Chris "Orbit" Brown is a magician, cardist, entrepreneur, and community leader in the playing cards world. He is a firm believer in dedication and devotion to ones craft, Chris has brought amazing products, effects, moves, and tutorials. One of Chris' earliest developments was "The Rainman Algorithm", in which he can tell a spectator what day of the week their birthday will be on this year, 100 years ago, in the year they turn 65, and in year they were born, all in under 5 seconds after telling him your birthday! He is well known for creating a brand of cardistry deck he named it: "ORBIT". It is founded in 2012, and had been producing decks and hosting jams, along with free giveaways at any time! Together with extraordinary cardist Sean Oh and designer Daniel Schneider [who is also in charge of his own brand - the Black Rose Playing Cards][Previous designer was Alex Romanowsky], they keep on developing a deck brand for the community to enjoy and love.
"ORBIT" Deck
ORBIT decks are made to be suitable for the use of magic and cardistry. The cards are printed by United States Playing Cards Company on premium crushed Bee stock with magic finish. The theme for the decks are heavily based on space. Throughout the decks, the design keeps on retaining these two elements that makes their decks are Orbit decks - the perfect circle on the middle with the prominent appearance of number 23. The Jokers are imitating that of a Bicycle deck jokers, but customized to fit throughout the series - an astronaut riding a bicycle; the indices of Jokers are replaced with the perfect circle. All decks have two additional cards: the double backer gaff and the extra Eight of Spades. All of the courts and numbered cards are based on Arrco decks [except for V1], and some of the courts feature people that are in the Orbit team as well as his family and others who matters to his life. This is the list of custom court cards featuring these people:
- Jack of Spades = Daniel Schneider, the current designer for the ORBIT decks [preceeded by Alex Romanowsky]
- Queen of Spades = Chris Orbit's sister
- King of Spades = John Bodine, Chris's magic mentor who taught him the art of conjuring.
- Jack of Diamonds = Chris "ORBIT" Brown, founder of the ORBIT brand: both magician and cardist.
- Queen of Diamonds = Holly, Chris's beloved wife. You can find the number 11/22 hidden in her clothes - her birthday.
- King of Diamonds = N/A
- Jack of Clubs = Nick Stumphauzer, videographer for the brand who is also a cardist himself.
- Queen of Clubs = Nancy, childhood best friend's Mom
- King of Clubs = Matt, childhood best friends's Dad and Nancy's husband.
- Jack of Hearts = Sean "Oh" Oulashin, amazing cardist who ever lived - able to do the backflip and ended with a card spring. You can see his name spelled out on his clothes.
- Queen of Hearts = Martha Brown, Chris's Mom
- King of Hearts = Jim Brown, Chris's Dad
- Others = Dexter, Chris's Golden Retriever dog - featured in SEVENTH Edition ORBIT. Grey Alien, just a typical artistic rendition of an alien known worldwide - featured in SIXTH Edition ORBIT.
Below here is a list of editions available along with a brief description of each theme picked for each editions:
- V1 - FIRST = The very first Orbit deck made - the starter deck of the brand. The cards main color is NAVY BLUE. It is tucked in a glossy tuckbox with a custom seal. The courts were Bicycle standard at first, and the white border is thick. The Joker feature an astronaut riding a bicycle on a rocky planet, with a rock inscribe with number '23'. The Ace of Spade is simply a big outline of a Spade pip with the number '23' inside. The card design featured a white circle with radiating lines over navy blue background. This first deck is launched on Kickstarter.
- V2 - SECOND = The second Orbit deck. The cards main color is RED. It is tucked in a glossy tuckbox with a custom seal [a rocket blasts off art]. The courts were still Bicycle standard, although the white border is thinner, which eventually the thin border becomes the standard of upcoming editions. The card design is just a recolor from previous edition. On this version, Daniel Schneider creates the custom Ace of Spades, featuring an astronaut overlooking Earth from the Moon [it first comes in Black and White]. This second deck also is launched on Kickstarter.
- V3 - THIRD = The third Orbit deck. This deck marks with the brand stands independently. The cards main color is PURPLE. It is now tucked in a matte tuckbox with custom seal [back to the circle]. For this edition to the next, the overall design of the faces are adapted from Arrcos standard, from the pips to the courts. Still adapting the Ace of Spades and Joker iconic designs, carried forward to the later editions. The card design is a graphical images of two astronauts standing side by side.
- V4 - FOURTH = The fourth Orbit deck. The cards main color is BLACK. Everything will be mostly achromatic. The card design is a double-way image of a space shutte orbiting around the circle in space, creating a continuous line when the cards are fanned. The courts start featuring important people that matters for Chris, and members of the ORBIT team [listed above].
- V5 - FIFTH = The fifth Orbit deck. The cards main color is TURQUOISE. The iconic Orbit's Ace of Spades and Jokers will be in color. The faces of the cards will follow the color scheme of the deck. The card design is a range of mountains with stars on the sky. There are shooting comets breaking the border, creating a continuous line when the ccards are fanned. More court cards feature more people matter to Chris Brown.
