New term and we’re heading for experimental development. This time we have to think of something to experiment with, try new approaches and even new technologies.
To start with I have looked through the brief to define areas, where I can start with. And I found 3 areas:
- Technology, where I have thoughts to experiment with touch-screen. For example, to intergrate app to a board game
- Applying alternative mediums, like craft. Maybe also with applying digital elements
- Custom game components: maybe a game can have a reworked concept of existing game with alternative elements
The main topic of this progect will be HYBRID GAMES. Combining analogue and digital mechanics. Also I defined some key points or goals for the game:
- The game must present one relatively small, but playable experimental feature
- This feature must be functional, but not just for decour
- This time I want to focus development process on mechanics rather then visuals or aesthetics
- Visuals must be stylish, but minimalistic (for time saving reasons)
After some time I decided to focus on 2 possible ways of development: touch-screen + board game or a craft game. And came up with 2 concepts.
Concept 1: craft game (Origami)
This is the mind-map I eventually came up with:
Red lines mark the ideas I particularly liked and can try developing further. They include setting – something related to Asia or Japan (if I opt for origami cranes) to support the play medium thematically, visually and even narratively. Clours could work as a suitable criteria for creating combinations (maybe even something random like Twister). During that process I was serfing through Pinterest to get some inspiration and ideas. And I found this image with cute birds sitting around that influenced further brainstorming:
At some point I event thought about a card narrative game
In general I see that as a nice potential concept, thus for now I’m opting more for a touch screen + board game route, which I’ll try to develop further.