WEEKLY UPDATE
Here, we will be showcasing our weekly progression, detailing each step of our journey as we gather insights, refine our game design, and incorporate feedback to continuously improve and enhance the overall gaming experience.
Week 1
Dr. Charles provided a briefing on our game studies assignment, focusing on essential skills and techniques for designing a board game. He covered fundamentals of board game design, including key mechanics, engagement strategies, and design principles. Following this, we organized into groups of 5-6 members for our group assignment and exchanged contacts to establish a dedicated WhatsApp group for efficient communication and collaboration on the project.
Week 2
During this week, we grouped on campus to explore various card games, gameplay, and game mechanics to help us further refine our game ideas. We played Monopoly Deals as a bonding activity and to get inspiration for our game. After trying out several games, we decided to further develop our first idea.
We then brainstormed several ideas for our tabletop game proposal by combining existing games. We try to think a idea from each others so we can get more idea to explore our games. After that we come out 3 idea show as below.
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Idea #1: Monopoly Deals + Clash of Clans
A more strategic and less luck dependent game.​
Objectives: Combining Drafting, Deck-Building, and Worker Placement into a single Monopoly Deal redesign would create a rich, multi-layered game experience that maintains the previous version of Monopoly Deal but with added depth and strategic complexity.
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Idea #2: Monopoly Deals + Animal Card + Uno
A game mix with different card games
Objectives: Still suitable for group games, the interaction between players will change with different numbers. 5+ players will make the game more chaotic and interesting, each player's turn may be affected by multiple parties, and the role of animal cards will be more significant.​
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​Idea #3: Monopoly Deals + Csgo2
Combining monopoly deals with element of csgo2, make a different game but play type similar with monopoly.
Objectives: Combining the chaotic fun of Monopoly Deal with the tactical intensity of CSGO2 could create a dynamic and strategic board game.
Week 3
This week, after evaluating several ideas, our group unanimously chose Idea 3 as the foundation for our board game. Once the decision was made, we gathered in class to brainstorm further, with each member actively contributing opinions and suggestions to refine the concept. To streamline our efforts, we assigned specific roles: two to three members will focus on designing the game cards, one member will handle the proposal slides, and another will develop the e-portfolio. This distribution ensures that each aspect of the project receives dedicated attention, fostering cohesive and efficient progress.
Week 4
In Week 4, with Dr. Charles absent due to illness and Wednesday’s class canceled, our team proactively met in a collaborative workspace to test our prototype board game. We developed a functional prototype and conducted several test runs, playing 4–5 rounds each to identify and document any issues or "bugs" within the gameplay mechanics.
This hands-on session allowed us to pinpoint specific areas for improvement. After analyzing the encountered issues, we engaged in a productive discussion to brainstorm potential solutions to enhance the game experience. We then shifted our focus to card design, considering both aesthetic elements and card dimensions. Finally, we advised the design team to finalize the card designs promptly, enabling us to conduct additional testing before submitting our proposal.
Week 5
This week, we were tasked with submitting our game idea and recording a presentation video. Given the distribution of responsibilities within our team, Jun Jie, our group leader, and I, Shawn, took the initiative to record the presentation together.
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Once our slides were finalized, we convened a meeting on Microsoft Teams to record the video. Despite the lengthy content and having just two presenters, we managed to complete the recording in an hour. After finalizing the recording, I uploaded the video to YouTube for easy access, ensuring Dr. Charles and others can conveniently watch it.
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Week 6
This week, our group focused on discussing and researching references for our card design. We held a virtual meeting since we were unable to meet at school. Due to differing ideas and design styles among team members, we decided that each member would find their own design references and upload them to Miro.
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After completing our research, we reconvened to finalize the design style for our cards. Following a thorough discussion, we decided to adopt a simple, black and white inking style for our card design.
Week 7
This week, we initiated the sketching phase for our card design before moving on to the final design stage. Since we have three members working on the card designs, the provided images reflect each member's individual contributions. After completing their sketches, each member shared their designs in our WhatsApp group.