- V6 - SIXTH = The sixth Orbit deck. The cards main color is GREEN. The main theme for the deck is about Aliens, so the Joker is featuring a grey matter alien riding a bicycle. The Ace of Spades featured an astronaut waving his hand towards an UFO heading towards Earth, possibly to give greetings to the extraterrestial life. The card design is a thick forest with an UFO hovering over, shooting its beam. The card back is a subtle one-way design, so it is marked [BUT since the difference is very small, most people assumed the deck is normal]. The logo for Orbit is modified to fit into the theme - an UFO orbiting the circle.
- V7 - SEVENTH = The seventh Orbit deck. The main theme for the deck is retro vibes of the 80s. The logo is modified based on the theme - Delorean car orbiting the circle with a rainbow stripe. Starting with this edition, there will be two version - the Main and the Parallel.
- V7 MAIN = The overall design of the cards is based of the 80s retro synthwaves. The tuckbox has an interior artwork of repeating geometric shapes and stylized Orbit logos. Also, on one side of the interior of the tuckbox, there is a list of names - they are the names of the lost astronauts from the 2001 Challenger Disaster, so the deck is made a tribute for them. The deck is actually fully marked, eventhough it was not mentioned during the release. The Joker features an astronaut riding a bicycle with a basket carrying a dog - that is Dexter, Chris's Golden Retriever. The Ace of Spades features an astronaut with a dog seeing Earth from the Moon.
- V7 PARALLEL = The overal design is based off the interior artwork of the MAIN edition. It is a repeating patterns of Orbit stylized logo and geometric shapes. The Joker features a dog riding a bicycle, same dog as seen in the MAIN edition. The Ace of Spades features a dog astronaut seeing Earth from the Moon.
- V8 - EIGHTH = The eight Orbit deck. The main theme for the deck is Mars, the red blood planet which had been a subject of research by astronomers and researchers for potentional second home planet. Coincidentally, it released on the same year as the momentous landing of Mars rover Perseverance on 18 February 2021. The logo is modified based on the theme - Mars Rover rounding the circle.
- V8 MAIN = The overall design of the cards is based of Mars. The tuckbox has an interior artwork of the planet Mars. The card back design features a circle on the middle with Mars landscape on top and bottom part. The deck is fully marked, and it is well hidden reader marking system. The extra bonus for this deck is that the back design is animated - if the cards are stacked in order, you can flip the cards and see the asteroids orbiting the circle! The Joker features the Mars Rover, something different from usual. The Ace of Spades features an astronaut overlooking the Mars landscape, with the view of the established space station and the view of the bright sun on daytime.
- V8 PARALLEL = The overall design of the cards is based of the interior artwork of the MAIN edition. The card back features a circle with the Mars landscape texture and the picture of planet Mars on the corners breaking the border. The Ace of Spades featured an astronaut on Mars during nightime. The Jokers features four astronauts attending the Mars Rover.
- CC FIRST = This is basically a reprint of the long gone First Edition, but with updated features as of the current ORBIT decks: thinner border, matte tuckbox, Arrco standards with customized courts featuring important people, along with the iconic Ace of Spades and Jokers. Only 1000 print run made, and it is released during Cardistry Con 2019, hence the name "Cardistry Con Edition". Some of the productions were damaged, which later be sold without a seal.
- Forest = The deck created by ORBIT specifically for charity of planting trees - onetreeplanted.org. The tuckbox features a landscape of the forest. The design is mostly Bicycle standards with slight customization - The Jokers featuring a tree sapling, the Jack of Spades and the Jack of Diamonds are holding a tree sapling and a shovel respectively. The two extra cards is a list of facts about trees and the information about the deck. The back design is a complete one-way design, featuring an illustration of a forest with log cabin and campsite. The deck is fully marked, secretly hidden within the element of the illustration. The logo is modified accordingly - just added a tree seedling inside the original Orbit logo.
- CHRISTMAS = Seasonal thematic deck by Orbit. It is a Christmas theme deck, and it will happen annually starting in 2021.
- CHRISTMAS 2021 = The title is done in green color, wrapped with Christmas lights and there is a stocking hanging on the letter 'O'. The back design is a snowy landscape showing an illuminated path to a wooden cabin with a Christmas decorated tree on the corners. There is the iconic Orbit circle on the center, with the small figure on the central circle is a snowman. The Ace of Spades feature Santa overlooking a snowy forest; two Jokers that formed a diptych image of the Orbit logo adorned with Christmas ornaments and lights; courts that hold objects related to the holidays such as: snowglobe, candy cane, etc.
- CHRISTMAS 2022 = The title and circle is done as Christmas wreath adorned with ornaments. The back design shows a vibrant red color background with the iconic circle replaced with a Christmas wreath decorated with ornaments and a poking out Orbit card. There is a three-leaves holly on the corners, slightly broken the border.
