{"id":17142,"date":"2026-05-08T15:13:46","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T19:13:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rmu.andrewyames.com\/?p=17142"},"modified":"2026-05-08T18:00:46","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T22:00:46","slug":"limitation-case-study-refined-game-documentation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rmu.andrewyames.com\/?p=17142","title":{"rendered":"“Limitation” Case Study – Refined Game Documentation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Short Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Limitation<\/em> is a game that requires the players to use themselves as the game pieces and work together to help those players with weaker abilities to get across the finish line at the same time as everyone else. Each player is assigned an age category which has certain movement abilities that can be shared with certain other ages.  It is a game that plays with the ideas of sacrifice and giving of yourself for \u201cweaker\u201d\/slower people. It is for all ages and types of people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Design Process & Thought Process:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Game Design Document (GDD):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Limitation is a physical game where players move through a race to cooperatively get to the end together. It focuses on specific \u201cage restrictions\u201d that each player assumes which limits their actions throughout the game. It focuses on sacrifice for others and team play. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rules and mechanics are very simple. They consist of each player rolling a dice for how many steps they can take, while also relying on their age card to tell them if there are any restrictions to their movements.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example: If someone is “The Baby” they cannot move on their own. Only The Teenager or The Boomer can help them move by giving up one of their moves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iterative Design:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since this game is dependent on the players as the game pieces and your environment as the \u201cgameboard\u201d, I chose to focus on iterating the game rules and mechanics, seeing how tweaking certain mechanics would impact player dynamics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Changes in the Rules:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rulebook Version 1 <\/em>
<\/em>\u201c Objective:
To complete a \u201crelay race\u201d and make it back across the starting line together<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Materials:
4-6 players
6 age cards (with rules for movement and limitations)
6 dice of different
Your body, mind, and creativity<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Setup:
Each player randomly chooses an age card and a dice
Players choose a space to line up (like at a race starting line)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gameplay:
Each movement is determined by individual dice rolls (in front of each person on the floor or any flat space near you)
Follow the instructions on your age card to see how many steps you can take. Players all roll dice at the same time but don’t roll again until everyone has moved at least one movement<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue rolling dice and making movements until you have made it to a determined end point and then turn around and make it back to your starting position. The starting position becomes the finish line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is essentially a relay race but with limitations<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The catch is you must all cross the finish line together to win<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work together to help slower players and give up your movements so you can all successfully make it across the finishing line<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winning\/Losing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When all the players complete the “relay” together they win<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If more than one player crosses the finish line before the others, you all lose and the player who went alone can be shamed and booed for leaving their fellows behind<\/p>\n\n\n\n