While socializing among young people has mostly moved to virtual space, in a small corner, just a few minutes from the center of Podgorica, young people shuffle cards, roll dice, and move pawns. They believe in the move they have made, the tactics to victory, but also that they have found a safe space for a short-term escape from reality.
The "Heart of Cards" club is the symbolic name of the space where, for almost a year, young people of different ages have gathered to play various board games.
A sincere desire to socialize and connect was the main motive for the two friends, and one of them - Dušan Babić, in an interview with "Vijesti", points out that the idea for founding the club had been "simmering" for a long time.
"My friend Matija Brnović and I were constantly talking about that place where we could play and gather without worries, but also, at least for a moment, separate ourselves from the worries of real life. 'Heart of Cards', as an idea, came about spontaneously - in a conversation between two friends. The name was not chosen without reason and comes from the cult cartoon series 'Yu-Gi-Oh'", says Babić.
However, he points out that the club did not initially have a permanent meeting place. Babić adds that the playing areas changed frequently, noting that the help from the Social and Cultural Center (DKC) “Pomorandža” was particularly important to them.
From Phantomime to Digimon
For one euro, which is the cost of an hour of play, visitors to "Heart of Cards" can choose from numerous card games such as "Yu-Gi-Oh", "Magic: The Gathering", "Pokemon" or "Digimon".
The goal of these games is to reduce your opponent's points to zero within a reasonable time interval, using card combinations and good strategy.
For those who like older and more well-known board games, the club has "Don't be angry, man", "Monopoly", "Catan", phantom mime...
The "Vijesti" reporter was convinced on several occasions that the space was well-visited, and that young people enjoyed making new acquaintances.
"In addition to the above, the most played would be 'Catan' - one of the most popular games that will make you 'hate' your loved ones, 'Saboteur' in which you are little dwarves looking for gold in a mine while one of your teammates tries to sabotage you. Also popular is 'Coup' - a game in which you don't have to trust anyone, and everyone tries to deceive someone," said Babić.
The "Vijesti" interlocutor points out that, in addition to games that are "prone to being annoying", they also have more relaxed ones whose goal is to get to know teammates "without the need to win":
“Which include games like: phantomime, 'Did I lie?' and 'Questions for Humans'”.
He points out that the club organizes theme nights, and that players are always informed about everything on social media.
Babić reminds that the club also regularly holds its theme nights, during which mostly "pre-determined games" are played.
"For now, we organize theme nights every Wednesday, and reservations are not required, because everyone is welcome. Also, the club 'lives' for the players and we listen to them. We have held theme nights several times for which the players gave the idea, such as the one for the game 'Blood on the Clocktower'," he said.
Without help with a clear vision
However, behind every game played and exchange of cards, there is a story about two friends who, aware of the risks, wanted to unite young people from different parts of Montenegro.
Babić, who turns 21 in a few months, points out that "he has never heard of such young people starting their own business stories."
"People make a lot of mistakes when they say they are too young or too old for something. The best time to start something is today. It doesn't take much for a person to start something, the only thing you need to do, in most cases, is to find it and pull the trigger. Currently, the club is run solely by a friend and I and we run it ourselves. For now, no one is providing us with official help, and the door is, of course, always open for cooperation."
He also emphasizes that it is not easy to "balance everything - work, college, club and personal life":
"But what we get in return is worth our sacrifice."
When it comes to finances, Babić emphasizes that the club is financed by regular members and its visitors.
"With this way of working, we take some of the burden off of ourselves and open doors that we wouldn't have had. Because of this way of working, the club is constantly improving linearly. And it will be like that, as long as visitors want it. Regular visitors also like to try anything new, regardless of the theme and appearance, while new ones are often afraid of it. They stick to the already familiar games. I must emphasize that everyone wants to try or at least watch how 'Yu-Gi-Oh' is played - some because of nostalgia, and others because of the beautiful drawings on the cards," said Babić.
There is room for "live" play
Although one often gets the impression that modern technologies have "eaten up" board games and youth gatherings, Babić emphasizes that "this is not the case in our country."
"Of course, board games are not in the foreground, but we have all found ourselves at least once, gathered at someone's house, playing 'Uno', 'Monopoly' or chess, even if we are not very skilled at it. Of course, this is not a strong enough answer to confirm that they are still very popular, but I must emphasize that people from various Montenegrin cities come to us to play games. For example, guys from Budva and Nikšić play 'Yu-gi-oh' with us, as well as visitors from Bar who like, say, 'Magic: The Gathering'... I have to thank them, first of all, for that, because they travel a long way to play in 'Heart of Cards'," he said.
Responding to the question from "Vijesti" whether technology has changed social relations, Babić emphasizes that "it has, and to a large extent."
"We are not made to meet so many new people every day. The comfort we have because of social media prevents us from truly connecting with other people. A person has to get out of the house, experience the world, and sometimes even be 'embarrassed' about something. That feeling is, unfortunately, unexplored in our age. Many are currently trapped in their own cage and are afraid of what someone will say and whether they will be accepted," said Babić.
They don't ask for help without a reason.
Babić points out that they have not currently written to the Capital City for help, because "they have no concrete reason."
"Of course, financial resources are always welcome, but we don't want to ask for help without a reason. When we come up with a concrete idea that the Capital City could support, then we will write to them for help. The biggest goal we have for this year is to become the official 'tournament store' for the card game 'Yu-gi-oh'. We meet almost every requirement, but we need a little more time and work to reach that goal," he said.
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