Board Game Mechanics

Easy to Play Hard to Master: Squid Game

Overview

Students will create a video presentation based on one mechanic. This will be a 2-5 minute pitch. Your presentation will be posted on this page and you can find the placeholder associated with your expected date to present.

Submit

Upload your video to Google Drive or to Youtube,
Share with anyone with the link to view.
You do not need to make public.
Once you have completed your game mechanic video, Ping your faculty on Discord and share the link there.
The faculty will post your video on this site.

Stephen Trinh of Gamasutra categorizes the 4 elements of Game Mechanics.

Q + A

Do you want to do a different mechanic than is listed?

You can have one free spin to select another mechanic.

Make the case that your mechanic is not listed and more valuable than one on the list.

Want to trade with a player for a different mechanic?

Activate your charisma, stealth and negotiation mechanics on your own, but make sure the faculty know you have traded.

Want more info?

If you would like to see a humongous list of mechanics go to Board Game Geek. There you can see games associated with each mechanic and the definitions of each.

How should I make my video?

Prep your photos and video sources to add to your presentation.
Make it intersting and have good graphic design.
Record any way you like, with your phone in real life, a screen capture of your slides or a video production tool such as camtasia or after effects.
Recommendation to use the Free Software Camtasia, which has a noise filter if you have background noise.
Export as 1920 x1080
Upload to Google Drive or to Youtube

1. Review the Example Video Presentations

2. Spin the Wheel to Get your Assigned Mechanic

3. Play and Analyze your Game Mechanic

4. Make a Video Presentation

Must See Videos that meet the goals of the project:

Trick Taking

Langston Key

Quests

Jack Rockwood

Simulation

Austin Endres

Race

Kevin Koch

24F Resource to Move

Cole Schmidt

24F Finale Ending

Jae Kittell

24F Worker Placement

Jackson Cartwright

24F Roles with Asymmetric goals

Noah Konarz

2. Spin the Wheel to Get your Assigned Mechanic (In Class)

Then your name will be added to the list with a deadline for your video.

The deadlines will be distributed throughout the semester.

Spin the Wheel of Mechanics to find out which Mechanic to study. Do not remove once you have selected this on your own - this must be done in class.

Mechanic Assignments

Getting Dicey Designs

3. Play and Analyze your Game Mechanic

Play the board game associated with your mechanic for 1 or 2 games.
Actually play the game you will discuss in your video.
1. You can come to board game night at MSU on Wednesday nights
2. Play the games online on Tabeltopia
3. Go to a local store that has check outs.
4. Ask the Discord server to see if someone has the game for you to borrow.

How do you want the players to feel when they win or lose?

4. Make a Video Presentation

Students will create a 2-5 minute video presentation based on one mechanic assigned to them.

Only analyze the mechanic that was assigned to you in your video.

The student listed on the site is the project director

1. - You may recruit others to help play and make your video, they do not need to be in the class.
  - You may team up to make these videos, it will be fun to see your game play, close ups on game pieces, boards, expressions

What to include in your video:

State your name(s)
State the mechanic
Define the mechanic: see The Board Game Geek Definitions
Reveal 1-2 games that use that mechanic
How does it make the player(s) feel?
How much player agency is in the mechanic?
Include pictures/videos of game play
Use voice(s) and allow subtitles (CC)
The gameplay footage must be yours or credited to the creator
Credit everyone who participated, board game creators, players, game play location (especially if it is a store or online play area)

Optional Considerations for your Video

Explain the pros and cons of the mechanic.
If the instruction book shows how to use the mechanic, reveal it.
Is there cultural or social significance to the mechanic?
Reveal some history of the mechanic if appropriate.
What type of personalities do well with this mechanic?
CosPlay, Humor, Horror, Surprise and other emotional strategies for your video are accepted and encouraged but optional.
Is it Easy to Learn Hard to Master?
Is this mechanic a cross over between board games and digital games and live action role playing games? How?