Your brief for this Game Design module is to design the first 15 minutes of an urban playful experience.
Using the learnings from boardgame design (mechanics, actions, game types, pacing, board sketching, delivering instructions…) and your urban explorations, you will create an urban game in groups of 3-5 with a screen companion designed on Figma.
Aim for every group member to contribute to early reflections on game mechanics, spatial design, visual design, sound design and narration.
You should think about both the individual player’s journey and the multiplayer interactions.
The final playtests should display clear instructions for the players, a visual identity using Figma, a sense of fiction and a linear progression. (one thing leads to another)
Your process should be iterative, building up from internal and external playtests. The first external playtests will be held on Tuesday, make sure you have playtested internally at least once before that.
The 15 first minutes of a game/playful experience organized in an urban space nearby Aho.
A screen companion designed in Figma (this can be instructions, prompt, character sheets, etc)
A video of less than 10 minutes showing a linear walkthrough of your experience (minimum editing)
Sound should be integrated either to your screen companion or the urban game itself.
A tumblr documentation of your process (take pictures of your paper prototype, sketches and playtests)
Your time should be spent on design, iteration and creating a clear experience companion using Figma.
A lot of your time should be spent on site, however, you should take note of these dates:
21.04 Pitchin session at school
25.04 First External Playtests (swap groups and playtest)
26.04 Second External Playtests (swap groups and playtest)
26.04 General Check-in at school
27.04 Final Play & Filming: this is the last iteration of your playtests. You should take time the same day to film and edit fragments of your game.
28.04 Screening & Comments: screening of the short videos for the whole class. No presentation, no slides, but verbal explanations and comments.
You can still refer yourself to the Encyclopedia of Mechanisms here to find inspiration for game mechanics.
Look up other types of spatial and embodied games in the book Pervasive games here or get inspiration from the prompts of the Pattern-seekers drift.
This is the digital version of today’s instructions: Urban Play chart.
Teamwork and playtesting require communication and a bit of anticipation. Make sure you go through the collaboration checklist with your group and use the playtest checklist to prepare for your playtest. They are both here.