Atlas Arcade Final Documentation
Game Podcast: Dot’s Home
by Evelyn, Colin, and Tori
Game Design 2 Class Game Test
What was the most frustrating aspect? Not understanding how my game multipliers affected my score.
What was your favorite moment? Playtesting ( I really like Hues n Cues)
Was there anything you wanted to do? Maybe points for perceived time invested in game prototypes. I’ve played prototypes that have a huge amount of thought, time, and resources invested. This might already exist.
If I had a magic wand to change, add or remove? Maybe differentiation from Game Design 1. It feels very similar in layout in lectures, projects, and outcome and not sure how much additional information I gained from an educational perspective.
If this game scoring is kept for future classes, it would be cool to have the score on a website. It could show what multipliers you have and how it effects your score.
What should be improved? I feel like the complexity of certain games versus others isn’t taken into consideration with the final prototype scoring system. I could be wrong, but it seems like a simple card game and a very complex coded game would get the same score. The way it’s currently set up, I feel like it’s encouraging producing quick, easy games. Specifically for a games for change class, it becomes harder to produce impactful, polished, or researched games.
Game Message? Iteration is king. You must test your ideas, get feedback, and provide feedback.
Game in 3 words? experimental, creative, prototypes
Dot’s Home Game Review
What was the most frustrating aspect? The players had very few choices. There was little guidance or motivation to finish.
What was your favorite moment? Finding the wallet. it was a moment where the user actually can interact with elements of the game. you could move parts of the wallet around to see family pictures.
Was there anything you wanted to do? I really wanted to do more things in this game. It really was just a click through choose your own story game. I wanted puzzles or more interactive elements of consequence.
If I had a magic wand to change, add or remove? More interactions. Perhaps elements that will help enhance the time you travel back to? When traveling to the 1950s, it would be nice if there was a radio that would play music from the time period. There was a street that players could walk down but there wasn’t really anything to interact with.
What should be improved? More interactions as said. I think it would attract more people to play the game.
Game Message? 1. Individual choices could effect your family for generations. 2. Effects of race on the real estate market since thee 1950s.
Game in 3 words? real-estate, racial awareness, family heritage
Cry Me a Pond Playtest Notes
What was the most frustrating aspect? Maybe not wanting/ not thinking about an answer to the card
What was your favorite moment? I like the calming color scheme. The discussion brought out aspects of other people you didn’t expect. The social aspect of this game was fun.
Was there anything you wanted to do? Maybe keep going… The board ends but what if people haven’t reached happiness? Could it be a circular pond?
If I had a magic wand to change, add or remove? Maybe labeling the colored lily pads? Which one is sad and which one is happy.
What should be improved? Board shape/ length of lily pad path – it stopped too abruptedly. Also, no vengeful water spirit cards were chosen… I wanted to interact more with that but then I also question if it contradicts your game’s message? Is the purpose of the game to talk through/solve problems leading to peace? because school questions don’t do that. I guess what I’m getting at is what is the purpose of the Ames Card’s in this game’s larger message.
Game Message? Venting, collaboration, and mutual support lead to social and mental benefits.
Game in 3 words? Empathy, conversation-based, social-health, deep, bonding
Other questions: If taken further, it would be helpful to add more clarity in the rules. how long does it take? Player range? Pieces?
Butterfly Effect Game Test
Most frustrating aspect? I thought the spaces + dice combo was annoying. I felt like I was making progress so slowly. the number of spaces between each butterfly was always one more than the max (3). I felt like it added a sense of predictability: you roll, next turn you get a butterfly, you roll, next turn you get to a butterfly.
Most fun aspect? Answering the question cards
anything you wanted to do but couldn’t? I wish there weren’t card repeats. It makes it less interesting. Oftentimes, when someone reads a card, the group discusses it.
If I had a magic wand to change, add or remove? People shouldn’t begin by choosing to go left or right (people who go left will never win). There should be a couple spaces straight before the first butterfly choice which then directs them left or right.
What should be improved? the card and the boards. Butterfly player pieces would be cute.
Game’s message? to live cleaner and work towards a better world
Game in 3 words? persuasive, revealing, purposeful
Hues n Cues Playtest
What was the most frustrating aspect? People being colorblind
Favorite Moment of the game? People being color blind AND funny, creative, or unhinged descriptions of colors.
was there anything i wanted to do and couldn’t? I really enjoy this game the way it is!
If I had a magic wand to change, add, or remove anything? I think the colors on the card should match the board. I think they also could be more creative with the card designs – what if they were more inspired by pantone swatches? Also, I would’ve liked perhaps a different shape of marker?
Improved for next version? I think this game is functional and fun without any changes! However, I would enjoy the design changes as stated above.
Games message? Training for working at crayola
Game in 3 words? Art-nerd, Group, Creative
Around the World in 80 Days – Prototype 2 Playtest
Changes from GameTest 1 to 2
- Group vote for mispronunciation
- harder phrases to learn
- shorter timer to memorize timer
- Incentive to read culture cards? People aren’t reading
- Changed the end of the game from reaching 10 culture cards to returning back to home.
- Added 3x more phrases, trivia, and group cards.
- Added multi choice
Playtest 2 notes: 9 people played
Changes I will make for the next prototype:
I need to LABEL CULTURE CARDS
Change trivia card format – Put answer on the back of the card.
Tweak the group game mechanics. People can drop out of remembering a country. If players pass, pass until the next player knows them. If you pass, you are out. Also, if players challenge a country stated in this mini game, the player who landed on the space can google it.
