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Comprehensive prototyping kit?

7 replies [Last post]
Wed, 01/07/2009 - 23:09
Penguinick
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Joined: 01/07/2009

Hello everyone! First thread here. I'm wondering what comprehensive kits out there, possibly including a board, generic-looking pieces, and tools for making cards/tiles. I found a few things with google but was wondering if anybody knows of others:

"Make Your Own Opoly": http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.aol_refer.fa...

"Create Your Own Game!": http://www.funagain.com/control/product/~product_id=018519

"Make-Your-Own™ Games": http://www.shopatron.com/product/part_number=MBHK005/209.0

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Thu, 01/08/2009 - 09:53
#1
Dralius
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Used is cheaper

You can get this sort of game creation set but it’s often cheaper to pick up games at a thrift store and re-use the pieces. No one sells a comprehensive set of materials since there are so many different standard components that could be included in a game.

I have a small cabinet with 5 drawers all about 8 cubic feet that holds 75% of my spare cards, dice, pawns, chips, spinners, cubes, etc. That doesn’t include the various paper, cardstock, foam core, chipboard + tools I use. Even with all that I often have to track down something I don’t already have. Right now I am looking into molding custom plastic pieces since I can’t find what I need elsewhere.

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Thu, 01/08/2009 - 10:05
#2
magic_user
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Joined: 07/28/2008
Prototypes

Yea, what Dralius said. :-)

For cards, I use nanDeck (http://www.nand.it/nandeck/) and 110lb card stock. I print with an inkjet, just don't get the cards wet! (example card sets are available at my site - http://unfinishedgames.dynalias.net/ - they require nanDeck)

For tile games or boardgames, I use illustration board from Michael's (40% off coupon!) as the base. I print my boards/tiles on regular 20lb stock paper and spray glue that to the illustrator board. Cutting it out is the hard part.

For pieces parts, yard sales and thrift stores. Old games missing pieces go for $0.25. I have a lot to choose from. Yes, storage can be an issue....

Don't get too hung up on the quality of the prototype. The idea is what is important. Playtest and improve...

Jim.

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Thu, 01/08/2009 - 13:56
#3
adagio_burner
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For tiles and boards, I have

For tiles and boards, I have completely switched to vinyl floor tiles.

They are self-sticking, so no additional glue is required. They are cheap (starting at about 30 cents for a 12"x12" tile... even less on sale). The 1mm tile can be easily cut with household scissors; for cutting 2mm tile I use metal shears or a large paper trimmer.
One caveat though: use thick cardstock or coated paper on them. The glue would gradually penetrate regular 20lb paper and come on the other side in a rather unsightly way. So I bought a 500-sheet pack of thin plastic-coated paper, and it lasts for a while.

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Sun, 01/11/2009 - 02:03
#4
truekid games
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adagio_burner wrote:For tiles

adagio_burner wrote:
For tiles and boards, I have completely switched to vinyl floor tiles.

They are self-sticking, so no additional glue is required. They are cheap (starting at about 30 cents for a 12"x12" tile... even less on sale). The 1mm tile can be easily cut with household scissors; for cutting 2mm tile I use metal shears or a large paper trimmer.
One caveat though: use thick cardstock or coated paper on them. The glue would gradually penetrate regular 20lb paper and come on the other side in a rather unsightly way. So I bought a 500-sheet pack of thin plastic-coated paper, and it lasts for a while.

do you have a link to the ones you use?

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Sun, 01/11/2009 - 03:36
#5
adagio_burner
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I just to go the local Home Depot

I just to go the local Home Depot and buy whatever is on sale. :)

It's 12"x12" self-stick vinyl floor tile, I bought several packs of 1mm thick sheets by Novalis. They were less than 30 cents each. The 2mm ones are much sturdier, and they work great for modular boards, but they are harder to cut as well.

When I wanted to make modular board tiles from the 1mm ones, I put some self-stick craft foam on the back. It roughly doubles the cost, but the result is quite thick, it feels wonderful and you can still cut it with scissors.

I still have some of the 1mm ones in my garage, I really bought quite a few :)

BTW they are great for counters, too.

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Sun, 01/11/2009 - 04:39
#6
Ekobor
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Joined: 10/27/2008
Your Imagination

is the only prototyping kit comprehensive enough. Look around your house, thrift stores, garage sales, even down by your feet as you walk down Main St., you're almost garunteed to find something that will fit your needs.

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Wed, 01/21/2009 - 18:54
#7
brisingre
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Joined: 01/21/2009
My prototyping kit

I use 100lb cardstock, printed on a dying laserjet that can't actually handle it, whatever components I can salvage from my dungeons and dragons stuff (I love my pound of dice), and far too much time to cut things out. For things that will require miniatures, I don't prototype them, but instead print out a token with some kind of image on it, or even just tear off a page corner and write the name of the token on it. Mancala stones are nice. I have a bunch of flag pieces that I made by superglueing nails to pennies, but they kind of stink. I once cut a ton of pegboard pieces into nice, stackable, gridlike shapes for a game I've never finished, and I bet they'd be nice for prototyping, but I've never used them. I also do 90% of the work on my computer. (I love my tablet...)

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