Interesting Choices

OCTOBER 5, 2011

Also wanted to give a quick update on my various boardgame designs: City Draft - This 7 Wonders inspired drafting game is consistently liked in playtests and has been improving slowly and steadily. I thought I was onto something here after I hit a design breakthrough a few weeks ago but I'm getting discouraged again based on recent playtests.

Game Design 40

Game Design Game Designer Playtesting Tile 40

Deconstructor of Fun

MAY 23, 2023

At that point, Second Dinner revealed that their first project just so happens to be a licensed Marvel IP, which the team has been working on for six months already and is currently beginning to playtest. This intro makes it easy for players to get started and feel comfortable with the game mechanics.

Tile 95

Tile Mechanics Feature Mobile 95

Brand Game Development

JANUARY 2, 2018

Join my community of over 2,000 game developers, artists, and passionate creators. This suite is based on the Five Levels of Communication through Game Development , my own personal board game development philosophy. I also try to go to as many conventions as I can and playtest as much as possible. Need help on your board game?

Playtesting 130

Playtesting Games Advertising Prototyping 130

Brand Game Development

DECEMBER 26, 2017

Join my community of over 2,000 game developers, artists, and passionate creators. This suite is based on the Five Levels of Communication through Game Development , my own personal board game development philosophy. It is true that games speak to players through gameplay – the core engine, mechanics, and rules.

Art 130

Art Mechanics Games Game Developer 130

Designer Notes

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

However, after playtesting, Hudson realized that his game’s meaning was the exact opposite from what he wanted: My game was telling players: You can’t have it all. However, even if designers take the time to build out all of the mechanics needed to create real emotional tension, things can still go awry. Life is zero sum.

Simulation 77

Simulation Agent Game Design Game Designer 77

Interesting Choices

AUGUST 17, 2011

Of course, many games have also managed to solve this problem, either intentionally or as a side effect of another mechanic. Hidden information plus restricted communication - For example, adding a rule that says that players can't talk about the cards in their hand. Now to fine tune the rest of the mechanics.

Co-op 52

Co-op Communications Playtesting Mechanics 52

Brand Game Development

JULY 20, 2020

I’ve written about the five levels of communication game developers must master. – a card game (print & play) that was primarily a study of implementing a card-flip mechanic (where cards had different effects depending on which side is face-up) that ended up being fun enough to at least make it publicly available.

Prototyping 130

Prototyping Games Playtesting Dev 130