Episode 6 Ludus

I've just got one of those faces that suits hats, I guess. I'm lucky.

Hi, I'm Ludus,

and yeah, you guessed it, I'm the bad guy

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

into holograms. Horror show!

The Earthtwerps are now flying to the Levels of Ludus

to play my game

and rescue their loved ones.

You want to play, too?

Then download my free app from the CBBC website.

Time to take on once more 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 Brighton.

'Gamer number one - Sandile, ten Earth years old

'and a computer expert.

Gamer number two - Will, also ten, a fast runner

'who loves jumping on the trampoline.

Gamer Number 3 - Myla, ten Earth years old.

'Loves music and rock climbing.

'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 the dastardly 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 all time.

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

-'Sandile.'

-I'm playing to save my mum and my cousin Kimmy.

-'Will.'

-Josie, my twin sister, and Katie, my younger sister.

-'Myla.'

-My dad and my little sister, Sylvie.

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

ALL: Yes!

'Then, Pilot, let's fly to Level 1.'

THEY SCREAM

It's nearly time for Level 1. Download my app and play along.

'Download the app now. Game begins shortly.

'We are now docking at Level 1.

'This is a multi-player game. Prepare to disembark.

'Collecting data. Team comprises of one male and two females.

'Motivation - 87%. Nerves - 52%.

'Status - ready.'

Well, slap my thigh and call me Barbara.

If it isn't three unsuspecting gamers,

just desperate to win back their friends and family.

Hey!

-Myla, you've got my cousin Bob on your T-shirt.

-I do.

Oh, yeah, this is Bob. Yeah.

I met him on the planet Zearth when I went on holiday there.

Was it when he was on tour with his band?

-Yeah.

-It's good music, isn't it?

-Yeah, but I think it's a bit too loud!

-Oh, I know!

But that's kind of his style. Are you ready to do this?

ALL: Yes!

Here's Level 1.

In this game, you must take it in turns to catapult your ticks

at the block of ice and smash it to smithereens.

But watch out for my bug!

It'll take a lot of hits to smash the ice, so you better be fast.

Win, and I'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 first?

Sandile's mum or cousin Kimmy?

Or Will's twin sister, Josie, or younger sister, Katie?

Or will it be Myla's dad or sister, Sylvie?

Josie. OK. ALL: Josie.

Yeah. Get rid of the worst one first. Ha!

Gamers, take your place at the table!

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

Are you ready at home? The game begins in three, two, one...go!

-Shoot.

-Ha-ha!

You start off with a miss! That's great.

And another miss. I've got a great feeling about this.

Oh, a direct hit.

And another hit.

And another hit. Maybe they're getting the hang of this.

Oh! No, no, they haven't. No. They're missing again. Ha-ha!

Oh, direct hit.

'30 seconds.'

The ice is starting to crack.

Ooh, a rebound hit from Myla with the pink catapult there.

'20 seconds.'

Oh, and that's a direct hit.

And another!

And another. Come on, bug, you're meant to be stopping these guys.

That's more like it. Well done!

-'..Six, five...'

-You can do it. Time is running out.

-'..four, three , two...'

-It's looking good, though.

-'..one.'

Oh! Ha-ha!

'Gamers, you have lost.'

Congratulations, guys, you lost!

-Sorry, Josie. ALL:

-Sorry.

Yeah, you should be sorry. I told you this would happen.

Your gameplay was lame. You lost. Will's sister is stuck in the game.

'Commiserations, gamers.

'You still have five more of your friends and family to win back.

'Pilot, let's fly to Level 2.'

Three, four, five...

'Gamers seem to be engaging in a simplistic form of the Earth game

'hide-and-seek.'

I don't know where they are.

'Not sure if Myla will find them.'

Ah, there's one.

'Myla is displaying excellent observational skills.

'Selecting Myla for next single-player game.

'Docking at Level 2.

'Myla likes reggae music but she doesn't like Ludus.'

Hello, Myla.

-Hi.

-How you doing?

-I'm good!

-How's Bob?

-Bob? Oh, yeah. Bob's good.

He was itching me earlier but he's better now.

