Collide: The Board Game
Individual Project
2024
My game, Collide, is a board game that utilises storytelling to immerse the players into a world where communication is key, especially when the player’s vision provides different results. My game utilises coloured goggles to present different information to each player. The goggle colours, Red and Blue, are linked to the creatures I created, Rad and Blu (respectively). The theme I incorporated was space exploration oriented, as my target demographic is becoming increasingly aware of space through society, culture and media presented to them inside and outside of school. I created this communication game to bring awareness to how people preserve the world differently and help in the development of social cognition within children aged 7 and up. The game creates a space for children to ‘step into another’s shoes’ metaphorically and visually providing a place for discussion and community building.
For the full in-depth project process, research and development I have provided the project’s PDF here.
After understanding the basics of the project (Target audience, the deliverables, etc.) it was then onto the design development.
Prior to developing the games mechanics, I needed to ensure that the process I wanted to work with would yield the results I needed. As such I did quite a lot of experiments with differing materials and eye sights to ensure accessibility. This process is documented bellow.
For further detail into the initial tests and research , I have attached the Design Development Slides.
After some initial research I did some experiments to ensure that the red and blue tones would disappear with the corresponding coloured acrylic. I moved forward with the game design and the goggle fabrication.
For further detail into the research into colour, I have attached the Projects Research Document.
Testing Red and Blue tones for disappearance: Original Image
Testing red and blue tones for disappearance: Original image with blue acrylic coving vision
Testing red and blue tones for disappearance: Original image with red acrylic coving vision
The Acrylic Goggles
One of the main aspects of the game is to be able to see what another person sees, as such I created these coloured goggles to aid in this interactive experience. Additionally, due to the demographic (children) I used children sized sunglass frames as the base of the goggles, to ensure they fit the intended user.
Initial game prototype
Initial game prototype using the blue goggles
Initial game prototype using the red goggles
Using the goggles I fabricated to start play testing the actual game mechanics, aided in the experince.
I also did some play testing with my indented audience, children aged 6+. The children I was able to play test with were a boy aged 6 and a girl aged 9. This gave me insight into how they played the game following the simple rules that I told them. Furthermore, it gave insight into thier reading levels, as I had not been that age in a while and forgot that age 6 is when children start to learn how to read.
This gave insightful information into how I could improve the games instructions and also the visuals. Since I now needed to be careful of the type of font and the word choices.
After making these revisions and polishing up the last pieces, I ended up with this final version.
If I were to continue working on this game I would finish the instruction booklet, which was a deliverable that got added on last minute, and a box it can be packed away in. There would be other improvements that could be made to the game such as its current limitation of being only 2 player and it being low complexity; however, besides these improvements the final game turned out well.
Final game play through
Final game assets with goggles
Final game assets with reference cards