Tag: Play test notes

Catan is a board game in which players build roads, settlements, and cities to help reach 10 victory points by using dice rolls, currency gained by owning settlements and cities, and using development cards to one’s advantage.

1. Was it fun?

Catan was very fun. I was honed in on expanding my settlement and gathering resources.

2. What were the player interactions?

Player interactions included collecting resources according to the number rolled, buying buildings or development cards, trading with other players, robbing other players, and getting robbed by other players.

3. How long did it take to learn?

It surprisingly only took about 10-15 minutes to learn. It seemed like a lot at first since the setup took a good bit of time.

4. What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played?

The most frustrating aspect was when multiple dice rolls in a row granted me nothing in resources.

5. What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played?

My favorite aspect was being able to rob other players and hinder how many resources they would get in future turns.

6. Was there anything you wanted to do that you couldn’t?

I wanted to play my development cards in the same turn I bought them in.

7. If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything from the experience, what would it be?

I would add the ability to play your development cards in the same turn you bought them in.

8. Is this a game you would play again?

I would 100% play Catan again. The game feels like it can have thousands of outcomes, which means every game will be unique. Each game would also be unique since the numbers that are placed on the board are random, so your strategy from one game could be wildly different than the next. I got really into building my settlement to be the strongest it could be.

Dominion is a card game in which the players compete to have the most land owned by using money to buy action cards to use during their turn and property to keep in their deck.

1. Was it fun?

Dominion was sort of fun. The game felt pretty slow and tedious.

2. What were the player interactions?

The player interactions included buying Victory and Action cards, playing Action cards that affect other players, and putting curses on other players.

3. How long did it take to learn?

The game took about 30-40 minutes to learn. I was confused about when to shuffle my deck and how some action cards work.

4. What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played?

The most frustrating aspect of the game was not having enough money in my current hand to buy gold.

5. What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played?

My favorite aspect of the game was the Smithy Action card.

6. Was there anything you wanted to do that you couldn’t?

I wanted to play more cards during my turn.

7. If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything from the experience, what would it be?

I would add a currency above gold (emerald or diamond).

8. Is this a game you would play again?

I would probably play Dominion again because I didn’t understand it too well the first time I played it. I think it would be more fun with more knowledge and with an established strategy. 

Splendor is a card game in which the players compete to be the first to obtain 15 prestige points by tokens to buy cards that either help them get more prestige points or cards that directly translate to prestige points.

1. Was it fun?

Splendor was a very fun game.

2. What were the player interactions?

The player interactions included collecting gems and buying cards.

3. How long did it take to learn?

It took about 10-15 minutes to learn how to play Splendor. The concept of the bought cards having benefits took me the longest to adapt to.

4. What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played?

The most frustrating aspect was somebody buying a card that I wanted to buy during my next turn.

5. What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played?

My favorite aspect of Splendor was the gem borrowing system. I understood it well.

6. Was there anything you wanted to do that you couldn’t?

I wanted to take more gems or take gems and buy a card in the same turn.

7. If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything from the experience, what would it be?

I would add the ability to buy cards and take gems in the same turn.

8. Is this a game you would play again?

I would definitely play Splendor again. The game was really fun, and I really enjoyed the competitive nature of it.

Hanabi is a card game in which the players collaborate to complete as many fireworks as possible by using the numbered and colored cards and information given by other players.

1. Was it fun?

Hanabi was a fun and collaborative game.

2. What were the player interactions?

Interactions included determining what would be the best information about another player’s deck to know, determining what cards to play, sorting cards, and attempting to complete fireworks.

3. How long did it take to learn?

The game took about 10-15 minutes to learn. It took a bit to get used to not seeing my own hand, but I got used to it. 

4. What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played?

The most frustrating aspect was when I would think another player knew what card I was trying to get them to place, but then they placed the wrong one.

