The Making of Powder Keg!

A Revolutionary War Card Game

Game Play Development

Photo of Daniel Miller and students testing the powder keg game.

Game play testing with Historical Expert Daniel Miller and students from KCAD and the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

Man next to chalk board, and rest of students, daniel miller and Kcad students figuring out scoring for the game.

We were figuring out the scoring method with students and experts.

Students looking through cards with all of the cards spread out across table in classroom environment.

Alexis Kole working with a Museum School student on the game and Nathan Loding from OST in the back observing game play.

Collaborations with Museum School Students who wrote the history content for their courses in Middle School

Photo of students pointing at card process printed out and on the wall.

KCAD students went to the Public Museum School to show the art in progress were inspired by feedback by students who wrote the history content.

Susan Bonner and Museum student play testing the game, both are watching each-other's expressions holding cards in their hands.

Susan Bonner play testing with the Museum School students.

Student holding up a Tory card from he game and smiling.

Declaring to be a Whig!

Here you can see all of the written research the 8th graders did that was placed into the game. They had to find interesting stories for each historical character.

Picture of students watching Powder Keg Animation in classroom.

When we were ready to Play Test the game with the Museum School they were able to watch the animation before starting to peek their interest and provide context to the revolution.

Game Play Testing at the Meaningful Play Conference

Picture of Game designers play testing the powder keg game.

At the conference other game designers play tested the game and gave feedback to improve it.

Game expert looking at cards and playing game.

A game expert from Denmark interested in American History plays the game.

Collaborations with KCAD faculty and Students

Students watching the how to play video game, while one student is on his laptop.

Watching the How to play video was fun, other people, like Fabian Fronz with his computer are observing the reactions.

Group of 5 students play testing the game

Play-testing session, Fall 2019

Students play testing game, two students in the back with laptops, working on the game.

Play-testing session, Spring 2020

Photo of two students working on gameplay testing for Powder Keg game.

Collaborating on the game.

Picture of a drawing and biography of Charles Townshend written and drawn by Museum school 8th Grader.

Incorporating the game into curriculum, Susan Bonner worked with a Museum School 8th grader to develop curriculum and prototype that in the 8th grade class.

College students posing with Powder Keg cards on the table. Also, two dolls that resemble Powder Keg figures in the foreground

Play testing with College Students.

Art Process:

photo of sketch from the John Paul Jones card.

Sketches by Joe Mead

photo of alternative John Paul Jones sketch in a different setting.

picture of the final John Paul Jones card

Final Card by Joe Mead

Another sketch, this time with some color and a picture of an older painting of John Paul as reference.