Episode 5 Ludus

Listen to me, Earthtwerp, as I control your mind.

I'm Ludus

and I've turned the friends and family of three Earthtwerps

into holograms.

The Earthtwerps are now flying to the levels of Ludus

to play my game and rescue their loved one.

You want to play too?

Then download my free app from the CBBC website.

Time to take on the levels of Ludus!

'Welcome on board the Herculean.

'I'm the ship's computer

'and your guide through the levels of Ludus.

'My data processing is detecting the presence of three gamers

'from the Earth location of Dudley.

'Gamer number one, Emily, ten Earth years old,

'a quick-witted gamer who loves fashion.'

'Gamer number two, Jack, also ten,

'a team player who loves football.

'Gamer number three, Joseph, also ten,

'likes karate and has ambitions to be a teacher.

'You have been experiencing hyper sleep

'and are now flying through deep space.

'We don't have much time before your mission begins.

'Prepare for your briefing.

'Your mission is to rescue your friends and family,

'who have been turned into holograms by Ludus.

'To rescue them, you must visit six levels,

'each with a different game to play.

'Win and you will save your friend in a holobox

'to download on Earth.

'Lose and they'll be uploaded into Ludus's game for ever.'

'Time to find out who you're playing to save.

'Emily?'

Hannah, my big sister, and Amy, my twin sister.

'Jack?'

My brother George and my mum.

'Joseph?'

I'm playing to save my sister Jennifer and my mum.

'Are you ready to take on the levels of Ludus?'

-ALL:

-YES!

'Then pilot, let's fly to level one.'

-GAMERS:

-Aa-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ah!

It's nearly time for level one.

Download my app and play along.

'Download the app now. Game begins shortly.'

'We are now docking at level one.

'This is a multi-player game,

'prepare to disembark.'

'Collecting data.'

'Team comprises of two males and one female.

'Team spirit...78%,

'nerves...32%,

'team status...ready!'

Well, look what we have here.

Now you must be really stupid

-if you think you can beat me.

-LUDUS LAUGHS

-Excuse me!

-We're not stupid.

-You are!

Oh, pipe down.

Let's get this show on the rocket launcher.

Here's level one.

This game will make your head spin.

Catapult your coloured ticks into the turning wheel

and light up your section.

Fire a tick into your friend's section...

Oh, and the light goes out.

You have 60 seconds to light up all the sections.

Win and you'll save one of your precious Earthtwerps.

Lose and they'll be uploaded into my game for...ever.

So, Earth nuggets,

who are you going to play for first?

Emily's sister Hannah

or twin sister Amy?

Spooky!

Or Jack's mum

or brother George?

Or will it be Joseph's mum

or sister Jennifer,

who's already a real pain?!

Do you want to play for Hannah?

-Hannah!

-Yeah, Hannah.

We're going to play for Hannah, my big sister!

Oh, Hannah's a good one!

-Stinky feet, though.

-HE LAUGHS

Take your place at the table.

'Gamers, you have 60 seconds to win back Emily's sister.'

Are you ready at home?

The game begins in three, two, one...

GO!

Emily!

Oh, yeah, that's a good start from Joe and Emily.

Oh, annoying!

Go. Joe!

They've got a system going on here, I'm not sure about this!

-Joe!

-Joe messed up there! Good!

Go! Joe...

..now!

Yeah, Joe's messing this up.

Good work, Joe!

'30 seconds.'

Oh, no, what's going on here?

That's...oh!

Nearly all the sections lit up.

Yes, that's better, that's better.

Keep missing.

Emily's lit up her blue section. Yeah, she's good.

Joe!

-Come on!

-Go, Joe!

Joseph has lit up the pink section.

But Jack still needs to light up the yellow section.

'...9, 8, 7, 6...'

-Time's running out!

-'..5, 4...'

-No!

-Yes!

'Gamers, you have won.'

Oh, I can't believe it. You've won!

'You can now collect your holobox and return to the Herculean.'

-GAMERS:

-Yay!

'Congratulations, gamers, you have won Emily's sister.

'How do you feel?'

-Happy!

-Yeah!

'Emily, place your sister in the holoport

'and you can download her later.'

Gamers, you still have five of your friends and family to win back.'

-ALL:

-Hit it, pilot!

'So let's fly to level two.'

'The next level is a single-player game.

'Select a gamer with a good memory.'

-Who should it be?

-I'm rubbish at memory.

I've got the memory of a goldfish.

Are you quite good?

That probably leaves me!

So, yeah, it's got to be you, Joseph.

'Joseph selected. Stand by.'

'Level two.'

'Joseph is a self-confessed chocoholic.

