the cards I already know:

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As I play my turns, I roll the dice and hope for good luck. This time, I rolled Henchmen twice and revealed two new cards: Robin Banks and Bessie May Mucho. These are the cards that I now have in front of me:

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When it’s my turn again, I roll the dice and get the Loot. Since I’ve already seen what’s in my own Loot Cards, I decide to take a peek at Amberley’s top Loot Card. And what do I find? Pizarro’s Sword! My Journal tells me that I can use it for something.

“I have a warrant!” I proudly declare. With a flourish, I reveal Amberley’s top Loot Card (Pizarro’s Sword), my own bottom Location Card (Lima), and my own bottom Henchmen Card (Bessie May Mucho).

It’s another victory for justice! I caught Bessie May Mucho in Lima with Pizarro’s Sword. I set all three of those cards aside, getting them out of the game. The streets are a bit safer now.

Hey there! So, once I made a match, I got the chance to switch one of the cards on the table with one of my own. I decided to put my Loot Card, The Statue of Liberty’s Torch, in the center and took the card that was there and placed it face down in front of me, without peeking.

Now, I know that the cards in the center match – The Statue of Liberty’s Torch and New York, duh!

After that, I drew a new Henchmen Card and a new Location Card from the draw piles. And guess what? Amberley grabbed a new Loot Card from the pile too. Oh, and here are the cards I have:

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So, on my next turn, I roll Henchmen. And guess what? I haven’t seen all of my own Henchmen Cards yet, so I take a peek at my bottom one. It’s Fast Eddie B. Not bad.

Fast forward to my next turn. This time, I roll Henchmen again. By now, I’ve looked at all my own cards, so I decide to sneak a glance at Amberley’s bottom Henchmen Card. And boy, what do I spy? It’s Carmen Sandiego! Amberley shoots me a suspicious side-eye. Oops.

Now I’ve got the inside scoop on where Carmen Sandiego is hiding. And not only that, but I also know which Loot and Location Card set is sitting in the center of the table. You see, I’m the one who set them up earlier.

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