Welcome To Game Design - Introduction to Board Game Design

🎮 **Welcome to Game Design - Introduction to Board Game Design** 🚀 **Course Headline:** Start creating your own Board Games from scratch, using free tools and playtesting with friends! --- **Course Description:** Are you ready to embark on a journey into the exciting world of **Board Game Design?** With "**Welcome To Game Design - Introduction to Board Game Design**," led by experienced instructor John Haste, you'll dive deep into the mechanics and aesthetics that make board games captivating. 🕒 **History of Board Games:** We kick off our adventure by exploring the rich history of board games, tracing their evolution from ancient times to modern-day classics. This foundational knowledge will set the stage for your own game's design. **Game Moments and Components:** Learn about the essential components that come together to create a compelling gaming experience. We'll cover everything from board design to player interaction, ensuring you understand what makes games engaging. **Creating Your Game:** You'll receive a comprehensive **template** to start creating your game from scratch. John will guide you through each step, from concept to completion, and teach you how to publish your creation for the world to enjoy. **Balancing Your Game:** Discover the secrets behind crafting games that are both challenging and fun. You'll learn how to balance your game using mathematical principles to ensure a fair and enjoyable experience for all players. --- **Aspects of Game Design in Tabletop Games:** - 🎨 **Prototyping Without Being an Artist:** Learn how to create prototypes using free tools, no artistic skills required! - 🏰 **History of Tabletop Game Consoles:** Uncover the history and purposes behind tabletop game consoles. - 🤔 **Choosing Components:** Understand how to select the best components for your game, considering both functionality and aesthetic appeal. - 🎓 **Game Feeling:** Explore how different components can impact the feel of your game in various situations. - 🎲 **Game Genres:** Get to know the main genres of tabletop games and how they differ from each other. - 🎨 **Game Aesthetics:** Learn about the influence of aesthetics on gameplay and how it can set your game apart. - 📖 **Rulebook Writing:** Master the art of writing clear, concise, and engaging rulebooks that players will love. - 🎉 **Game Moments:** Identify and utilize key moments in games to create memorable experiences for your players. - 🛍️ **Free Assets:** Find out where to source free assets for your game and how you can use them commercially. - 📊 **Game Balancing with Math:** Learn the math behind game balance and how it ensures a fair challenge in your game. - ✏️ **Expansion Separation:** Discover strategies for differentiating between your base game and potential expansions. - 🌐 **Publishing and Selling Games:** Get insider tips on how to publish, market, and sell your board games effectively. --- **Hands-On Learning:** By the end of some classes, I’ll **challenge** you to engage in exercises that are not just recommended but highly encouraged to fully immerse yourself in the game design process. These activities will solidify your understanding and help you become a more proficient game designer. --- **Enroll Now!** 🎓 Embark on a creative journey with "Welcome To Game Design - Introduction to Board Game Design." This course will transform the way you think about board games, from casual player to savvy designer. With John Haste's expert guidance, you'll create a bionic eye for gaming, seeing the intricate details and opportunities that others might miss. Don't just play the game—design it. **Enroll Now** and join us in this exciting adventure into the world of board games! 🎥🎲 See you in class, future Game Designer! 👩‍🏫🎮

🌟 **Course Review Summary** 🌟 **Overall Rating:** 4.15 ### Pros: - 🎓 **Comprehensive Resources:** The course provides a wealth of resources and materials that are very eye-opening and useful for understanding the intricacies of board game design. - 🧠 **Educational Value:** It offers an interesting overview of the many possibilities within the field, including insights into the history of games which some found enlightening and engaging. - 🛠️ **Practical Guidance:** Veteran tips are sprinkled throughout the course, beneficial for beginners and intermediate creators alike. - 🚀 **Inspiring for New Creators:** Many reviewers found the course motivating, offering inspiration to create fun moments with family and friends. - 📝 **Accessible for Non-Native Speakers:** The course flowed nicely and was reported to be understandable for non-English speakers, despite some subtitle issues. - 🧳 **Versatile Audience:** Suitable for tabletop gamers and those new to board game concepts, providing a solid foundation for understanding the basics of creating a game. - 📅 **Time Efficient:** The course is designed in a way that allows completion of lessons within a short time frame, fitting easily into busy schedules. - 🤝 **Community Engagement:** Some found the tips and interactions helpful for engaging with the tabletop gaming community. ### Cons: - ✍️ **Historical Context:** The historical section was good but not comprehensive, lacking depth for those without access to other resources or prior knowledge. - 📄 **Subtitle Issues:** Some reviewers experienced issues with the subtitles, which could be a barrier for non-English speakers or those who prefer written guidance alongside the video content. - 🛠️ **Presentation Style:** The instructor's reading from a PowerPoint was deemed less engaging than a more dynamic presentation style. - 🤔 **Misleading Title:** A few reviewers felt the course title was misleading, as the content covered only the basics and did not delve deeply into advanced topics or unique mechanisms. - 💰 **Marketing within Course:** There were concerns about the instructor's attempt to recruit customers for their own game creating company within the course material. - 🚫 **Lacks Advanced Content:** Some experienced gamers found the course too basic and expected a more in-depth exploration of game design, including advanced mechanics and design principles. - ❌ **Incomplete Information:** The course left out significant topics such as board design, prototyping sources, and what constitutes a 'good' design. - ⚠️ **Language and Content:** There were mentions of cussing which might be off-putting for parents or sensitive viewers, and some content was deemed inappropriate for a family audience. - 🌱 **Limited Historical Scope:** The historical information did not cater to those using MACs or without window access, limiting its utility for a wider audience. ### Course Experience: - 🛠️ **Energy and Flow:** The course was energetic and the flow of content was good, allowing viewers to complete it in one sitting if they chose to. - 📄 **Access Issues:** Some viewers could not access the Google Documents provided, which affected their ability to utilize certain resources. - 🤝 **Community Interaction:** The course encouraged community interaction and sharing of ideas, which some found beneficial for game creation. ### Final Verdict: The course is well-received for beginners and provides a solid foundation in board game design. However, it may not satisfy those with intermediate to advanced knowledge or those looking for a more comprehensive exploration of the topic. The course could improve by addressing the issues mentioned, such as subtitle quality, historical context depth, presentation style, and avoiding any controversial content that might alienate parts of its audience. With these improvements, the course has the potential to be an even more valuable resource for aspiring game designers.