Prototype: Emergent Design of My Current Game Projects
Welcome to Out of Play, my humble game design workspace! As I embark on my journey to bring my tabletop game ideas to life, I've found myself navigating the fascinating realm of emergent design - where a game's mechanics and systems evolve organically, often leading to unexpected and delightful discoveries.
In this blog post, I'll be sharing the story of my current projects, the challenges I've faced, and the design strategies I've employed to transform my initial concepts into tangible prototypes.
The Original Tower Defense Zombie Survival Game
It all started with a simple premise: a tower defense-style zombie survival game that would challenge players to navigate the treacherous phases of a day-night cycle. The core mechanic revolved around a looting system, where players would draw resources and threats from a bag during the day, only to face the consequences of their actions during the night phase.
As I delved deeper into this design, I quickly realized that the dice-heavy nature of the original concept posed a significant hurdle when it came to making the game print-and-play friendly. Dice can be cumbersome and expensive to produce, especially for a small-scale operation like mine. Most people also don't have 100d6 and a bunch of d8's on hand.
The New Game Design: Mancala-style Survival
Determined to find a solution, I decided to explore a new game design that would build upon the core looting and survival mechanics, but with a twist. This time, I turned to the classic Mancala game for inspiration, incorporating a resource distribution system that would challenge players to carefully manage their resources and navigate the dangers of the grid-based location maps.
In this new game, players will be tasked with entering specific locations, placing their resources, and then leaving with their loot. However, the catch is that they must use a Mancala-style distribution method to determine the fate of their resources and the threats that will emerge. This adds an extra layer of strategy and tension, as players must carefully consider the consequences of their actions.
One of the key design goals for this new game was to create a more condensed and streamlined experience, while still maintaining the essence of the original tower defense concept. By focusing on the looting and survival mechanics, I've been able to strip away the unnecessary complexity and create a game that is both engaging and accessible.
Adapting the Design for Prototyping
As I've worked on these two games in parallel, I've had to confront the challenges of adapting the designs to be more print-and-play friendly. One of the biggest hurdles has been the reliance on dice in the original tower defense game.
To overcome this, I've developed a clever solution: dice tiles. By creating a set of tiles that represent a die, I can eliminate the need for physical dice and provide a more compact and customizable solution for players. This not only makes the game more accessible.
In addition to the dice tiles, I've also been focused on condensing the game information and replacing text-heavy elements with intuitive iconography. This has been a challenging but rewarding process, as it has forced me to really think about the core mechanics and how to communicate them effectively.
Reflections on Emergent Design
As I've worked on these two game designs simultaneously, I've been struck by the power of emergent design. By allowing the games to evolve organically, I've been able to uncover new and exciting possibilities that I may not have considered if I had stuck rigidly to my initial plans.
The process of adapting the original tower defense game and developing the new Mancala-inspired design has been a true learning experience. I've had to constantly re-evaluate my assumptions, experiment with new ideas, and be willing to let go of elements that no longer serve the overall vision.
Looking ahead, I'm excited to continue this journey of emergent design, exploring the intersections between my two game projects and seeing where they lead me. Who knows what other unexpected delights and challenges may arise along the way? One thing is certain: the process of bringing these games to life has been a thrilling and rewarding adventure, and I can't wait to share the final products with the world.
So, if you're a fellow game designer, or simply someone who loves the art of crafting engaging experiences, I invite you to join me on this journey. Let's dive into the world of design and see what wonders we can uncover together!