New Assignment - 2D sidescroller in Unity

 Today I was briefed on a new assignment. I am to create a 2D sidescroller using Unity.

Firstly, this should stay simple for now. I have 2 months to complete this project, so I do not have the time for fancy effects and mechanics.

For now, I should stick with just a plain and simple platformer in the same vein of Mario games. Moving left to right to get to the end of the level.

I would like to perhaps include pixel art as my main art style, as I frequently attempt pixel art in my spare time as a hobby and could put it to good use if I have time to do so.

 

I have plans for what this could be in the future if I had more time, skill and knowledge. But I shall save that for my reflective statements after this is complete.

Self-Reflection on Board Game Project #2

 Today I'm going to continue looking back at certain elements of my board game project and reflecting on them.

This time around, I'm going to look at my Bonus Cards that I created. These are talked about in previous posts and are shown below.

I am pleased with the layout and most of the design choices I took with these cards. However I feel as if they lack a bit of colour, it's only black and white.

Also, maybe I could have added some more flair to it. As it stands it is just four circles and two lines connecting some of them together. However, I am pleased that the card design is also symmetrical, which adds to the overall theme of "Symmetry".

Self-Reflection on Board Game Project #1

 Now that my Bonus Cards are complete, my board game project as a whole has been completed. Now (I think) would be a good time to look back at some of my work and talk about what I could have done better or differently as well as things I think worked well with my project and the theme provided to me.

First, let's look at my board itself.

Now, personally I do feel like I could have made this board a bit better. For starters, I think it's a bit small and a bit basic. White takes up the majority of the board and there are parts in the center that aren't used for anything and are just empty spaces.

I think some of the spaces are misaligned too? It looks like it, but that might just be me.

I feel as if I could have came up with a more unique design for my board whilst still keeping to the "Symmetry" theme. I don't think this board was the best I could have done for the theme.

Complete list of Bonus Cards

 I have recently finished my whole set of Bonus Cards for use within the game.

There are 20 in total, however a minimum of 4 must be used for each player and it is up to the player if everyone should use 4 or 5 cards in their hand.

Below is the complete list of Bonus Cards and their effects.

(Click on the image for a better view + quality)

As stated before, the effects of the cards will affect every player, as to keep the theme of "Symmetry."

The design of the cards are also symmetrical. As it is to no surprise, this is to stick with the theme.

Bonus Cards

 Bonus Cards in my board game are dealt out, maximum 4 per player, and serve as a means to keep the game interesting each time.

They work by describing a certain action, such as all players adding a 2 onto their next roll. All of these cards will affect every player.

The idea is that players will be careful and strategise where and when to use certain cards in their hand, as to provide assistance in a victory or to the detriment of an opponent..

Why? Well, Symmetry is all about everything being the same, so by having all of the cards affect all of the players in the same way, it could kind of pass as being Symmetrical. 

Below are a few examples of my Bonus Card's effects and a few visual examples of my Bonus Cards. These are one-sided.. These will affect every player.

 

 

Completed rule set

 I have came up with what I believe to be my completed rule set.

It's not too different from the rules I've listed already in my first post, but there are a few changes.

Here are the current rules:

-2-4 players.

-Each player must choose a colour to play as. They may start on any tile within their colour respective zone.

-To win, a player must go around to every other colour zone, you might want to use something to keep track of this. Then they must land on the purple coloured space in the middle.

-Roll a dice to move.

-Use counters for players and something to keep track of how many other colour zones they've been to.

-If you are not using anything to keep track of who has been to what colour zone and they are found to be lying about where they've been, they must completely restart and all dice rolls are halved for the rest of their game.

-If you are using something to keep track of who has been to what colour zone and they are found to be lying about where they've been, they must give up all of their pieces to other players (if the other players do not have those pieces, otherwise simply remove them from the cheating player). They must then restart and all of their dice rolls will be halved for the rest of their game.

-In order to get to the purple spot in the middle, you must roll the exact number needed to land there with no additional moves.

-You may not share the same place with another player. If you cannot get past them, then stay on the space behind them. If you have enough moves to be in front of them, then simply count the occupied space as any other space and continue your move.

-If any Bonus Cards are played during a game, they will affect every player. There are no ways to negate these effects.

-Bonus Cards are required to play, otherwise it's a bit boring.

-Bonus Cards can only be played during your turn, but will affect everybody.

I believe these are my final rules, if anything changes I will update them here.

Board Game Current Progress.

 Recently, I was given an assignment. To create a board game that incorporated the theme of "Symmetry" into it somehow. I apologize, for I have neglected to post anything on this blog so far.

I have came up with what I am currently using as my board layout (below). To me, this looks like a simple enough board design to work with the theme I have been given, so I may end up adopting this as my final design, albeit with a few visual changes.

Currently, the game plays as follows:

-Each player chooses a colour to play as and can start on any spot in their respective colour zone.

-Use any counters for players or to keep track of who has been to what colour zone.

-Roll the dice to move.

-You must go around to every other colour zone and then make it to the middle to win.

-If someone prematurely makes it to the win spot without going around to all other colours first, they must give up all their pieces to other players (if they do not have any of the pieces being given up, otherwise simply take the remaining ones away) and start again from a spot within their colour zone.

-You must get the exact number to land in the win spot.

-You cannot share the same space with another player, but you can pass them if your remaining moves are high enough.

-Any and all cards played in the game will affect everybody.

As of writing this, those are the current rules. 

I mention cards in the rules, these cards are randomly dealt out to players at the beginning of the game, with 4 cards per player. These cards act similarly to cards in other games like Monopoly, where they have certain effects on players. All cards within this game will affect every player.

I have yet to write out these cards. That is next on my to-do list.

That is all of the progress I have made so far.

Introduction to me + Briefing

 Hello, my name is Jon Cooper.

I am a Game Design student, currently studying towards a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree. During my spare time, I like to play games, attempt to create a game in RPGMakerMV (probably will never be finished), listen to music and of course, spend time with my friends and family (when possible).

Being able to have the opportunity to create a game while learning how to do so is incredible, and really exciting! I will do my best to share any updates during any developments within my assignments.

Speaking of which, I was given an assignment recently. My goal is to create a board game with the theme of "Symmetry" by the 20th of November.

I have a few ideas rattling around, Symmetry is all about things being the same, so what about if something that usually only affects one player, would affect all players instead? Maybe something in the same style of the Monopoly cards perhaps...? Of course, I can also just make the board symmetrical, but I at least want to try something interesting and different.