'But we're in space,

'eating chocolate won't get him anywhere.'

Oh, great! It's you, Joseph!

You know, I was worried it'd be one of the good ones.

I'm kidding, I'm kidding!

You're all rubbish.

Aw-w, that's nice.

Oh, so you're a wise guy, huh?!

OK, big shot, let's do this.

You will see a series of eight bugs.

You have to memorise them,

then pick them out of the crowd in just 60 seconds.

Make a wrong choice and the bugs will scram.

Win and you'll save one of your precious Earthtwerps.

Lose and they'll be uploaded into my game for...ever.

So who are you going to play for?

Emily's twin sister Amy,

Jack's mum or brother George

or your mum or sister, Jennifer?

I'm going to play for my sister Jennifer.

Oh, don't you just love brotherly and sisterly love.

Bleurgh!

OK, take your place at the table.

'Gamer, you have 60 seconds to win back your sister.'

Are you ready at home?

The game begins in 3, 2, 1...

Go!

Look at the concentration on Joseph's face,

as he tries to remember all eight of my bugs.

Now, will he be able to remember which bugs he's seen?

Well, that's right. Yeah, that's right.

Oh, he got that one right!

And that one...

Wrong!

-'30 seconds.'

-He's found four bugs but he needs four more.

And that's wrong.

But that one is right.

'20 seconds.'

Wrong again!

He's found five of the bugs.

He needs three more but time's running out.

'10, 9...'

That was right. Two more bugs to find.

But he's running out of time!

I don't think he can do this.

But maybe he will. What if he can? I hope he doesn't do this!

-LUDUS LAUGHS

-That's fantastic!

'Gamer, you have lost.'

I told you this would happen. Your game play was lame!

You've lost! Your sister? She's stuck in the game.

Sorry, mate.

'Commiserations. Gamers, all is not lost,

'you still have four of your friends and family to win back.

'Pilot, let's fly.'

'I can confirm that the Herculean

'is presently hurdling towards level three.

'To lift team spirits,

'the gamers seem to be involved in some dressing up,

'following their epic fail.'

Ta-dah!

The Herculean is approaching the docking station.

Gamers standing by.

Level three.

Team status.

Team have lost one and won one. 1-1.

Don't be scared, Earthtwerps.

Now, tell me kids, do you want to lose this level on purpose

and trap one of your friends in my game?

Not really.

Oh! So you think you can win?

-ALL:

-Yes!

-Pea brain!

Don't get your knickers in a twist. Let's get on with it.

In this game, you need to crack the code

by dragging four bugs into the code breaker.

If the bug is placed in the code correctly, it'll turn green.

The right bug in the wrong place turns orange.

And a totally wrong bug turns red.

You've got 60 seconds to get four greens.

But, if you lose,

I'll upload your precious Earthtwerp into my game,

for ever!

So who you going to play for?

Emily's twin sister Amy,

Jack's mum or brother George or Joseph's mum?

I've had one. Joe's tried. Do you want to choose?

-My brother.

-Your brother? Right, OK.

It's going to be my brother!

Oh good, cos this one has not stopped moaning!

"Oh, I want a drink, I want a cushion, I want a lawyer."

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!

Take your place at the table!

Gamers, you have 60 seconds to win back Jack's brother.

Are you ready at home? The game begins in

three, two, one, go!

Ha, four reds! Totally wrong.

Yeah, great start, guys!

OK, well, two oranges.

So, right bugs, wrong place.

Here, take your time. Really, don't rush.

Oh, yeah, still in the wrong place, but it's the right bug,

so don't forget.

Mmm, one green but you need three more, kids.

Oh, what?

Well, that was fluky!

30 seconds.

OK, bugs, they've only got to find one more here

to crack the code.

What if they do it? They only need one more...

What am I worried about?

20 seconds.

Ha, yeah, wrong again!

No!

Oh, yeah, maybe it's this one. No!

-Yeah, time's running out, guys!

-10, 9...

You know, I think it's safe to say there's no way you can win this...

-Yes!

-Oh, no!

-We

-did it, we did it!

-Gamers, you have won.

-We won!

-We beat the game.

Oh, you must have cheated!

No!

Yes!

You can now collect your holobox and return to the Herculean.

-ALL:

-Yay!

-Congratulations, gamers.

Jack, do you have a message for your brother?

You're all right, you're in this box.

You can now load your brother into the holoport to download later.

Pilot, let's fly to level four.

Warning! The pilot has informed me

we are flying through severe turbulence. Hold tight.

SCREAMING

# Download my app, ooh ooh oh

# Download my app! #

Go to the CBBC website and download my app.

You can play along if you just obey my song. And...

