Flip-n-Cross

A strategy board game made by Luis Garcia - Fall 2022

Flip-n-Cross is a puzzle versus 1-on-1 game where each player is trying to cross the board with their character/icon using tiles.

Tiles form a path that a player is able to get on, and best of all, tiles are free-for-all, meaning you can use tiles placed by the opponent. Certain tiles contain abilities to help you cross, along with a big ability in the center that can change the tide of the game.

This game is aimed at simplicity, easy understanding, quick games, and fun mixed with strategy for replayability.

Tiles are able to get attacked, which will allow them to return to the player who placed the tiles. Will you focus on racing ahead or slowing down the opposite player?

How to play:

On the first turn only, pick a place (tile) to start.
Place tile
If there is a tile that has an effect, its effect will take place
If there is an effect caused by the board, it now takes place
Player moves

Rules:

The goal is to get to each player's first row
Each tile placed is free-game for anyone to step on. The outline is only there to simplify the retrieval of each player's tiles
Moves are only perpendicular: Up, Down, Left, Right. No diagonal movement
On the first row, you are able to move the player freely, no need to place down tiles
If a player is in a locked position where they cannot move anywhere else, they must go to the closest tile behind them. This can be a tile a few spots away or even at the beginning row (when you get to select a spot on the first turn)

Regular Tiles

Have no special effect. If they are to be flipped (Ex. X Tile), they return to the original player, marked by the presence of an outline.

X Tiles

When the tile is placed, a player may pick any tile on the board to flip. If a special tile like this or Move is flipped, it will turn into a regular tile when flipped. Otherwise, it becomes a regular tile.

Move Tiles

When the tile is placed, a player can move any tile on the board. If this tile is flipped, it becomes a regular tile. Its effect only takes place once: when placed.

Board Move Tile

This one one of the 2 special tiles on the board. When a tile is placed int his spot, the same effect as a move tile is placed. While it is reusable by taking a tile away and placing it here again, will you really make much progress?

Board Tiles

These are the 4 black highlighted tiles in the middle of the board. The moment 4th tile is placed that completes these 4 spaces, starting with the player that placed that 4th tile, each player select a whole line to flip tiles in. Vertical or Horizontal. Only impacts tiles in that line.

Short Videos

Here are a few short videos explaing a few of the mechanics and specific situations that one may be placed in. These are only a examples of what can happen during an actual game.

I have to comment that I am proud to end up with a final physical product which was laser cut

Board displayed

There is a textured and flat version of the board.

Game Pieces displayed.

First turn and other rules.

X Tile demostration.

How they behave and reflection on rules.

Move Tile demonstration.

How it behaves and reflection on rules

Board Space demonstration.

How it works and how it can flip the game

History: Prototyping

As part of Northeastern University's GAME 3700 - Rapid Idea Prototyping class, it was very exciting developing a physical game and seeing the core of Game Design at work.

Before, I had only developed digital games in Unity 3D and other digital tools. I would have never suspected that I will have developed a Board Game, since I do not typically play those myself, to have one that I not just liked, but others liked too.

When I pitched the idea of having a board game based on strategy but having it be simplistic enough for everyone to understand, my idea did not seem clear and was rather lazy to others. Everyone had very impressive prototypes while mines were just folded pieces of paper with no board defined at all. It looked messy, but also a good insight that this is just how prototyping is.

I wanted to create a game as simple as Uno and Blokus, my inspirations, that is fun, has a level of strategy, and is simple to have and set up.

Early documented entries for the Game Design Document

Luis Garcia Game Design Doc

Post-mortem

Overall, I can say that I am proud of this new experience of developing a board game, how essential game design elements that I once thought only applied to digital games apply here, and getting to have a physical product that I can show to others. It was a struggle to get it started with a unique idea that "has never been" while also having it be one that others feel comfortable approaching. Once centered on the main game idea and basis of rules of how the game plays, it was all about playtesting it frequently with new and returning players, balancing the games, turns, and tiles. It was also a unique experience getting a physical version of this game after having a paper prototype for so long.

I wish I could have improved the game more by setting the rules clearer, as I did on this website representation of the game, as it was almost always unclear what was a legal move or action from time to time. One important thing I wanted more was to have a full documentation of the game, since as the project went on, I started loosing touch with the documentation. I will continue to update it as much as I can to have a complete working version and possibly have the game sheets ready only so that one can easily print them and play the game as it is right now.

Thank you

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