Thoughts on lifestyle boardgames?

Time is the only finite resource. If someone can beat time, then they'll be infinitely wealthy (in a manner of speaking).

Meanwhile, we're stuck with devices that attempt to be an "all in one" machine to assist people in managing their lives. There's an insidious nature to the way smartphones and their apps are developed, with the goal of monopolizing time of their users.

The main advantage of smartphone tech is that it is portable. So if you wanted to go this route and develop a board game that is as addictive and integral to peoples' lives as a smartphone app, I would think that portability and convenience would be paramount in terms of design priorities.

Personally, I'm not interested in developing these types of games. But then, I'm just a hobbyist and not anticipating this as a way to make a living. Rest assured that Hasbro is doing its darnedest to make this kind of thing happen. :)

If you can develop something that people say: "Oh Wow, that was cool, let's PLAY AGAIN!"... All the more power to you.

With "TradeWorlds", I was more focused on "re-playability" in terms of getting the game to the table. No so much "repeat play" in one evening... But maybe something semi-regular where player's would enjoy all the "facets" to the game that make the experience DIFFERENT from the last playthru.

However in terms of speedier game play and something lighter, "Quest Adventure Cards(tm) — Second Edition" I am looking at shorter games with higher level of asymmetry giving players the ability to PLAY HOW THEY WANT TO PLAY. And what this means is that the "Development" Decks allow you to choose one (1) of six (6) classes and off you go to the races with other players. Each Deck offering a different experience too...

For my current Work-In-Progress (WIP) of "Monster Keep" (MK), it's a quick 20 minute game for 2 players (or 40-45 for 4 players). The game comes as-is but allows "customization". So you can play a game right out of the box giving everyone an even playing ground. And you can take it to the NEXT LEVEL by actually customizing each player's Deck with cards you prefer using (that match your style of play, for example).

But easily for MK the idea is maybe to play 3 to 4 games in a sitting. And given the "customizable" nature of the game, it allows players to spend time "off-line" to acquire the cards they want to build their own deck (Deck Construction)...

So I think it's fair enough to want to DESIGN something that people (think gamers) LIKE and ENJOY playing. However complexe or lite the game really is. I don't think MOST "Board Games" or "Card Games" are very "addictive" but certainly the liter ones (if they offer sufficient "customization") could make for a quick in-between or before the meat of a gaming night.

I think that in all my games, I hope to add some kind of VALUE to the game. Aside from just being a FUN/Entertaining game... I want people to EXPLORE the product FURTHER. And I want to design games that ENCOURAGE that whole "exploration" aspect. Sure it makes for more VOLATILE products... that are affected by future sales. Obviously you want a BRAND to GROW and in the minimum maintain a level of sales too...

Is this ADDICTIVE game play? I don't think so. But it's more than let's just break out "Game X" to play tonight... I want something like let's bring out "Game Y" tonight and how do you guys want to play this session around...? Adding that QUESTION about HOW/WHAT it is the players want to play...

Definitely trying some asymmetry, exploring "expansions", having a "customizable" content, "pack-driven" sets, etc. To try to bring something which is more of a PERSONALIZED experience...

You spoke of online games.

Explore hybrids: and this doesn't necessarily have to be an app. Look at older models such as play by mail or email, where players may have the boards set up, wait for opponents moves. You don't need custom network software (at least to start)--think of what you could do with Wordpress and simple free plugins for things like forums. Make asynchronous play your friend.

Concrete advice? Still working on that--sorry.

Many of those online games are not actually games. One of my friend said that one of the "game" was actually about making a progress bar grow. Which looks more like work than play to me.

My moto when designing/playing board games and video games is the "Play and Forget" philosophy. I rather play multiple instance of the same game, for example settlers on catan, than playing a single non-stop game. This is why I mostly check for digital version of board games on mobile platform because it follows the "Play and Forget" philosophy.

Also from an ethical point of view, who am I to dictate that from now one the only game you are allowed to play is my game. Why should I dilute the experience of my game to make you hooked. I think the free to play model encourage this because the more hooked you are, the more you are likely to spend in the game.

On the other hand if I make a game where you pay once, I don't really care if you played 10 minutes, or if you spend your entire day playing the game. The time you play only tells me if you like my game or not but I don't get to make more money.

Considering the huge amount of video games out there, again, while would I want to keep people captive of my game. I rather offer a short intensive experience to give players a chance to play again or play something else than keeping them hooked for even.

I think it's the designer's responsibility to consider the life of the people who play the game. We design games to make people happy not to make them slaves.