tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-209783542009-11-30T20:55:14.906-05:00GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-20571658601327293762009-11-30T06:00:00.001-05:002009-11-30T06:00:02.395-05:00

Today, we're going to take a look at the evolution of a prototype game board. Specifically, we'll examine the first three versions of the board for Municipality. This is from the very first version of the game. At that time, the board was just a simple 16 spaces arranged in a square. At the bottom is a track to mark each player's current Approval Rating. During the first

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-10345812207141069912009-11-23T06:00:00.004-05:002009-11-23T06:00:03.799-05:00

A reader posted the following in response to one of my Municipality playtest summaries. Tim Harrison said... Your game is beginning to sound a lot like Urban Sprawl, by Chad Jensen, the designer of Combat Commander: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/62220 The rules are available on GMT's website. You might want to take a look.First off, I'd like to thank Tim for letting me know about this

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-47937087013865122842009-11-18T06:00:00.002-05:002009-11-22T20:24:39.129-05:00

Municipality is coming along swimmingly. The last-minute radical change to the game's structure ended up being the most fun part of the game. To think that I was afraid of making such a fundamental change right before my first playtest . . . this game could have ended up so much less fun had I not changed course. Here are notes from the last week of testing. Version 2.0Changes from v1.0: New

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-43841358365962996642009-11-09T20:45:00.000-05:002009-11-09T20:45:53.142-05:00

Last week I finally made the first prototype for Municipality. As I was constructing the prototype, I had a brainstorm on a radical way to change the rules. Luckily, It required only minor modification to the original prototype. Anyway, here are the notes from the first playtest session: Playing time: 2h 15m Dorsey - 230 Michael - 170 Jonathan - 160 Jeff - N/A Central industrial tiles made

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-11399237169656033752009-10-12T19:56:00.000-04:002009-10-12T19:56:59.315-04:00

Being a game designer wannabe is hard. I am not complaining that it is too much work. I enjoy the process of designing games: idea, concept, rules, prototype, test, refine, repeat. It is the failure to get published that drags at the soul; failure nibbles away at resolve. I love making games. I also love watching people play (and enjoy) a game over which I have labored. Being a game designer

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-89105021036943047162009-10-05T21:14:00.000-04:002009-10-05T21:14:47.268-04:00

I have decided to make an online version of my game, Titans of Industry. I am doing this in partnership with Chris Choi and Malachi Griffie of Them Entertainment. Shown here is a new concept logo that Chris threw together. To answer your first question, I have no idea when it will be done. I do, however, know that it will be pretty cool. I know this because I have seen samples of their previous

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-6841837789066150302009-09-09T07:02:00.000-04:002009-09-09T07:02:30.760-04:00

On Saturday I attended a meeting of the NYC board game designers playtest group. I playtested some other designers' games. The first was a multiplayer piece-capturing abstract. The second was a game about building a city using Ticket to Ride mechanics. The last was a farming/bidding game. I enjoy testing other designers' games, as I find other people's ideas can occasionally blow me away with

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-45947987324998256122009-09-02T20:14:00.000-04:002009-09-02T20:14:02.735-04:00

Boardgame News has been running an English translation of Ignacy Trzewiczek's account of the development of Stronghold. I always find design stories interesting. Check it out. It's already up to the eighth installment, but that has links to the previous ones.

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-57133653407991093922009-08-31T07:01:00.000-04:002009-08-31T07:01:37.480-04:00

Todd D. has responded to my post on the mathematics of vampire games and request for ideas on how to handle the inherent problems by suggesting:Todd D. said... Ideas: -The vampires are more wrapped up in internal politics and infighting once their numbers increase? -Bloodline dilution - the newer vampires are less awesome than the master vampires and more vulnerable... -The human population

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-84173332875504544372009-08-27T06:57:00.002-04:002009-08-30T19:38:20.560-04:00

The Freakonomics blog highlighted a mathematical analysis of a zombie attack. This is pretty nice timing for me. It is no secret that (good) game design generally involves a strong grasp of mathematics. Messrs. Knizia and Garfield each have a PhD in Mathematics that predates their design careers. This is not a coincidence, as they are not alone among game designers in being mathematically

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-19160511059236920722009-08-23T21:14:00.005-04:002009-08-23T21:23:41.474-04:00

The Economist had an article a couple of weeks back on design trends in consumer electronics. It discussed the Flip Mino and the Asus Eee PC. It did not find them notable for their features, but for their success despite the lack thereof. What impressed him about the design was not simply the gadget’s diminutive proportions and low price, but the way the developers had so ruthlessly resisted all

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-45855690477471724322009-08-11T22:03:00.011-04:002009-08-15T11:20:42.252-04:00

I have given up on hearing back from publisher alpha, to whom I sent my prototype for Titans of Industry almost a full year ago.I completely understand if a publisher doesn't want to look at a prototype. I understand if a publisher looks at a prototype and decides it is not good enough. I understand if a publisher is busy and will take a long time, or even longer than expected, to look at

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-12713319649471066362009-07-19T08:27:00.004-04:002009-08-26T20:25:14.863-04:00

This is intriguing. I'll post on its lessons as I progress through it.

