Board Game Design
Remember all those great games you have played? Well, now you can make your own; your own rules, your own design, your own questions!
STEP 1: Investigate existing board games, create a list of board games that you have played as a child; you should have at least 3 games.
- Divide your sheet of paper into four sections, giving each section the headings 'describe the rules', 'how is the winner decided?', 'best points about the game' and 'worst points about the game'. ( By investigating the pros and cons of existing board games, you should have a good idea about what makes a successful board game and which pitfalls there are to avoid).
- You need to be collecting evidence in your folders in order to demonstrate your individual achievement. Example of great evidence would include: your notes and sketches
- STEP 2: Start to design a game
- Now that you have listed the pros and cons of different board games,you can begin the design of your own game. The first step is to decide upon a theme for your game. Use the worksheet game design to help the thinking process.
- Suggested ideas for a new board game
- Teen life – guide teenagers around the board as they overcome hurdles placed in their way.
- Around the world in 80 days – race around the world and get home before your rivals. What hurdles will be placed in your way as you visit different continents?
- World Cup – will your country win the World Cup? They will have to win a lot of games along the way as they attempt to beat their opponents to the prize.
- Carbon footprint – reduce your dependence on fossils fuels and become an environmental hero, beating your rivals to become the first person to become carbon neutral.
- Fashion Show – design your clothes, book venues, arrange advertising and select models.
- Dr Frankenstein – who will be the first to create a monster from the body parts you assemble on your journey around the board. Look out for the Police!
- Formula One – beat your opponents to the finish line, being careful to avoid pit stops and crashes along the way
- STEP 3: Create a prototype
- Once you have decided on the theme for your game you need to seriously consider the rules and layout of the board.
- This step has you working on these issues as you create a prototype for your board game. (this should be a game that can be played)
- Requirements:
- Each board game made must have the following items included in the project:
· Actual playing board: including game pieces and any necessary devices to complete your designed game
Board must be an original, not one taken from a previously owned board game
· Rules: The rules must be written out, understandable, and applicable to the game you created
· Directions: how to play the game
· Neat and organized
· Creative, colorful and pretty! make sure you have any game pieces needed... Who wants to play a game with no character! Your board game must be playable-you will play each other’s games
- Each board game made must have the following items included in the project:
- Requirements:
Board Game List examples
· 1313 Dead End Drive
· Apples to Apples
· Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader
· Backgammon
· Battleship
· Boggle
· Candy Land
· Checkers
· Chess
· Chutes and Ladders
· Clue
· Connect Four
· Cooties
· Cranium
· Don't Break the Ice
· Don't Wake Daddy
· Guess Who?
· Hi Ho! Cherry-O
· Hungry Hungry Hippos
· Life
· Life on the Farm
· Mall Madness
· Monopoly
· Mouse Trap
· Obsession
· Operation
· Payday
· Pictionary
· Rummikub
· Scene It
· Scrabble
· Sorry!
· Taboo
· Trivial Pursuit
· Trouble
· Yahtzee
· 1313 Dead End Drive
· Apples to Apples
· Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader
· Backgammon
· Battleship
· Boggle
· Candy Land
· Checkers
· Chess
· Chutes and Ladders
· Clue
· Connect Four
· Cooties
· Cranium
· Don't Break the Ice
· Don't Wake Daddy
· Guess Who?
· Hi Ho! Cherry-O
· Hungry Hungry Hippos
· Life
· Life on the Farm
· Mall Madness
· Monopoly
· Mouse Trap
· Obsession
· Operation
· Payday
· Pictionary
· Rummikub
· Scene It
· Scrabble
· Sorry!
· Taboo
· Trivial Pursuit
· Trouble
· Yahtzee
Grading:
Your games will be graded on the following criteria
· Creativity, uniqueness of the game
· Neatness, and organization of the game
· Directions of the game are typed up and explained thoroughly
· Rules of the game are described very well, so people know what they can and cannot do!
· Grammar, spelling, and punctuation of directions, rules, and of game board—your game needs to be understandable!
· Playability—if you make it, you are going to want to play it!
· Creativity, uniqueness of the game
· Neatness, and organization of the game
· Directions of the game are typed up and explained thoroughly
· Rules of the game are described very well, so people know what they can and cannot do!
· Grammar, spelling, and punctuation of directions, rules, and of game board—your game needs to be understandable!
· Playability—if you make it, you are going to want to play it!