Since playtest 2 showed that the rules work, I needed to update the prototype one more time to make it firm and stable, and test everything as a “final” product. The material must be firm for branches to be stable. Ideally that would be plywood, that won’t let the branches bend and birds to fall from positions. But due to I’m not in London and don’t have access to woodwork and laser cutting facilities, the best option I have is thick cardboard.
To solve the problem of birds falling, I decided to make box-like positions, which worked pretty well.
In 3-4 days the final prototype was ready for playtest
As you can see, the prototype is still not ideal as some of the branches are too heavy not to bend downwards. But it’s the best I have on offer. I could have used an even thicker type of cardboard, but I would be nightmare to cut by hand as I don’t have any other options. So this one will be the final physical prototype that I’ll film for gameplay video later.
In general it turned out a bit unproportional with little space between levels, but it’s still playable and birds don’t fall. Thus, I’ll take that into account when making the mock-up, which will be a 3D model.
I have also updated th app a bit. Added some design and a video tutorial on how to fold the bird.
This is some evidence of the amount of birds made during all three playtests. And I finally solved the question with type of paper. I managed to find a special origami double sided coloured paper that can be bought at any hobby shop. It folds nicely and is not as thick as previous ones. And it will be easy to replace when the original paper stock ends.
Overal, the third playtest went very well with all previous issues resolved. One tiny alteration was made to the role of win position, which should have some bonus for the player. And since the game is about quantity now, player, who takes win position get the right to add finished birds from rejected pile to the total count of their birds. So it doesn’t guarantee victory (depending on what strategy player used during the game), but gives stimuli to get it and increase chances of winning.
Below you can find the finalized rules text:
Birds game
Spring is coming! All nesting places in the neighborhood are taken, only one tree left. Choose one of the flocks and help it claim as many nests as possible before the other one does! A fun speed origami game for the whole family!
Genre: Speed duel game, 3D tabletop game, craft game
For 2 players
Equipment: tree model, origami paper, mobile app
Goal: Claim as many nests as possible
Tree overview: The tree is divided into 4 levels, each of them has 4 branches. Each branch has a number of coloured positions (nests) and a special UP position (except level 4). Level 4 has additional top part, where final stage of the game takes place.
How to claim nests: This is a speed origami folding game. A nest is claimed when player folds and places an origami bird into one of the positions of active colour for the time given. Time and colour are defined by a mobile app (see below).
Mobile app: The app sets active colour and time frame, when it is active. Colours change randomly as well as timer. There are 5 colours and time frame from 30 to 60 seconds. Timer sets the duration of a turn. During this period players act simultaneously and must fold and place a bird to the nest of active colour. Players are free to make and place several birds within the time frame. But a new bird can be made only after previous one has been placed. If player started making a bird, but doesn’t manage to finish it before time runs up, the bird is put in “rejected” pile and doesn’t participate in the game any more.
Skip button is used in 2 situations:
- If all nests of this colour on the level have been claimed
- If the colour is unavailable for one of the players (e.g. if players are on different levels)
THE COLOUR MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR BOTH PLAYERS AT ANY TIME OF THE GAME. Colours can be skipped until the suitable one appears.
Pause timer button: Can be used to pause the game for various reasons
Tutorial button: Contains a tutorial on how to fold the origami bird
How to play:
Players start from level 1. After timer is set off, players make a bird and can place it on any position of active colour. When all positions on one of the branches are claimed, player, who took the last position (no matter who claimed the majority of nests on this branch), is allowed to proceed to UP position. Player can choose whether to use this opportunity to move up to the next level or continue claiming positions on the current level.
UP positions: Up positions work as a sub-level and can be used to get some additional nests. If player decides to proceed, they can’t move back down. Up positions are claimed in the same way as normal ones, but don’t depend on colour. Timer applies for them too though. On Up sublevel player can claim only those positions that belong to them (e.g. if player claimed the last position on a branch, they’re allowed to claim only UP position of that particular branch. If on previous level player finished 2 branches, then 2 corresponding Up positions can be claimed). After an UP position is claimed player can proceed to the next level with the colour active at that moment.
If all nests on a level are claimed, player automatically moves to the next one skipping Up sub-level.
The duel mode: Some of the positions should be claimed in duel mode in case there is only one available position of active colour is available. In that case the player, who makes and places the bird first claims the position. The losing bird goes to rejected pile and next colour timer is set. Same applies to the positions of the final top part of level 4.
Level 4: Level 4 is divided into 2 sections. Lower part goes a normal. In order to proceed to the top part all nests of the lower part must be claimed. Positions of the top part are claimed in duel mode including the final winning one (without color). Player, who claims the winning position stops the game and gets a bonus: all complete birds from their rejected pile are included in the total count.
Results: When the game ends, all birds are counted. Player, who has more birds in total wins the game.
Quick tips:
- 1 turn = 1 timer. Every new turn starts with a new bird. An unfinished or unplaced bird becomes rejected if timer has ended.
- During the turn players act simultaneously.
- Players act according to the scheme: make-place-make-place. It’s forbidden to stack birds first and then place them.
- Colour in the app must be available for both players despite the situation. Use skip button to get to the correct colour.
- It is forbidden to go down. If player claimed Up position, they can either claim more positions on Up sublevel (if allowed) or move to the next level
These have been also tested with people, that never played or even saw the game. And testers said the rules were clear enough even without seeing the game physically.
And finally the video of gameplay process that I made afterwards and that will go to submission