1. Initial Feedback: Whole Class

Games Setup and Rules:

Same as last iteration - see here.

Likes:

• It's fun and appealing!
• Challenge is very realistic
• The narrative elements
• Clear goals and definitive end points
• Usefulness in learning the subway system/ efficient to learn and remember
• Players are able to strategize to which bars they are going to while playing. Picking cards and adapting the strategy
• Good surprise element (chance cards)

Critiques & Design Ideas:

• Would this really transfer the knowledge since the subway map isn't geographically accurate?
• Use of cost/Metro cards? Can be varied by time and value...
• Rules seem a little bit complex/ needs simplification
• Different versions with different themes i.e museums, coffee shops, book stores
  • Expansion packs for other boroughs
• Could this be a digital game? Situating the learning
• Could be hard to manage such a scale of play area. Possibly a team game over single player's game?
• Switch up the start and end points (Not just Central Park)

Possible Considerations:

• Expansion packs for other boroughs and/or themes
• Value system on location/bar cards
• Initial game idea of having "home" spots instead of start and end points at Central Park
• Make this a real-life drinking game and get sponsorship from bars!

2. Prototype Testing: Kai

Game Setup and Rules:

• Same as last iteration except:
  • Stop movement at every express stop and collect a Chance Card.

Questions that came up:

• How do I look at where I need to go without letting other player's know?
• What if you could integrate the chance cards into a roll?
• Should it take a turn for transfer?

Critiques and Design Ideas :

• Grids & Quadrants on the playing board for players to easily find their locations I.E The Penrose Q2 (Indicated on their Location cards)
  • OR write down the neighborhoods in which the locations are part of
• Choose the station you start at before you roll
• Reword some of the chance cards/ they are confusing
• "I don't feel like I'm learning because I'm moving around constantly"
• Pick up a Chance Card wherever you decide but keep moving
• "Common Event Deck"
  • This deck involves cards that could affect all players adding dynamic difficulty
  • I.E "A trains are not running this round"
    • Conveyor belt system

Our Observations:

• Player appeared annoyed to stop at every express stop to pick up a Chance Card
• There were a lot of questions asked, which means our instructions and rules are unclear or complex

Possible Next Steps:

• Considering the critique of Chance Cards and how players should pick up a card while still moving the amount they have rolled.
• Reword some of the Chance Cards to make more clear.
• Don't make game play stop at every express station.

3. Prototype Testing: Florencia, Magdalena, Pablo

Game Setup and Rules:

For every bar you "conquer" you get a beer card.

If you pass one or more express stations as you travel on one turn, draw one Chance Card.

Start with five Location Cards, players can trade up to three of them.

Pick starting station around Central Park before you roll.

Roll to see who starts.

Questions that came up:

• Do I use a roll to change directions?
• If I use a beer, do I have to give up my Bar (Location) Card?
• How do I do half of 11? (when they draw the train delays card)
• When do I use my Chance Card? On my turn? Whenever I want?
• When I use my Chance Card, does it count as my turn? Or can I also roll?
• What happens if I use a beer (to move express) and I have to transfer?
• When I get a Tradesies Card, do I have to use it?
• When I use a Pranks Card, do I also have to go there?
• When I use a Sobered Up Card, do you roll once then play? OR do I roll twice and then move?
• When I use an Express Card, do I have to go express?

Critiques and Design Ideas :

• It's not clear when to take a Chance Card
• To increase motivation and interest on the game, players suggested to add Yelp stars to the Location Cards. The stars of the yelp review could hold value and change the way that players win the game. Instead of playing to each visit 5 bars, now players could race to collect as many stars as possible before returning home.
• The start an finishing point are confusing. Players suggested adding a "home" card as a starting-finishing point. This card should be taken after they decided their location cards.
• The graphic should reinforce the story, thus instead of earning "beer cards" to travel express, players should earn MTA/Metro cards.
• Refine the language
  • Change the Taxi Card to say go to the last station in Manhattan, not just "last station."
  • Change the Drunk Idiot Card to say you must use it right now.
  • Change BFF Bouncer to say you must use it right now.
• Players suggested that you yell the name of the bar when you "conquer it" because they said they didn't know the names or addresses of any of the bars they went to - they only focused/looked at the station and train line.
• Add more chance cards that help players reflect on the Metro map by asking them questions about the metro stations or transfer stations. Eg: Metro Card Trivia! Earn a metro card to travel express in your next game by naming 3 transfer stations on train 1.

Our Observations:

• Total game play time with three players was 50 minutes.
• Should the Taxi Card take you to the end of the line you are currently on?
• One player turned their Location Cards over as they visited them, making it much easier for other players to keep track of their progress.
• Players should move local to get to the nearest express stop before they can go express using any mechanism.
• Players often forgot to collect Chance Cards.
• Some players strategized on when to use the beers to move express or local, while others ignored it.
• "It felt faster than 50 minutes!"
• "I think for us, it's easy to play because we know how the train works" "we have seen the map"
• "for someone new, they won't know what the white circles (express stops) mean"
• "I like that you didn't put anything else on the map." "because it's a real map!"

Possible Next Steps/Takeaways:

• Add game rules to the board so that they don't need to be explained by us, and include the MTA map key so that it is more clear which stations have transfers, and which are local v. express.
• Update the language of the Chance Cards.
• Make two versions to test whether we want to have bar ratings and players can take more than 5 bar cards in one game. (details to be explained in the game description page)
• Don't change the board - keep it the same as what the MTA offers.