devlog 2

In class this week my group and I have been coming up with a few folk game concepts and I’ve been coming to the text “Unboxed: Board Game Experience and Design” and “Games, Design and Play” for a little inspiration and motivation. In chapter 1 of Games, Design and Play right off the bat we need to identify the 6 elements of a game which are actions, goals, rules, objects, play space and players. Now with all of these in play you can mix up almost any classic game and weave it into your own game. For example, my group and I decided to make a spinoff of the classic game detective. It took a few twists and turns to find some new rules and how we want our game to play but we just switched around the goals, rules, and actions to make a very interesting game.

                In figure 1.4 of Games, Design and Play, a comment is made stating “Game designers have little control over what the player does with the core elements of a game while playing them. This is why iterative game design process is so important.” My group and I want to head these words very carefully because if we make our game with a very specific and well thought out set of rules then it would be hard to mess it up and will be simple to understand. I feel like in order to have a great game it must be simple yet unique enough to make me want to come back to it.

                Towards the end of chapter 1 a quote was made that stuck with me. “We must approach games as designers rather than as players.” I feel like this is a main aspect when trying to create any game. To realize your opportunities are endless and you can create any game because you are the designer makes for a lot of room for creativity to shine.