5. What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played?

My favorite aspect of Hanabi was the information system and being able to get clocks back by discarding a card that you may not know the color or number of.

6. Was there anything you wanted to do that you couldn’t?

There was nothing I wanted to do that I couldn’t.

7. If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything from the experience, what would it be?

I would add the option of including the number 6 for each color in the deck, like how you can add in the wild cards.

8. Is this a game you would play again?

I would definitely play Hanabi again because I thought the concept was unique, while including known elements of already existing games. I was very determined to get as many points as possible, and it was exciting.

Argument is a tabletop board game in which the players stack their pieces in stacks of three by utilizing the specific types of movements and color matching.

1. Was it fun?

I thought the concept of combining well-known rules of well-known games was very fun. Lacking the knowledge of chess and Argument in general hindered the experience.

2. What were the player interactions?

The player interactions included making moves to place a piece at a different point on the board and jumping other players’ pieces to start/complete a stack.       

3. How long did it take to learn?

It took almost the whole time playing the game (about 45 minutes) to learn how it worked. I had trouble understanding some rules, and overall, the game took longer to learn compared to the other games I’ve played in class thus far.

4. What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played?

The most frustrating aspect was forgetting what colors went with which pieces to jump them.

5. What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played?

My favorite aspect was using the board. I really like the design and color of it.

6. Was there anything you wanted to do that you couldn’t?

I wanted to stack the pieces in an order that was forbidden by the rules.

7. If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything from the experience, what would it be?

I would maybe have fewer of the three different pieces and add a fourth piece that would have its own movement rules.

8. Is this a game you would play again?

I would play Argument again because I think giving it another shot will help me understand the game more. I would also like to try the competitive gamemode because when reading the instructions, it seemed like the more fun way to play, in my opinion.

Munchkin Gloom

1. Was it fun?

Overall, Munchkin Gloom was a fun game to play.

2. What were the player interactions?

The player interactions included applying positive self-worth to other players’ cards, getting positive self-worth from other players, and interacting with event cards.

3. How long did it take to learn?

Munchkin Gloom took about half an hour to learn. The game was really confusing at first.

4. What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played?

The most frustrating moment of the game was when my characters would get killed with a self-worth score of zero.

5. What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played?

I really enjoyed the event card where I could take one card off of one character that belonged to each player.

6. Was there anything you wanted to do that you couldn’t?

I wanted to revive my dead characters.

7. If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything from the experience, what would it be?

I would add a rare card that allows players to revive dead characters to try and get a lower self-worth score on them.

8. Is this a game you would play again?

Knowing what I know now, I would play the game again. My greater knowledge will make the game more fun and interesting since I know how the self-worth system works.

Sushi Go!

1. Was it fun?

Overall, I had a lot of fun playing Sushi Go!

2. What were the player interactions?

The player interactions included passing the cards around until nobody had any cards left.

3. How long did it take to learn?

The game took about 5-10 minutes to learn. However, the chopsticks card was confusing to me and didn’t make sense for a good bit.

4. What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played?

The most frustrating moments were when I didn’t get a card that complemented another.

5. What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played?

My favorite moments were when I was able to stack as many cards as possible to earn the most points.

6. Was there anything you wanted to do that you couldn’t?

There was nothing I wanted to do that I couldn’t.

7. If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything from the experience, what would it be?

I wish there were some sort of trading system in the game.

8. Is this a game you would play again?

I would play Sushi Go! again. I have a much better understanding of the flow and how certain cards work. I think it would be even more fun than the first time playing.

