Creating a board game is a multifaceted endeavor that requires a blend of creativity, strategic thinking, and attention to detail. Whether you’re a seasoned board game designer or just starting, the process involves refining your prototype through game development. This includes everything from base mechanics to artwork, rules, and the optimal components for manufacturing. Here, we will delve into the comprehensive stages of board game design, providing tips and resources to guide you on this exciting journey.
1. Understanding Your Approach
When embarking on the board game design journey, it’s crucial to determine your approach. There are two primary methodologies: Top-Down and Bottom-Up.
Top-Down Methodology
Start Broad: The Top-Down methodology begins with a broad concept. This includes defining the overall theme, the types of mechanics you want to include, and the general feel of the game. It’s about having a vision of the game in its entirety before delving into the specifics of how to design your own game board.
Detail Refinement: After establishing the broad concept, you gradually work out the finer details. This process can be likened to pruning a tree, where you retain the best ideas and discard those that don’t work during testing. This iterative process helps in refining the game mechanics, theme, and overall structure.
Example: Eric Reuss, the designer of Spirit Island, employs this approach. He gathers all his ideas and systematically prunes them, keeping only those that enhance the game.
Bottom-Up Methodology
Start Small: In contrast, the Bottom-Up methodology begins with a simple, core mechanic. You focus on a single, foundational idea that works well and then build upon it to create a board game.
Expand Gradually: As you refine this core mechanic, you gradually expand the game by adding more elements that complement and enhance it. This method allows the game to grow organically from a solid foundation.
Example: Bruno Cathala, a prolific board game designer, often starts with a “sparkling idea” and grows it into a complete game. This approach emphasizes the gradual expansion of a core concept.
2. Asking Key Questions
To guide the development process, it’s essential to ask yourself some critical questions:
Overwhelm or Underwhelm: Consider whether your game tends to overwhelm players with complexity or underwhelm them with simplicity. This helps in determining whether you need to simplify the game or add more elements to make it engaging.
Direction and Speed: These questions provide direction and can significantly speed up the development process by clarifying what aspects of the game need attention.
3. Knowing Your Strengths and Finding Allies
Game design is a collaborative process, and understanding your strengths and finding allies can significantly enhance the quality of your game.
Collaborate
Find Help: Identify areas where you need assistance, whether it’s game mechanics, graphic design, or rulebook writing. Collaborating with experts in these fields can elevate your game. When you design your own game board, finding the right partners can make a significant difference.
Utilize Communities
Online Forums: Join communities like the Board Game Design Lab Facebook Community to get feedback and collaborate with other board game designers. These platforms are invaluable for gaining insights and finding collaborators.
Seek Experts
Specialists: Work with other board game creators, rulebook editors, graphic designers, and specialists in various areas. Their expertise can help refine your game and ensure it meets high standards.
4. Being Flexible – Adjusting Your Board Game
Flexibility is key in board game design. It’s important to be open to changes and see the current state of your game as temporary.
Embrace Change
Iterative Development: Be willing to make changes and view the game’s current state as a stepping stone. This mindset allows for continuous improvement and adaptation.
Rule of Thumb: A useful principle is: “If you’re unsure if something should stay, cut it. If you don’t miss it, don’t bring it back.” This helps in maintaining focus on what truly matters in the game.
Core Development
Identify the Fun Factor: Determine the game’s core fun factor, sometimes referred to as the “core” or “core fantasy.” Understanding this helps in making decisions that enhance the game’s primary appeal.
5. Playtesting and Feedback
Playtesting is an essential part of board game design. It provides invaluable insights into how players interact with your game and highlights areas for improvement.
Objective Opinions
Regular Feedback: Consistently ask playtesters for their objective opinions. Questions like, “If you had to cut 10% of the game, what would you cut?” and “What must stay in the printed version of the game?” help identify strengths and weaknesses.
Watch and Listen: Pay close attention to playtester behavior and feedback. This observational approach helps in understanding how players engage with the game and what elements need refinement.
Diverse Groups
Comprehensive Testing: Test the game with a variety of groups to get diverse perspectives. This helps in ensuring the game is enjoyable for a broad audience and identifying potential issues.
6. Optimizing Your Board Game
Optimization is about fine-tuning the game and the development process to achieve the best possible version.
Record Keeping
Document Changes: Keep a detailed record of all changes made to the game and the outcomes of playtesting sessions. This helps in tracking progress and understanding the impact of different iterations when you make your own board game.
Continuous Learning
Learn from Others: Play other games, read design diaries, watch videos, and listen to podcasts to gain insights into how other designers approach game development. This continuous learning process helps in honing your skills and staying updated with industry trends.
Resources
Board Game Design Lab: Utilize resources like the Board Game Design Lab’s Designer Resources for articles, tips, and tools that can aid in optimizing your board game design process.
Contact Our Team
From design to manufacturing, our team can assist you in turning your game concept into reality. Contact us to get expert help on the board game design and manufacturing process.
Additional Insights
Killing Your Darlings
This article focuses on the importance of cutting elements from the game that don’t work, even if you’re attached to them. It’s a valuable lesson in prioritizing the overall quality and coherence of the game over individual ideas.
Different Approaches to Board Game Design
Exploring different starting points for the Bottom-Up approach can provide fresh perspectives and innovative ideas for your game.
Working with a Developer
Understanding the role of a developer can provide insights into how they refine and polish a game, which can be applied to your own development process.
Mechanics, Dynamics, and Aesthetics
This concept offers a fresh look at game design, emphasizing the interplay between mechanics (the rules and systems), dynamics (the behavior of the game), and aesthetics (the overall experience).
The Designer Effect
This article explores the potential biases and issues that can arise during playtests when the board game designer is present. Understanding these can help in conducting more effective and unbiased playtests.
Leading a Playtest
Effective playtesting is crucial, and this article provides tips on how to conduct playtests to get the most useful feedback.
Final Thoughts
Creating a board game is a complex but rewarding process that involves creativity, strategic thinking, and collaboration. By understanding your approach, asking the right questions, collaborating with others, being flexible, and continuously optimizing, you can bring your game concept to life and create a game that is engaging and enjoyable for players. The journey to make your own board game involves many stages and requires dedication and passion.
For further assistance and expert help on every aspect of game design and manufacturing, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. We are here to help you turn your vision into reality and make your board game a success. By working with experienced board game creators and leveraging the right resources, you can navigate the challenges of board game design and create a game that stands out in the market.
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