-Yeah, he does that.

-Yeah.

-He's a very itchy kind of guy.

-I know.

Let's get on with the game.

Tread carefully. There's only one safe path to the tick here,

and you've got only a smidgen of time to memorise it.

You'll then need to retrace the path by pressing one square at a time.

Take a wrong turn and you'll have to start again.

I'm only going to give you 60 seconds.

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? Sandile's mum or cousin Kimmy?

Or Will's sister Katie?

Or will it be your dad or your sister, Sylvie?

I'm going to play for Sylvie.

What's your sister like?

She's a bit like you, really - irritating and annoying.

She sounds great. Oh, I want to upload her into my game.

-You won't be doing that today.

-We'll see about that.

Gamer, take your place at the table.

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

And are you ready at home? The game begins in three, two, one...go!

Myla must use her eyes to watch the path,

but use her brain to remember it.

Tricky for an Earthtwerp.

HE CHUCKLES

Yes, she got that one right.

That's right. Right, but which way now, Myla, huh?

Got that right.

That's wrong! Start again!

-Thank you, Ludus(!)

-OK.

She knows how to pass the start

but here's where she came unstuck last time.

Which way she's going to go?

HE CHUCKLES

Hi, bug! Got to start again. Will she learn from her mistakes?

'20 seconds.'

OK, which way are you going to go?

Hang on! Start again, Myla.

Only ten seconds left! Can she make it to the tick?

'..Seven, six, five...'

I've got a great feeling about this. She's running out of time.

-'..two, one...'

-She's panicking! Don't panic. DO panic.

'Gamer, you have lost!'

Oh! Congratulations, you lost.

-Thanks(!)

-I told you this would happen.

Your gameplay was lame. You've lost. Your sister is stuck in the game.

'Commiserations, gamers.'

Myla, seriously, you could have easily won that.

No, I couldn't. It's actually quite hard.

Why don't you have a go?

'Myla, how do you feel?'

I'm quite disappointed but I think that, like, at 6am,

I won't have somebody banging on my door anymore, so hey!

Every downside has one thing that's OK.

'Pilot, let's fly to Level 3.

'I can confirm the Herculean is presently hurtling towards Level 3.'

# Lean on me

# When you're not strong... #

'Gamers seem to be involved in some collective noise-making.

'My databases suggest this is a singsong to raise team spirits

'ahead of Level 3.

'The team have lost two games,

'but hopefully all their heartfelt singing will secure them a win.'

Hey, Earthtwiddlers!

-Are you ready for the next game?

-Um, yeah!

-Yeah!

I think we're going to win this one!

-Oh, you do, do you?

-I'm sure!

-Yeah!

-We'll see about that.

Rule time! In this game, you need to match the bugs on the bottom bar

with the bugs in the middle of the screen.

Don't see the bug? Hit the blue arrow to pass.

You've got 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?

Will it be Sandile's mum or cousin Kimmy,

Will's sister Katie, or Myla's dad?

-Kimmy.

-Kimmy.

-My mum.

-We're playing for my mum.

-We are playing for Sandile's mum.

Yes!

Gamers, take your place at the table.

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

And are you ready at home? The game begins in three, two, one...go!

Oh, they've got a pair already.

And another!

Not there. Not there.

And another, that's three.

They're doing pretty well here!

-There.

-That one.

That pink one's called Dot.

One of my favourite bugs.

'40 seconds.'

Another pair. Another pair!

They're flying through this.

How are you doing at home?

'30 seconds.'

-Pair.

-Pair. That's a pair!

That's a pair! That's a pass.

HE CHUCKLES

'20 seconds.'

I am not feeling confident!

One more to find.

OK, you gotta hide.

Uh, no!

'Gamers, you have won!'

-We told you.

-We win.

Oh, I'm so annoyed!

-You won back Sandile's mum.

-Yay!

-Yay!

You know, I'm actually pleased. She was beginning to annoy me!

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

ALL CHEER

'Congratulations, gamers.'

ALL: Go team, go team, go team.

'Sandile, do you have a message for your mum?'

