Flatiron Tabletop Game Design

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hadPanelist @zach-saul (Private) @tyler-entingh (Private)
resources: https://boardgamegeek.com
Where is the overlap between product design and tabletop game design
- user psychology:
  - what hooks people
  - what's too boring/complex
- visual design principles
- "exploration and validation":
  - design thinking double diamond
- system mechanics
  - comes down to a knowledge of design patterns
- user experience
  - information architecture (IA)
    - What is the path from A to B
    - User decision space
    - outcomes and goals
  - users come in with preconceived mental models... cognitive load is less when your game fits into their schemas
defining the project
- design principles, e.g.:
  - depth > complexity
  - simplicity > fidelity
  - avoid rigid narratives
  - best strategist should would
- constraints
  - mechanics
    - e.g.
      - dice rolling
      - end game bonuses
      - grid coverage
      - hex grid
      - pattern building
      - set collection
      - tile placement
      - turn order: stat-based
      - variable set-up
      - worker placement
    - complexity and player cognitive capacity
    - what mechanics are removed/added/changed for different player counts
    - solo play
  - categories
SWOT Analysis
Prototyping gives you high-level buy-in
mentioned Workshop
players get frustrated waiting for other players
- like axis&allies
- turn-based is inherently frustrating, so give people something else to do when it's not their turn
analysis
- satisfaction
- time to goal
- avg # turns/moves/card to goal
- qualitative
  - Did you feel like you agaency
"build your design process around playtesting. everything else is theorycraft"
Visual
- color can
  - create categories
  - indicate interactivity
  - create separation
What is interesting?
- fun vs challenging
- sweet spot of interestingness
  - - obvious vs absurd
    - relevant vs irrelevant
  - enhances memory
  - enhances motivation
  - emotive response
- triggers of fascination
  - pleaure
  - mystique: puzzling, being part of a secret
  - alarm
  - prestige
  - power
  - vice
  - trust
- theory of fun:
  - when we find and master new patterns of thought
  - to master a game, we have to figure out certain patterns
  - once we've done it, the game is not as much fun
  - if we can find any patterns, the game is too difficult and not fun.
  - games tend to be most fun when pushing us to the edge of our capabilities while simultaneously giving us a sense that master is a real possibility
  - - if we are fascinated, we will have fun looking for patterns
    - disruption is often resisted because it takes energy