BOARD GAME DEVELOPMENT

Get ready to roll the dice on a new adventure. We'll kick things off by connecting with your guide for this journey, getting to know your fellow adventurers, and mapping out the thrilling quests ahead in this course. Prepare to cast your vision for the ultimate treasure: your final project!

• Meet your instructor
• Course structure 
• Assignments & final project overview

Ever wondered how your favorite board games come to life? This session is your primer, diving into the essential jargon and roles of game design, exploring current trends, and revealing the digital tools of the trade. Get ready to brainstorm your very own miniature game concepts from everyday objects.

• Essential terminology & concepts
• Roles & collaboration
• Trends & opportunities in the board game market
• Intro to software and platform options
• WORKSHOP #1: Brainstorming a board game concept 

What makes a player truly invested in a game? We'll unearth the deep-seated desires that drive engagement, explore how cultural backgrounds shape play, and champion design that welcomes everyone. Your first challenge: articulate what makes a game experience truly resonate with you, and what kind of adventures you aspire to craft.

• Player reasonings & motivations 
• Cultural differences in play
• Driving engagement 
• Accessibility in design

Assignment #1: Write a 1 page paper about your preferred board game experience. Ensure you cover the questions of: i. What type of gamer are you (family, social, strategic, thematic) and why?, ii. What keeps you engaged?, and iii. What kinds of experiences do you hope to create? 

Pull back the curtain on how games work. This session explores the fundamental actions players take, how physical pieces influence design, scaling complexity from simple to grand, and dodging common design traps.

• Universal mechanics foundations
• Component-driven mechanics & design 
• Designing for different levels
• Avoiding common pitfalls 

Transform your game from a collection of rules into a living world. Discover how to infuse compelling stories and consistent themes, exploring the power of both pre-written narratives and emergent player-driven tales. A hands-on workshop awaits, where you'll conjure narrative hooks from pure mechanics.

• Integrating theme & narration 
• Narrative elements: Strong narrative focus & emergent narration
• Thematic consistency
• Player immersion 
• WORKSHOP #2: Brainstorming 2-3 different narrative hooks or thematic overlays 

Assignment #2: Many themes in boardgames are overrepresented (e.g., Cthulhu games, German countryside games). Choose a theme that you think is underrepresented in boardgames. Explain why this theme is exciting to you, what narrative elements it inspires, and how it could be used in a game. 

Prepare to put your creations to the ultimate test. Learn rapid prototyping, diverse testing strategies, truly understanding player feedback, and relentlessly refining your work. Leverage digital tools like Tabletop Simulator and Print on Demand. Sharpen your interrogation skills in a workshop focused on asking the right questions to your playtesters.

• Techniques for building your first prototype
• Playtesting methodologies 
• Planning sessions, gathering & analysing feedback
• Iterative cycles & embracing refinement 
• Case Study: Tabletop Simulator: When to use it & when to avoid it 
• WORKSHOP #3: Formulating questions for playtesters to elicit actionable feedback

How do players interact? This session explores the nuances of head-to-head duels, expanding gameplay for larger groups, the solo gaming trend, and crafting experiences from cutthroat competition to collaborative triumphs. 

• Nuances of two-player game design
• Scaling mechanics effectively for multiple players
• Understanding solo gaming & its rising popularity
• Levels of interaction: Direct conflict, indirect competition, cooperative elements

Assignment #3: Design a 2-player game that uses a standard deck of cards. Conduct 1 playtest session with another player (friend, family, or fellow student). Ask the other player specific questions and document their feedback. Include a paragraph outlining key changes or adjustments you would make for the next version of this game.

Beyond the rules, it's about what players see and feel. Uncover the power of visual clarity, intuitive layouts, universal symbols, and evocative text, all while ensuring your game's physical elements amplify its theme and meet industry standards. Join a workshop to debate the merits of different materials for a game.

• Principles of visual hierarchy
• Layout design & navigation best practices
• Iconography, symbol design, typography, readability
• Role of components in thematic immersion 
• Material standards & expectations 
• WORKSHOP #4: Brainstorming the pros & cons of using different materials

Become the maestro of your game's aesthetic. Learn to command mood and theme through visual artistry, explore diverse artistic expressions, and collaborate with talented illustrators and graphic designers. In a hands-on session, you'll re-imagine game pieces to fit a fresh theme.