I hope she didn't think I was going to let her stay in the game,

-cos I got her. We got her out!

-Woo-hoo!

'You can now load your mum into the Holoport to download later.

'Pilot, let's fly to Level 4.

OK, look, are all you Earthtwerps at home playing these games

on your phones, or your tablets or your retina implants?

Right, no, you don't have those yet!

OK, but come on, download the app.

I want to beat all of you.

'Attention, gamers. You are over halfway through your mission.

'The next level is a single-player game. Sandile selected!

'Sandile is a big fan of singer Adele,

'but that won't help her now.'

Oh, no, they sent out Sandile, the really good Earthtwerp.

This is actually going to be pretty easy for me.

You're going to make me happy and lose, right?

-No!

-How mean.

Well, here's your game.

Turn on the lights by hitting them with your tick.

You can do this by turning the cog,

but watch out - the tick can also turn the lights off.

To win, you need to have both the lights on at the end of 60 seconds.

Oh, I forgot to mention, one of my bugs might make an appearance,

just to get in your way. And if you lose, you know what will happen!

So, who are you going to play for?

Your cousin Kimmy? Or Will's sister Katie?

-Or maybe Myla's dad?

-I'm going to play for Myla's dad.

Hmm, interesting choice.

Don't mind if he goes, huh? Yeah? Expecting to lose?

Yeah? I don't blame you! OK, gamer, take your place at the table!

'Gamer, you have 60 seconds to win back Myla's dad.'

And are you ready at home? The game begins in three, two, one...go!

This game is all about moving the wheel and controlling the tick.

Oh, she's lit up both lights. Oh, no, wait, one's off again!

Remember, she needs both lights on at the end of 60 seconds to win.

-Coo-ee!

-Oh hi, Joanie!

-Hiya.

-That's Joanie, she's one of my bugs.

She's here to cause some mayhem, and she's doing pretty well.

One light off. Oh, no, it's back on again.

Both... Oh, no. OK, one off again! Oh, Sandile!

She's not very good at this, is she?

-Coo-ee!

-Both lights are on - maybe she is. Come on, Joanie.

'20 seconds.'

No, Joanie, you helped out there. Pull your socks up!

Light off... Light back on.

Two lights are on, we've only got ten seconds to turn this round.

Oh, yes! That's one off. Can she get it? It's going to be so close.

-'..four, three, two, one...'

-Both lights are off! Ha-ha!

'Gamer, you have lost.'

I told you this would happen. Your gameplay was lame. You've lost.

Myla's dad is stuck in the game.

Sandile, how could you lose my dad?

'Commiserations, gamers.

'All is not lost.

'Pilot, let's fly to Level 5.

'Gamers, you still have two people left to save.

'So far, you have saved Sandile's mum.

'Unfortunately, Will's sister Josie,

Myla's sister, Sylvie, and Myla's dad are stuck in the game.

'Level 5 is a two-player game.

'Selecting Myla and Will.'

Da-da-da-aa! Look at this.

Oh, it's the gruesome twosome.

It's like Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez at a party.

Embarrassing!

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 this time?

Sandile's cousin Kimmy or Will's sister Katie?

-Kimmy.

-Kimmy.

-Kimmy.

OK, take your place at the table.

'Gamers, you have 60 seconds to win back Sandile's cousin.'

Are you ready at home? The game begins in three, two, one...go!

Oh, hi, bugs! Just like we practised, please.

Spike! Ha-ha. Straightaway!

Remember, they can't hit the spikes more than five times.

Bugs are back! Spike. That's two spikes!

These guys can afford three more spikes.

Any more than that and it's bad news for them.

Bugs are back and... Third spike!

It's going pretty well

but, hmm, these guys have a rhythm going here.

Hate it!

I think Myla and Will have been practising.

They're actually pretty good!

'20 seconds.'

Bugs, you're going to have to try a bit harder here.

What we really need now is another spike.

Come on, guys, we could do it.

OK, that's a fourth spike.

-'..Eight, seven...

-' They're falling apart.

Some bugs are on the pitch. They think its all over!

-It is now!

-'Gamers, you have lost.'