# Download my app, everybody. #

Gamers, I can confirm we have passed safely through the turbulence.

The next level is a single-player game.

Jack has been selected.

Jack attends football club every weekend.

Let's hope he doesn't score an own goal now!

Oh, hey, Jack. Tell me, how long have you been a bad guy?

-I'm not a bad guy.

-Oh, really?

You saying you haven't destroyed some planets, or worse,

stolen ice cream from kids?

You're absolutely evil!

Anyhow, here comes the science!

This game is a really difficult numbers game.

First, tap the numbers on screen in order from lowest to highest,

then you've got to add the numbers together with your brain

and drag them over to the correct total.

You need to get it right four times in 60 seconds,

but if you lose, your precious earthtwerp

will be uploaded into my game for ever!

So who are you going to play for?

Emily's twin sister Amy, your mommy, or Joseph's mom?

Who's it going to be, Jacko?

Emily's sister Amy.

Oh, shucks. You know, I was kind of hoping to keep Amy as a pet,

I'd already built the hutch, but whatever!

Gamer, take your place at the table.

Gamer, you have 60 seconds to win back Emily's sister.

And are you ready at home?

The game begins in 3, 2, 1, go!

He's tapped them in the right order...

Ah, that was right, yeah.

He needs to get three more though.

Oh, this is easy squeezy.

Bugs, what are you thinking with these numbers?

They're far too simple for a genius like Jack.

Oh, I can't look!

He got three right already, he only needs one more to win.

-30 seconds.

-He's got half the time left.

Ooh, that's a little bit trickier, though, eh, Jack?

Yeah, no ones or twos here, buddy.

20 seconds.

I take it all back, bugs, this is a great game, lovely.

Jack there looks like he's given up, gone to sleep, maybe...

-Oh, how's he done that?

-Yes!

You can now collect your holobox and return to the Herculean.

Congratulations, Gamers.

-There's your sister Amy.

-You can now place your sister

into the holoport to download later.

Gamers, you still have two people left to save.

So far I can confirm you have saved Hannah, George and Amy.

Unfortunately, Joseph's sister Jennifer wasn't so lucky

and is stuck on level two.

Selecting two-player team.

Team compatibility 77%, determination levels high.

Level five.

Jack and Emily. So you two are the strongest gamers, huh?

-Yes.

-OK, well, let's just go with it.

In this game you must work as a team and use your bats

to stop your precious tick from hitting the spiky walls.

Too easy?

Sure it is! That's why my bugs will be flash-mobbing you.

You have 60 seconds.

If you hit the spikes more than five times you will lose,

and your precious earthtwerp will be uploaded into my game for ever.

So, who are you going to play for, Jack's mom or Joseph's mom?

It's a tough choice.

OK, I'm going to be the last one to play on my game,

and then will I have to play for your mum?

Yeah, so, we're going for Joseph's mum.

-Joseph's mum.

-Mmm, let's hope you don't lose.

Gamers, take your place at the table.

Gamers, you have 60 seconds to win back Joseph's mum.

And are you ready at home? The game begins in 3, 2, 1!

OK, just don't let it touch the spikes.

Ha, Jack there stating the patently obvious.

OK. Ooooh!

If the bugs come, try and...

Here come the bugs! Jack, you better look out.

I love when the bugs arrive. Come back, guys!

They're doing pretty well, aren't they?

Oh, there's a spike, yeah. Ha-ha!

-Let's get some more bugs in the mix.

-30 seconds.

So they can afford four more hits.

Oh, they're doing really well, though.

OK, bugs, you've got to pick up your game here. Come on, guys.

-20 seconds.

-Here we go.

No, don't just do your dance, you've got to...

What are you doing, guys?

What's the point of getting these bugs into training?

-I spent weeks on that.

-10, 9, 8, 7, 6...

Oh, I can't look, I'm not going to look, I can't watch this!

-OK, I'll watch it.

-..3, 2, 1.

Too late now, bugs, they've won!

Oh, no!

Gamers, you have won.

How did you do that?

With skills.

You can now collect your holobox and return to the Herculean.

Congratulations, gamers,

you have won Joseph's mum.

Joseph, how do you feel?

Really happy now I can see her again.

You're safe now, you're with me now, Mum.

Place your mum into the holoport to download later.

Don't drop her... Too late!

Joseph's mum is scrambled.

Pilot, fly to level six.

Gamers are indulging in some light refreshments before level six.

Selecting player.

Emily selected. Level six.

Emily has a twin sister.

They have different birthdays as they were born either side of midnight.

So, you saved your best till last, huh? HUH?

-No, cos I think you're the...

-Yeah, yeah, whatever, kid.