North Korea is not on the Group Cards for “n”
Greenland is technically not a country… but everybody thinks its a country. Perhaps add a loophole that if majority thinks a “territory” is considered a country, it can count. This is only relevant if players challenge a country within the Group Game
Add back an alternative ending – now, to win, it’s the first player to 7 culture cards or when a player gets back to start.
Maybe add trivia cards for how to say a country’s name in their native language
I will add a player cap of 8
Educational Game Questions
- What are the challenges a team faces when working on an educational game? Each team member might have different priorities within game production. Content experts might want in depth background text, game designers want an interactive and compelling experience, while pedagogy experts believe it must be the ultimate teacher. The challenge is coordinating expertise and perspectives to create a final product that balances them all.
- In the case study team members vetoed each others game ideas, what were the scientist’s, pedagogy expert’s and designer’s issues? The game designer immediately dismissed game ideas proposed by the pedagogy expert and scientist because they did not constitute “a game.” The scientist immediately rejected many of the game designer’s ideas because the science was incorrect. The pedagogy expert didn’t like the idea of levels as it inhibited learning
- What did the team learn from play testing their prototypes?
- The scientist learned that extinct animals are not so intrinsically interesting that players will want to learn more about them naturally (solution: less educational information immediately provided rather than a lot of optional info)
- Levels were needed for motivation and maintained engagement
- A certain card mechanic was not adding to the learning benefit in replayability so it was substituted
- Reduced irrelevant information that distracted and decreased engagement
- When more customized feedback was provide to users, they felt more engaged and like they were learning more.
- How does play testing resolve conflicts among team members? Game testing is an objective way of proving what works and what does not. It actively tests each person’s perspective and proves its value.
Around the World in 80 Day: Game Maker’s Notes
What questions did your players have? Is there a timer for the name the country section? Sometime it could drag on while players tried to recall countries. It would keep game speed up if I added a timer. Also, how do you tell if somebody said a fake country?
How quickly did they learn to play? Very quickly. It was an easy game and it could
What kinds of interactions did the players have? Competed against each other in mini games. They occasionally read the fun facts on the culture card, but as is, there is little emphasis on the culture cards. I would like to tweak this so people read them because they add to the game.
What confused players? Which countries started with letters
what excited players? Winning mini games and knowing more than other people
what did your players enjoy doing? Every person had a different favorite challenge I think. I liked seeing how many countries people actually knew.
Did any aspect of the game frustrate players? Checking the countries. I am going to add the right countries on the back of the card.
Evelyn: Simulation Game Ideas
- Elderly Simulator: a VR simulation experience to build empathy for the experience of the elderly. Movements and actions would be altered to resemble the reality of their situation.
- Civil Engineering Simulator: build bridges, roads, and other constructions and see the simulated effects on the environment and community. Experiment and alter traffic signs to better regulate traffic flow.
- Detective Investigation Simulator: see the clues, solve the crime. the game simulates the experience of investigators. Investigate the crime scene, interrogate witnesses, and do outside research to solve the crimes.
- History Time Travel Game: travel through history in VR and experience that time period. Perhaps players could be sent to a time period and observe happenings to answer trivia questions.
- Hurricane Relief Simulator: See the immediate effects of a hurricane on both the social wellbeing and physical state of the community. Help initiate recovery and rebuild the communities with proactive measures to prevent further destruction.
Evelyn: Game Tests
Don’t judge a book by its cover – Sarah’s Game
What was the most frustrating moment? I loved this game but it was sometimes frustrating getting things wrong over and over.
What was your favorite moment? Making connections with people I know.
Was there anything you wanted to do? See below
If you had magic wand to wave what would you do? See below
What should be improved in next version? I think the game worked well but there could be progressive amounts of background (facts) we learn about people. They still could be completely irrelevant to the quotes; it’s like you’re getting to know somebody but you still may not know what they are going through. Or it could make you connect to and empathize with them more. Just thoughts.
What’s the game’s message? You never truly know what somebody is going through
The game in 3 words: unique & good art
To death do us part – Tori’s Game
What was the most frustrating moment? Nothing!
What was your favorite moment? The attention to detail was so good I loved seeing the themed elements
Was there anything you wanted to do? Have part 2! I want to solve the crime!!
If you had magic wand to wave what would you do? Part 2
What should be improved in next version? I liked your thoughts on box design. Maybe for future iterations have simple instructions (it could be just a phrase). Maybe one of those yellow confidential file folders?? Love this though.
What’s the game’s message? You are the detective. The game in 3 words: wedding murder mystery
Evelyn [prot.1] Around the World in 80 Days
Evelyn: Week 5 Game Ideas
- Stocked – A game that teaches users about choosing merchandise specifically for a Boutique storefront. They must learn the balance between budgeting, displaying new lines of products, and investing in other areas of the business.
- Geared Up – A puzzle game that teaches players about vehicle mechanics. Depending on the mode, players could choose to either inspect the car to diagnose the problem, or assemble/dissemble vehicles. Players could interact with and learn about parts, their technical terms, and mechanical process.
- Wall Street Warriors – A stock market simulator where players are given an initial amount of (fake) money to invest into the market. Stock market trends can reflect reality. There could also be an option with time leap (based off predictions) to see how investment decisions played out in the long run. The goal of this game would be for players to learn about the stock market and gain financial literacy.
- Around the World in 80 days – a game intended to bring awareness to different cultures and their traditions. Players must travel to a specified number of locations around the world and collect a culture card from that destination. There are additional spaces along the way that invite players to play mini games, language competitions, or other puzzles.
- Diagnostic – A learning aid for medical students. Players are given a list of symptoms through a chat box and must come up with a diagnosis. They may ask the patient chat box questions to try to narrow down their solution. This could also be used for trauma patients – players see a list of symptoms and must take immediate action. quickly gather evidence to make the right call.