Oh-ho!

I told you this would happen. Your gameplay was lame!

You lost. Sandile's cousin is stuck in the game.

What's Sandile going to say?

-No, no, no, don't worry, Kimmy's going to be OK.

-Oh, really?

-Yes, she's going to be absolutely fine.

-Are you sure?

'Commiserations, gamers.

'You still have one of your family members to win back.

'Pilot, fly to Level 6.

'The next level is a single-player game.

'Will selected.

'Will can break dance, but can he break their losing streak?

'Docking at Level 6.'

Hey, little Earth loser! Are you ready?

Yes, I was born ready.

We'll see.

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 need to get four answers right in 60 seconds.

But if you lose,

your precious Earthtwerp will be uploaded into my game for ever.

-So, you're playing for your sister Katie?

-Yes.

OK, gamer, take your place at the table.

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

And are you ready at home? The game begins in three, two, one...go!

Will is looking pretty focused here,

but soon he'll be crying... Oh, no, he got that one right.

Oh, no. OK, not to worry, bugs, all to play for.

Oh, he got that one right as well!

Hmm, he only needs two more to win.

Is this kid a genius, or something?

Come on, bugs, let's confuse him!

No! He's got that one right.

He only needs to get one more right, and he's got 35 seconds.

Oh, but that's tricky! There's no way... Oh, no!

'Gamer, you have won.'

-What? What? How did you do it?

-By thinking!

Why, this is scandalous.

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

ALL CHEER

-I've kept a sweet for you.

-Thank you.

-'Congratulations, gamer.'

GIRLS: Go, Will! Go, Will!

'You have played six levels and won back two Holoboxes.

'Unfortunately Will's sister Josie, Myla's sister, Sylvie,

'Myla's dad and Sandile's cousin Kimmy

'have been uploaded into Ludus's game for all time.

'Now you must face Ludus one more time

'to win your return tickets home.

'Pilot, fly at warp speed to the final level.'

THEY SCREAM

'Gamers, hold tight.

'Gamers, we are now docking at the final level.

'Team status for final game.

'Confidence - 70%.

'Team spirit - 65%.'

So, this is all about you.

And me. I mean, it's always mainly about me,

but actually, you feature pretty highly on this level

cos it's the final game!

And 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.

Hooray. 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?

Sandile, take your place at the table.

Can you keep your eye on the ticket?

It's time to mix the ticks.

Do you know which one it is?

-No.

-I know. I think I know.

-It's a guessing game.

-You can say that again.

It's a guessing game.

-I have no idea.

-It's one out of three.

So, my favourite number is two so I'm going to pick number two,

which is that one. Come on

-Yes!

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

-You've won.

-I feel great.

You make me sick!

That's even greater!

'Gamer, collect your return ticket home.'

Here, Ludus, I'm going home.

Well, let's see what you're made of!

It's time to mix the ticks.

-Do you know which one it is?

-I'm thinking one!

But I don't actually know, so...

-Oh.

-Oh, this is fantastic!

Congratulations! Now you get to clean for ever!

Myla, do your finest.

And play along at home.

It's time to mix the ticks.

Ohh.

Oh, no!

Sandile, you may have won a ticket home

but in my eyes, you'll always be a loser!

Scram!

'Winning gamers must board the Herculean immediately

'for departure!'

Yeah, get out of here!

Will and Myla, you've messed up

so by the powers invested in me, blah di blah di blah,

you must stay on the Levels of Ludus for all eternity

and mop my walkway for ever.

Any last words?

Ludus, you're very rude, you're annoying and you're mean!

I do not like you.

'Sandile, please present your ticket!

'Congratulations, you are a champion gamer.

'You have rescued two of your friends and family.

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

Wow! You know, that was cooler than a snowman in a blizzard!

So why don't you join me next time,

when I'll be shattering the hopes and dreams of three more gamers?

Unless their dream is to have their hopes shattered, in which case...

Well, everybody wins.

HE CHUCKLES

Goodbye.

Bye-bye, Ludus. I'm going home.

Woo!

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? Goodbye!

Keep mopping. Ha-ha!