Let's run the rules.

In this game you need to identify the number of ticks

that fly into the middle of the screen.

Ticks that fly out don't count - and don't count the bugs!

Once you've counted the ticks, press the correct number on the screen.

You'll need to get four answers right in 60 seconds,

but if you lose, your precious earthtwerp

will be uploaded into my game for ever!

OK, there's only one person to play for,

and unfortunately it's Jack's mom.

Gamer, take your place at the table.

Gamer, you have 60 seconds to win back Jack's mum.

And are you ready at home?

The game begins in 3, 2, 1, go!

So the bugs'll be trying to confuse her here,

and I tell you they're hungry for this one.

Yeah, she looks confused, I can't blame her.

Oh, she got it right!

Oh, she only needs three more to win.

OK, come on, bugs.

They've just been having their lunch.

They're very sleepy, you can tell,

they're not at the top of their game out there.

This is awful.

It's another one right, oh, my goodness! Two more to win.

-30 seconds.

-OK,

it may look easy at home, but trust me,

she'll start to feel the pressure really soon.

Whoa. I mean quite soon.

I mean, that's three, she only needs one more to win.

-20 seconds.

-Team huddle!

We've got to do better here.

That was wrong!

Yes, that's the right stuff, bugs.

-10, 9,

-8... Oh, good hustle from the bugs there, did you see?

-..7, 6, 5...

-Wrong again!

-..4, 3...

-If she doesn't get one more right

-she's going to lose Jack's mom.

-2, 1...

Time is running out.

Oh, see you, that's great!

Gamer, you have lost.

Oh, don't worry. It's just Jack's mom who's stuck in the game,

so it really doesn't matter!

Well, it does!

#whatever. I told you this would happen.

Your game play was lame.

You've lost, Jack's mom is stuck in the game.

-It's OK.

-Never mind.

-My mum will be fine.

Commiserations, Jack!

You have played six levels and won back four holoboxes.

Unfortunately, Joseph's sister Jennifer and Jack's mum

have been uploaded into Ludus's game.

Now you must face Ludus one more time

to win your return tickets home.

Pilot, fly at warp speed to the final level.

Gamers, hold tight!

SCREAMING

We are now docking at the final level.

Ludus is waiting for you.

Team status for final game.

Nerves, 47%, team spirit 92%.

Oh, hey there, Earth twizzlers, what's up?

Why all this tension in the room?

Oh, right, yeah, it's only the really important final game.

-Are you ready for it?

-ALL:

-Yes!

Here's how it's going to go down.

One of these ticks is your return ticket home.

Who knew? All you have to do is keep an eye on it.

If you pick the right tick you'll win a return ticket home

and go back to Earth. Hurray!

But if you pick my bug, you will be stranded here

in the levels of Ludus for ever,

and you'll have to work for me, and trust me, you won't like it, got it?

Emily, take your place at the table.

And can you follow it at home?

It's time to mix the ticks.

Do you know which one it is?

Go for...that one.

Yes!

Oh, this is awful, I can't believe it.

You've won.

Gamer, collect your return ticket home.

-Yay!

-I actually can't believe it.

Yay, I'm going home!

OK, Jack, let's see what you're made of.

It's time to mix the ticks.

Do you know which one it is?

I think it's this one, I hope it is.

No!

This is fantastic, ha-ha! How do you feel?

Very sad, really!

Yeah, and a little bit empty?

-Yeah.

-Great!

Joseph, step up and do your finest.

It's time to mix the ticks.

So, do you know which one it is?

Oh, no!

-Well done!

-Yes!

Oh, so smug, Joseph, you make me feel sick.

Gamer, collect your return ticket home.

Emily and Joseph, you may have won tickets home,

but in my eyes, you'll always be losers! Ha!

-Now scram!

-Bye, Jack, see you!

Winning gamers must board the Herculean immediately for departure.

-Bye, Jack.

-In your face, Ludus.

Jack, you kind of messed up, so by the powers invested in me,

blah di blah di blah,

you must stay on this level of Ludus for all eternity

and mop my walkway.

Any last words?

I really don't want to clean your floor, Ludus.

And that's why I'm going to make you do it!

Emily and Joseph, please present your ticket.

Congratulations, you are champion gamers.

You have rescued four of your friends and family.

The Herculean will now take you and your loved ones home.

Bye!

Well! There's nothing like a good show,

and that was nothing like a good show, am I right, guys, am I right?

Don't leave me hanging! OK!

Well, I'll see you next time

when I'll be challenging three more gamers. Goodbye!

Bad luck, Ludus, we're going home!

Did you play along at home?

How did you do?

Why not download my free app from the CBBC website

and play along next time?