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We then held a group meeting to discuss the sketches and gather feedback from all team members. Everyone provided constructive feedback and shared their opinions to improve the designs further.
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Due to the busy schedules and multiple assignments each member is handling, our project progress has been slightly slow. However, we ensure to keep weekly updates to monitor and maintain our progress.
Week 8
During Week 8, which is designated as our study week, our progress has been slower due to multiple assignment submissions. We decided to let each member continue working on their sketches individually and share them in our WhatsApp group.
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Given everyone's busy schedules, we did not hold a meeting this week. Instead, we discussed the sketches and provided feedback and comments within our group to ensure the project continues to move forward.
Week 9
During Week 9, we successfully finalized the design for our cards. Recognizing the need to create a prototype and conduct user playtesting, we aimed to complete the design this week and develop a simple prototype. Next week, we plan to conduct playtests to gather user feedback and emotional responses after playing the board game.
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The primary purpose of the playtesting is to ensure the game functions smoothly and to identify any bugs or issues users might encounter. This feedback is crucial for us to make necessary adjustments and improvements to enhance the overall gaming experience.
Week 10
This week, we are conducting a playtest with users to evaluate our board game. We have invited some friends who are unfamiliar with the game to participate in the playtest. Their fresh perspective will allow them to provide valuable feedback and comments about the game’s quality, any bugs, or issues they encounter.
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The data collected from these users will be instrumental in identifying areas for improvement and necessary changes, ensuring the game is refined and enhanced for a better user experience.
Week 11
During Week 11, although we didn't have scheduled classes, we invited Dr. Charles to join us in a playtest session for our board game. We took this opportunity to explain the game flow to him. Additionally, we invited different group members to participate in the playtest to gather more comprehensive data.
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After completing the playtest, Dr. Charles provided us with many useful and helpful comments on our board game. While there are still aspects that need improvement and changes, such as game rules and design, the overall gameplay is running smoothly. These adjustments will help us refine the game further to enhance its quality.
Week 12
This week, we conducted another playtest session with Dr. Charles. After several rounds of testing, Dr. Charles provided valuable comments and feedback on our board game. We carefully listened to his insights and documented his suggestions for improvement. While the overall structure of the game required minimal changes, there were specific adjustments needed to refine certain aspects. We have since focused on implementing these modifications to enhance the gameplay experience.
Week 13
This week is holiday and we have no classes today, we began designing the game box for our card set, ensuring the dimensions were precise enough to accommodate all the cards comfortably. Careful measurement was essential to guarantee a perfect fit. After completing the box illustration in Adobe Illustrator, we conducted a preliminary test by printing the design on standard A4 paper. This allowed us to fold it into a box and verify the size and fit before proceeding with the final print. This step ensured accuracy and minimized errors in the final production.
Week 14
This week, after completing the refinement of our game and finalizing the card and box designs, we began sourcing a printing service to produce the final outcome. Jun Jie recommended a company called Prints Buddy, as he had previous experience with their printing services. After evaluating options, we decided to proceed with Prints Buddy due to their fast turnaround time.
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A few days later, Prints Buddy informed Jun Jie that the cards and boxes had been printed and were ready for collection. Since Jun Jie did not have transport, he contacted Shawn to assist with picking up the printed materials.
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After collecting the items, Shawn went directly to Jun Jie's house for a final quality check. Together, they tested the cards and boxes, ensuring everything fit perfectly. Although some manual cutting was still required for the card boxes, the final outcome met our expectations, and everything fit together seamlessly.
Week 15
Last week, we were required to submit our board game project to Dr. Charles during class. Although Dr. Charles extended the submission deadline, we had already completed the project on time. Therefore, we decided to proceed with the submission as planned on 1st August 2025 during class.
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We successfully submitted the final version of our board game, Bomb Squad Showdown, to Dr. Charles, marking the completion of this project.