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-36918033277237683452009-05-31T08:11:00.004-04:002009-08-15T11:23:38.468-04:00

I've decided to make a game based on the ideas in this video.

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-16848244688432046242009-05-31T08:09:00.004-04:002009-05-31T08:17:05.193-04:00

This is the index page for Brinksmanship.On the Brink

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-15586114398015050902009-01-06T21:39:00.004-05:002009-01-06T21:52:56.214-05:00

A friend of mine pointed me towards this announcement from Kevin Nesbitt from Valley Games that includes the following:I regret that over the past several months, I have encountered what I will term "substantial philosophical differences" with my fellow Valley Games ownership group in regards to the operation of the company. In the face of the earliest issues, I (perhaps foolishly) felt that the

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-80379661792964117242009-01-03T07:54:00.002-05:002009-01-03T08:11:39.146-05:00

Click here for previous status report.New information is highlighted.PioneerActive - version 2 (2008.12.30) - In PlaytestingArt for trail cardsRulebookThis game is almost done. The playtests have all gone extremely well so far. I have another playtest for this game today with the NYC Board Game Designers Playtest Group.Titans of IndustryActive - version 21 (2008.10.09) - still with publisher

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-125858571808267382008-12-21T16:30:00.004-05:002008-12-21T16:55:16.077-05:00

My friends and I went out for dinner on my birthday a couple of months back. While we were there, one of my friends asked about the status of my games. A couple of my friends do playtesting for me, so we spent a few minutes discussing my games, including Privateering.My friend misheard the name, later referring to it as "Pioneering". My testers laughed at the mistake. I joked that that would be

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-79834173656609977592008-12-19T10:35:00.002-05:002008-12-19T10:47:09.875-05:00

Click here for previous status report.New information is highlighted.PioneerActive - version 1 (2008.12.18) - First Playtest CompleteArt for trail cardsRulebookBoard layout - may completely ditch board for this game, may not be necessaryPrint slightly altered trail cards for second prototype.Titans of IndustryActive - version 21 (2008.10.09) - still with publisher AlphaAdvancement Cards - Names (

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-28215711480703851622008-12-09T22:32:00.009-05:002008-12-10T12:28:43.151-05:00

An essential supply for anyone about to head out west and stake a claim, no Pioneer would survive without bringing along an ample supply of food.

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-3780061294828646222008-12-07T23:03:00.004-05:002008-12-09T23:05:13.386-05:00

Click here for previous status report.New information is highlighted.Titans of IndustryActive - version 21 (2008.10.09) - still with publisher AlphaAdvancement Cards - Names (5/24)Titans Cards - Names (24/24)Board - consider reducing pricing grids to maximum 9 cost (8 cost for purchase from bank)Player Cards - larger than current and with illustrationsPioneerActive - version 1 (2008.12.07) -

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-62634257339427958472008-12-06T20:31:00.004-05:002009-08-23T21:28:40.289-04:00

This is the index page for Pioneer. An Essential Supply The Accidental Game Economy of Design

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-35808273591413525382008-11-20T21:13:00.007-05:002008-12-06T20:33:27.180-05:00

I've decided to do bi-monthly updates on the status of all of my designs. This will both push me to consistently work on my games as well as keeping any of you interested in the loop.I will also try to enumerate exactly what needs to be done for each game at any given moment in time so that, if you wanted, you could collaborate on the design. In fact, I plan on setting up a group collaboration

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-5997919502025523002008-11-20T20:08:00.003-05:002009-01-03T08:14:48.667-05:00

This is a list of the status updates that I will be issuing twice a month on each of my games.2008.11.202008.12.072008.12.192009.01.03

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20978354.post-59415189055550299252008-10-05T22:32:00.003-04:002008-10-05T22:51:00.156-04:00

I've finished updating the rulebook for Titans of Industry. This is the version that I am sending to publishers.Titans of Industry v21 RulebookPlease feel free to proofread it and post corrections in the replies. Thanks!

GDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170175184112067309gdw@gamedesignerwannabe.com2