- CC SECOND = For the second edition of Orbit deck released in Cardistry Con, the design is completely new throughout the deck. The artwork features a beach shore overlooking a city line - a very obvious one-way back design. As usual, the back design will feature the iconic circle on the center.
- LIL BITS = Nickname for the mini decks offered by Orbit. These are the mini versions of previous Orbit editions. Two mini decks are packaged into one single box - that resembles an actual size of a normal deck [mini card is basically half of a normal card]. That box is completed with an iconic Orbit seal. One person is limited two two mini decks encased in one box - one to open and one to keep; perfect for Orbit collectors. For the next editions forward, the mini deck is just a single deck. The mini deck is produced by Wan Jian Playing Cards Company.
- CHROMA KEY = This is the simplest Orbit deck ever created. It is only one solid color with the iconic circle on the center. But, this solid color is neon green. The color is also can be found on the faces as well. The idea is that the neon green color is used for video editing green-screen technology, where you can change it with whatever you like to have - just like what they did in movies.
- COLLABORATIONS = Orbit partners up with third parties to create special decks. Each of the collaboration decks are specially designed to fit with the theme, and the courts are more modified.
- AESOP ROCK = First ever collaboration deck done by Orbit. It collaborates with American hip-hop artist "Aesop Rock". The deck heavily based on the cover art of Aesop Rock latest hit album called "Spirit World Field Guide". The back design is a clear one-way design, with a broken border element that creates a beautiful fan. There is a double backer, and three Jokers that combined into a triptych image of the album's cover.
- MAC LETHAL = The second collaboration with Orbit, revealed during Cardistry Con 2022. It collaborates with American rapper David McCleary Sheldon, whose stage name is “Mac Lethal”. The deck heavily based on the cover art of Mac Lethal latest hit album called “Winter Heartbreak II”. The back design is a subtle one-way design. The courts are with their eyes removed and have blood tears.
- TALLY-HO ORBIT = Orbit collaboration with Bicycle Playing Cards that produces a combination between the Tally Ho's famous yet classic Circle Back with Orbit's iconic center circle. It comes in red and blue color. The Red Seal decks are presented and sold out in CardCon 2022, while the Blue Seal decks are for public offerings.
- SQUINTZ = The third collaboration with Orbit, teased a few months ago. It collaborates with the actor Chauncey Leopardi, known for his role as Michael "Squints" Pallandorous in "The Sandlot (1993)", Chris Orbit's favorite movie. The deck has a combination between the actor's very own Cannabis business (the brand's logo, smoke pattern, and Cannabis symbol) with easter eggs from the movie (Ace of Spades feature astronaut with a baseball bat standing by the baseball field, the small sillhoute of Squints iconic pose on the central circle, and the courts that holds up baseball bats). The back design is an obvious one-way design. Due to the nature of the logo, this deck isn't printed by USPCC, but it is by Cartamundi - first ever Orbit deck printed in Europe.
Total Decks: 23
Decks listed with double stars and bolded are collaboration decks and pararel edition decks. Mini decks are colored with 'Pastel Purple'
2015
FIRST Edition
2016
SECOND Edition
2017
THIRD Edtion
FOURTH Edition
2018
FIFTH Edition
SIXTH Edition
2019
CC FIRST Edition
SEVENTH Edition
[*][*] V7 PARALLEL Edition[/b]
Forest
2021
EIGHTH Edition
[*][*] V8 PARALLEL Edition[/b]
[*][*] AESOP ROCK Edition[/b]
CHRISTMAS 2021 Edition
2022
CC SECOND Edition
[*][*] MAC LETHAL Edition[/b]
MINI FOURTH Edition
[*][*] Orbit Tally-Ho RED[/b]
[*][*] Orbit Tally-Ho BLUE[/b]
CHRISTMAS 2022 Edition
2023
CHROMA KEY Edition
MINI FIRST Edition
[*][*] SQUINTZ Edition[/b]
TBA
During the production of Orbit CC First Edition, some of the decks are damaged, which eventually later to be sold without a seal.
Orbit X Aesop Rock decks were also available in Aesop Rock's webstore.
The Forest Playing Cards is the only deck that breaks away from the formula of Orbit decks - this deck is specifically made for charity efforts of planting 10 trees for every Forest deck sold.
The mini deck will eventually expand its own series with plans of mini-sized more older editions.
TALLY HO Orbit have two different seals - the Red USPCC seal were available and sold out during CardCon 2022; the Blue Orbit seal are available to public.
Orbit X Squintz deck have their own custom half-brick box, containing 6 decks. The front lid has Squints wearing a sunglasses with the picture of the deck. The box is signed by both Chris Orbit and Chauncey Leopardi. First 100 brick boxes are scented with flower essense RPG from the Foreign Genetics. Price = $150.
