Whether you’re trying to spice up family game night or give your kids a creative outlet, sometimes the perfect game just isn’t available. That’s why many families are now turning to the fun and exciting option of making their own board game. Designing your own game can be educational and tactile. Plus, it encourages team building and creative thinking. In this article, you’ll learn how to make your own board game and the important steps along the way.
1. Introduction to Family Game Creation
Creating a board game for the family can be a great way to spend time together. It provides an opportunity for everyone to take part in the creative process and makes a great family activity. Here are some tips on how you can make your own game.
- Brainstorm: Start by brainstorming ideas for the theme and objectives of your game. This will help set the tone and scope of the game. Make sure all players, regardless of age are involved.
- Gather Supplies: Once your game idea is fleshed out, you will need to gather the supplies needed. Depending on what type of game you create, this could include cardboard, markers and crayons, game pieces, dice, and a game board.
- Decide Rules: Agree on the rules of the game, there may be different levels or options and how players can acquire points or coins.
- Create a Prototype: Once you have all the pieces in place, start creating a prototype of the game. This could include creating a game board, game pieces, writing and drawing materials.
- Testing: Test the game with family members or friends. See how different levels and objectives play out. Make changes as needed.
Creating your own board game is a great way to get the family together and have fun in the process. Get creative and have fun designing your own game!
2. Creative Freedom and Essential Elements of Board Game Design
Designing your own family board game is a great way to embrace creative freedom and exercise essential elements of board game design. Playing a board game you designed can be an especially thrilling experience, making it accessible to everyone: even non-gamers and small children. Here are some points to consider to help you get started:
- Choose a concept: Choose a concept, theme, or narrative to craft your board game around. This could be a great way to get inspired by your favorite activities, place, or characters.
- Set a goal: From Monopoly’s goal of monetary gain, to Candyland’s sweet adventure, choose the goal players must reach at the end of the game. Make sure that the goal is easy to understand and is accessible for all players.
- Playtesting: One of the most essential elements of board game design is playtesting! Take the time to play your game with friends and family. This process allows you to identify strategies and changes to make if players find themselves in a rut.
- Create Challenges: Create fun challenges that the players have to solve in order to progress. Think about the types of decisions and strategies that you want your players to think about in order to reach the goal.
- Details: Design the rules of the game and every other element that is essential in order for your game to be playable and enjoyable. Details, such as game pieces, currency, and weaponry are important to factor in.
Whether you design a serious strategy game or a silly game, it is important to embrace the creative freedom and utilize the essential elements of board game design. Make sure to have fun with the project and keep yourself open to changes along the way!
3. Dos and Don’ts for Developing Your Own Board Game
Dos:
- Research classic board games and look at design elements that make them successful.
- Define the goal of the game and a high level overview of the game.
- Develop rules for the game and create a prototype of your board and pieces.
- Check your game rules for accuracy and ensure the game is well balanced.
- Test your game with friends and family to get feedback and refine the game.
Don’ts:
- Don’t rush the process of creating a game. Take your time and consider all elements before completing the game.
- Don’t ignore game-play testing. It is the only way to know if your game is actually fun to play and if the rules are logical.
- Don’t forget the components. Designing pieces and other components is essential for making a great game.
- Avoid unintentional bias when developing board game rules. Be sure to test with a diverse group of people.
- Do not forget that you can still make money off of your ideas by protecting them through copyrights, trademarks or patents.
4. Practical Tips For Putting Your Board Game Together
Creating a board game with your family can be a fun and rewarding experience. Here are four practical tips for when you’re putting your game together that will help you have a great time and generate the most enjoyable game possible.
- Make it Personal: Encourage everyone to brainstorm ideas for game pieces, rules, and even a style of board game. Incorporate things that each family member can relate to, such as favorite animals, colors, and characters. It’ll make working on the game more enjoyable for everyone.
- Choose the Right Style: Consider what type of game you want to include. There are a lot of options, from classic styles like Monopoly or chess, to more modern games such as Catan and Carcassonne. Once you’ve decided on the style, look into some of the details of the game, create a board, and start brainstorming rules.
- Decide on the Rules: Before you start playing your game, make sure you go through all of the rules. There should be a set of basic rules, as well as some more detailed rules for each type of game. If you plan to have a variety of games, consider creating different sets of rules for each one.
- Test It Out: Before introducing the game to everyone else, make sure to test it with a small group. This will help you make sure that the rules are clear, that all of the pieces are working properly, and that the game is balanced and enjoyable. Getting feedback from the testers is an important part of making sure your game is fun and entertaining.
These are just a few tips to keep in mind when you’re creating a board game with your family. You don’t have to have the perfect game right away; just have fun and be creative. Board games are a great way for your family to spend quality time together.
5. Launching Your Board Game – How to Market and Sell Your Creation
Once you’ve designed, tested and perfected your family game creation, it’s time to get it into the hands of the public! Here is a checklist of essential steps to help launch your board game and start selling:
- Develop a Brand: Depending on your budget, you may want to hire a graphic designer for premium logo design, brochures, advertisements, packaging, and labeling. Consider creating a website, and registering your trademark.
- Set Your Price and Distribution Channels: Keep cost in mind when establishing your price—make it comparable to like products. Consider distributing your board game in local stores, online, and through crowdfunding.
- Start Marketing Your Creation: Get into the creative brainstorm zone and come up with ideas for market campaigns. Consider launching a blog, press releases, social media campaigns, and other creative marketing tactics. For further outreach, consider attending events like conventions, fairs and festivals.
During this launch phase, it’s essential to monitor customer feedback and make any adjustments to your game as necessary. Don’t be afraid to make errors; welcome constructive criticism and learn from mistakes. Relish in the excitement of turning your game creation into a popular pastime!
6. Exploring Popular Board Games for Further Inspiration
Designing your own board game is a great way to get the entire family involved in the creative process. Whether you have been playing them for a while, or you are just getting started, there are lots of ways to design a game that everyone will have fun playing. Here are a few popular board games that can help inspire your own game creation:
- Monopoly: A timeless classic that everyone knows and loves. This game involves trading properties, purchasing them and then collecting rent money from the other players.
- Chess: This game requires strategy and thought to move the chess pieces in order to win. It’s also perfect for teaching kids about strategy.
- Scrabble: Players must make words with letters on to earn points. This game is one of the most popular and is still being enjoyed by people of all ages.
- Risk: Players must engage in battles to gain control of the world. This game requires strategy and an understanding of basic warfare tactics.
- Clue: Players must solve a mystery by finding clues and making deductions. This game is perfect for a family that loves to solve puzzles and mysteries.
These games can be used as a basis to create your own, or to inspire a completely new kind of game. Challenge yourself to get creative and think outside of the box when coming up with your own unique game. Brainstorm together with your family for ideas such as the game’s setting, rules, and objectives. Include everyone’s ideas so that everyone can have a part in the game’s creation! Then you’ll be ready to playtest the game and perfect the rules as you go. Have fun creating and playing your very own family board game!
Creating your own board game is an exciting way to bring your family together for a unique gaming experience. Have fun coming up with creative ideas and spending quality time with your family. The possibilities are endless when it comes to coming up with your own board game. Here’s to the start of many family game nights! Enjoy!