• Developing a cohesive visual style
• Communicating theme & mood
• Understanding artistic styles & their relation to themes
• Working with artists & graphic designers 
• Case Study: Eldritch Horror
• WORKSHOP #5: Adjusting the game components to reflect a theme

Assignment #4: Define the visual style and detailed component list for an original game concept. Include title, a visual mood board representing the desired aesthetic, as well as a key component list and justification (e.g., 6 custom dice, reason for the 6 custom dice).

The rulebook is your player's first guide. Learn how to write instructions that are not just accurate, but engaging and easy to follow, from initial learning to quick lookups. 

• When should you start writing your rulebook?
• Structure, organisation, logical flow
• Clarity and conciseness: Sushi Go! & Ticket to Ride
• Visual aids & examples
• Rulebooks for learning vs. reference

Assignment #5: Take a simple famous game (e.g., BlackJack; Rock, Paper, Scissors) and write out the rules. Focus on clarity and brevity (without sacrificing the other).

Ever dreamed of seeing your game on store shelves? This class is your map to the board game industry, charting the different types of publishers, the winding path of traditional publishing, and the exciting frontier of self-publishing and crowdfunding, including the vital roles of distribution and retail.

• Categorising publishers: Size, focus, market reach 
• Traditional publishing pipeline
• Self-publishing & crowdfunding 
• Distribution & retail 

From concept to carton! This session is all about the nuts and bolts of manufacturing: finding the right partners, understanding quality standards, selecting materials, crunching costs, ensuring top-notch quality, and mastering the complex world of shipping your creation.

• Identifying & researching manufacturers
• Understanding manufacturing standards & processes
• Material selection & costing
• Quality control procedures
• Shipping & logistics 

It's time to make some noise: learn to craft a professional marketing strategy, build a strong online presence, execute pre- and post-launch tactics, forge alliances with influencers, and enter the convention scene. In a dynamic workshop, you'll brainstorm the ways to build a passionate community around your game. 

• Developing a strategy
• Building an online presence
• Pre- and post-launch marketing tactics
• Working with influencers & reviewers
• Conventions & game events
• WORKSHOP #6: Fostering a strong online community around a specific board game

Assignment #6: Research the existing board game market to identify a game’s potential niche and target audience. Create a target audience profile, a competitive analysis with 3-5 existing games, preliminary marketing channels (Kickstarter, BoardGameGeek forums, conventions, Youtube reviews, etc.), create a unique selling proposition.

Get ready to captivate. Sharpen your ability to present the game with impact: craft compelling narratives and highlight what makes your creation truly unique. Master the concise elevator pitch, develop professional prototypes, and learn to navigate the networking process.

• Essential pitch components
• Understanding your publisher & tailoring your pitch
• Highlighting unique selling propositions
• Creating professional prototypes 
• Mastering the elevator pitch
• Networking & professional communication

Understand the financial spellbook of game design. Explore intellectual property, pricing strategies, profit margins, and funding avenues. Learn how to manage your resources wisely and construct a robust business blueprint. 

• IP & copyright
• Understanding pricing & profit margins
• Exploring funding options
• Managing finances & tracking sales
• Creating a business plan

Assignment #7: Conduct preliminary research to estimate the manufacturing costs for the game based on the component list. This includes: component sourcing research, estimated production cost breakdown, and pricing strategy brainstorm.

The last push to perfection. This session guides you through the crucial final checks: rigorous quality assurance, the difference between alpha and beta testing, editing and proofreading, preparing your final print files, and conducting the ultimate proofing with your manufacturer.

• Quality assurance
• Alpha vs. beta testing
• Editing & proofreading
• Final file layout
• Proofing files with the factory

The moment of truth arrives: step into the spotlight and share your perfected board game pitches. Selected creators will present their visions, receiving invaluable live feedback from the instructor and fellow game designers. 

• Pitch presentations
• Giving & receiving feedback

Final Project: Board Game Production Plan
Deliver a concise and compelling pitch for the board game production plan. This can be presented as a pitch deck or a comprehensive written doc.