1. Was it fun?
   • I didn’t really enjoy the game, it was a weird premise and the game itself was difficult to understand. We had to watch a video to understand it (I still did not understand it) instead of reading the rules, and overall I did not enjoy the game. It didn’t really have a major goal other than collecting coins, which was a very passive goal, and that was it.
2. What were the player interactions?
   • There was, so in the game you either have to trade or donate cards if you don’t want them. This caused a lot of arguing and negation to be made in order to get the cards we wanted, but also to give away cards so we don’t have to deal with them.
3. How long did it take to learn?
   • 1hr+, at least for me. I was still trying to understand and learn the game for the entire time, in comparison my peers understood it quicker, but it would have been closer to 20-30 minutes for them.
4. What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played?
   • Just trying to understand what a “turn” is within the game and how to properly play. It changed how many things could be planted and played depending on trades, and overall I could never tell if I accidentally played too much, or I was essentially skipping my turn.
5. What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played?
   • The premise and conceptual idea of the game was cool, but I just didn’t like any of it. The playstyle, the rules, and even the look of the cards weren’t for me, but I can understand how this game would be desirable for others.
6. Was there anything you wanted to do that you couldn’t?
   • Buy more plots of land, you were only allowed to have 3 plots, I wish you could have 4 or even 5 instead. However I understand why players are not allowed to do this, as it would take away from the sacrifice that can be made based on trades.
7. If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything from the experience, what would it be?
   • The artwork was not for me, and in general I would change the whole game so it isn’t Bohnanza. The game just isn’t for me like I have stated, so I would change the whole aspect of the game.
8. Is this a game you would play again? Yes _____ No ______ Why
   • Nope, I didn’t enjoy the game or the concept of the game, so I would not go out of my way to play it.
9. Analyze the game using the 3 act structure.
   • (Act 1: Start) The start was setting up plots, learning the rules and getting your starting hands. This section was the quickest since it was just distribution of cards and taking things out of the box. (Act 2: Middle) This was the longest section, lasting over an hour, and would have been longer if we would have followed the rules and went through the deck 3 times. This section, due to the nature of the game, was designed to be the longest. (Act 3: End) Although this section would have been longer if we played longer, it only took a few minutes since the only point system is whoever has the most coins in the end.

1. Was it fun?
   • Pretty enjoyable, it was simple and easy to understand, plus it was more of a luck based game rather than 100% skill, so the randomness made it fun.
2. What were the player interactions?
   • Yep, it was at 1st confusion but it was more or less just the counting of cards, since the game is so luck based.
3. How long did it take to learn?
   • About 5ish minutes, it was quicker than expected. The hardest part to learn was that stacking and point mechanic, but the cards showed you what to do so it worked out.
4. What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played?
   • Nothing was honestly frosting, except for the chopsticks card, cause if you have one left it’s worth nothing, so on the last hand there is a chance you don’t get any extra points.
5. What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played?
   • It was very cute, the premise was simple to follow and the artwork was very cute, which made it aesthetically pleasing to play.
6. Was there anything you wanted to do that you couldn’t?
   • Not really, except I wanted the wasabi card to be worth more then x3 or nothing.
7. If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything from the experience, what would it be?
   • Add a point value towards the chopstick and wasabi cards, just so they don’t become useless cards.
8. Is this a game you would play again? Yes _____ No ______ Why
   • I would, it is a very easy game to pick up and play for a little, without dedicating hours towards learning a game. Almost anyone (except for kids under 5) can play and enjoy the game, so it makes Sushi Go! A very family friendly game, hence allowing it to be brought to more events and shared, which makes me more likely to play it.
9. Analyze the game using the 3 act structure.
   • (Act 1: Start) This section was learning the rules/ point scoring for the game. It took maybe 5 minutes to learn the premise of the game, however we kept referencing the rules for the 1st few rounds until we 100% understood the rules. This section also included dealing the cards, so overall the start was the shortest section, maybe 30 seconds of play) (Act 2: Middle) Main part of the game, this is where we would actually play the game. This part was fun since it was the actual game where we were passing around cards and playing. (Act 3: Ending) This is where we would count points and totals. It went fairly smoothly as the point system was easy to understand, plus the cards had the values written on them. The longest part of this section was tallying up final points and comparing/adding them to previous rounds to determine a winner.