Design Methods
- Multi-player interaction
- Usability testing (think-alouds, rapid concept building, and user observation)
- Iteration (paper prototyping, participatory design sessions)
- Generated wireframes, prototypes and design documents
Project Summary
Game Design, a class taught by Jesse Schell at the Entertainment Technology Center (ETC), teaches the overall process and specific methods for designing any type of game. The course includes both written essays and individual and group projects. Critical analysis of the game processes and results gives us insight into what works and what doesn't. The object of the assignment was to create a game that centered around dice (chance) but also contained a balance of skill (interesting decisions).
Game Play Goals
I chose to develop a building game with a Wild West theme, with equal parts of skill and chance. My goal was to make a game that the player would choose what buildings they wanted to play to form a town, and make interesting choices as to which buildings would best get them to that win state. The players had to balance the money they were getting by chance with the dice, with what other attack buildings the other players were constructing that could hurt their buildings.
Playtest Results
Through play testing I was able to derive the game needed to have more variety of buildings, but not too many that the players were overwhelmed with the choices. I also learned to keep the complexity of each turn down to keep the game moving around. Here is a PDF of the Iteration Document.
