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From videogame design to boardgames

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Fri, 11/07/2014 - 04:35
gr9yfox
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Hello!

My name is Manuel Correia and have been designing videogames for the past four years. The most popular game I've designed is 8 Ball Pool (iOS, Android, browser), you might have played it!

I also design my own boardgames on the side (http://gamesbymanuel.com/). It started as a way to learn more about game design, but it has evolved into something bigger. The social aspect of boardgames really drew me in, and now I'd rather play a boardgame any day of the week.

All my videogame releases were sold digitally, so I never felt they were tangible. I'd love to publish a game you could hold in your hand.

I'm currently working on a small drafting game focused on deduction, and solving a crime. I'm trying to see how small it could go, and it's currently at 20 cards.

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Fri, 11/07/2014 - 10:24
#1
larienna
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Interesting, I am planning to

Interesting, I am planning to do the opposite, go from board games to video games. Well not entirely, there is a couple of ideas I will keep as board games, and I mostly indend to make turn based strategy video games which has similarities with board games.

You did list a couple of reason why you want to switch to board games. But I would like to know if you have some advices or warnings about jumping in the world of video games.

For my part, the reason why I leave partly board games, is my lack of social interaction which makes it hard to play games. The amount of compression required to make a game fit into time and space restriction which in the end makes it more abstract than immersive. There are other reasons but those are my primary ones.

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Fri, 11/07/2014 - 11:29
#2
gr9yfox
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You're in luck! There are a

You're in luck! There are a lot of similarities between the design process of turn based strategy games between those two mediums.

My main advice is related to your business model. Look into that before jumping headfirst into making your game. Unfortunately, the industry has moved past the simple joy of buying a game and playing it. The users now tend to expect really low prices or, ideally, getting the game for free.

If they consider your price unreasonable they'll just pirate it. The other option is making it free, and getting the money from in-game advertising and microtransactions. You need to design a system which allows you to add to the game. Frequent updates and new content keeps people coming back, and so does competitive play.

The way you sell your game will definitely change the way it is designed, so defining it early will set you on the right track.

I have some more warnings about mobile games/stores, working in teams and in studio environments, but I don't know enough about your situation to know if they would be of use!

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Fri, 11/07/2014 - 12:53
#3
laperen
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With regards to your current

With regards to your current project, I recommend you check out the card game "Love Letter". its a very intriguing game and makes use of very little materials, which is what I'm assuming your goal is too.

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/129622/love-letter

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Fri, 11/07/2014 - 13:05
#4
larienna
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Quote:You're in luck! There

Quote:
You're in luck! There are a lot of similarities between the design process of turn based strategy games between those two mediums.

Most strategy games I played when I was young were video games. But now they just stop making those. But I think my roots still lie there.

Quote:
My main advice is related to your business ... The users now tend to expect really low prices or, ideally, getting the game for free. ... The way you sell your game will definitely change the way it is designed, so defining it early will set you on the right track.

Well I am currently making no money with board game, so making no money with video games is not really a problem. One way or the other, the results are the same.

Quote:
The other option is making it free, and getting the money from in-game advertising and microtransactions.

I consider this un ethical, I would never design such game even if I was paid to do so.

Quote:
I have some more warnings about mobile games/stores, working in teams and in studio environments, but I don't know enough about your situation to know if they would be of use!

I would be desiging/programming games in solo. I was thinking of using LIBGDX which allows development for touch device, Web and PC. I would be designing for my own needs, but if other people want to play, that would be a bonus.

Quote:
With regards to your current project, I recommend you check out the card game "Love Letter".

There is another game that was released recently in a blue bag that worked similar to love letter, but I don't remember the name. You can also try Coup.

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Wed, 11/12/2014 - 04:03
#5
gr9yfox
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Quote:Most strategy games I

Quote:

Most strategy games I played when I was young were video games. But now they just stop making those. But I think my roots still lie there.

That's because it's not as popular, which means less people will buy it. There are companies (Paradox, for example) which make those and have really dedicated fans.

Quote:

I consider this un ethical, I would never design such game even if I was paid to do so.

It annoys me too, but if you need experience for your CV and dismiss companies who do this, you'll find that not many are left.

Quote:
With regards to your current project, I recommend you check out the card game "Love Letter".

I like Love Letter a lot, and started sketching this game because there's something that nags me about the endgame scenario where people just compare the numbers they got in their hands. A Sherlock Holmes "AHA!" moment where someone breaks everything down seemed like something good to aim for.

Quote:

There is another game that was released recently in a blue bag that worked similar to love letter, but I don't remember the name. You can also try Coup.

Lost Legacy? Cypher? I saw both at the store but haven't had the chance to try it yet.

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Wed, 11/12/2014 - 10:07
#6
larienna
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I think it was lost

I think it was lost legacy

Quote:
That's because it's not as popular, which means less people will buy it. There are companies (Paradox, for example) which make those and have really dedicated fans.

Yes, I know that company. Many of their games are real time strategy games which I cannot play. But I played warlock. There is a japanese company (Systemsoft Alpha) that does tons of TBS but only 2 of their games got published here (DAi Senryaku 7, Master of Monsters). I would play more if they were not in japanese.

I'll see if I could design mainly for myself and see the experience I get from that. So it does not matter if the audiance is small.

Quote:
It annoys me too, but if you need experience for your CV and dismiss companies who do this, you'll find that not many are left.

I don't expect to work in the video game industry. I don't have the health for that.

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Wed, 11/12/2014 - 13:52
#7
gr9yfox
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Quote: I don't expect to work

Quote:

I don't expect to work in the video game industry. I don't have the health for that.

I'm sorry about that. From the way the conversation started, I thought you wanted to jump to the videogame industry. Doing it as a hobby is perfectly fine, as long as you don't depend on it to pay the rent.

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Wed, 11/12/2014 - 15:40
#8
larienna
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Quote: Doing it as a hobby is

Quote:
Doing it as a hobby is perfectly fine, as long as you don't depend on it to pay the rent.

Game design has always been a hobby for me since there is little way to make a living out of it. And even if it was possible, it would remain as a hobby due to the unstability of the income.

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