Almost Done!

Today, we collaborated on what we already had done and what we still have left to do. The major thing left is the box, and we're not entirely sure how we're going to design it. We do have several images already used in the rules book, cards, and website and so we will probably just incorporate them into the board. I'd like to create a logo, too, but I'll need much more time on photoshop in order to make a decent one. Overall, we're in good shape and after we meet up during the week, The House of Horrors will be a full game! Stay Tuned!

The House Of Horrors

Play Testing

Last week's play testing went really well. The players had a lot of fun with it. Their favorite part, I think, was being able to help each other out and trade cards or deny the other person's help. They thought that there was a good balance of luck and planning and that there are enough twists and turns at the end that you can't be sure who would win. They thought that if you do get killed, you shouldn't get punished too much and they also hoped that we would make it more clear on the board, when you go back to a previous room, which square you're actually supposed to land on. I think the game was overall a success and they commented that they had fun. I have high hopes for the final project!

*note, also put in the rules exactly how to move around the board.

Next week's class

Hey teammates,

I will not be able to make it to the next class (I'm sorry! I have an interview in the city!!) But please post any decisions made as a comment to this post. You'll want to continue to playtest and see if you can find pieces online. Also think if anyone has a board that we can use and get me the measurements of the board so that I can start really working on the board design. Get Chirag up-to-date and you can text me up until 12pm if you'd like my opinion on anything. Please also post what everyone should get done by our next class (someone needs to write up rules, for example) and when (or if) we can meet up before next Monday. I am free Thursday after 4, and Sunday evening.

Thanks guys and sorry again!
-Carin

Day #2

Working on creating a board for our game and finally have the general idea. Players will move by rolling one die. They can move forward or backward (but not both in the same turn, maybe) but once they are out of a room, they cannot turn back, unless directed to by the cards or scared off by a monster. Players will start in the front room and have to go full circle to the end. However, as in the original game, they must hold the key to the exit and they must defeat a final monster at the end. Players can also attack each other if they land on the same space or get special attack cards.
We're still determining how many weapon cards a person can hold at once. We're thinking 3-4, and we're currently still coming up with the cards. By next class, I want to have preliminary cards and a preliminary board so that we can start playing and see if this game will really work and be enjoyable.

We also need to think about pieces. Will look into that soon.

Also thinking about an exchanging element to the game to see if people can interact better. trying to keep players engaged though the whole game and keep them from getting frustrated.

November 3, 2010

We had a productive day today. We changed the concept a bit to allow for multiple doors with multiple keys. Players can only advance if a player unlocks the door to the next room. Whoever finds the key first has the advantage as they can be the first to spin the wheel to be the first ones to the next room. The goal of the game is to escape the house alive. If you encounter a monster that you cannot kill, you are injured/scared and have to run away to a previous room. During game play, you can go either forward or backward to gain weapons, but you want to move forward as much as possible so that you can escape.

We are starting in the farthest room from the entrance... the attic, perhaps. Our story will account for the kids being spooked by doors closing behind them and running and running through the house until they could not run any more. Now they need to find a way to escape.

We came up with the monsters we want to incorporate: vampires, ghosts, demons, witches, warewolves, zombies, and a killer spider... we will look into a few more and make sure the weapons we have are appropriate. We are still trying to figure out exactly how we should design the board. Considering having paths to the room and using a spinner labeled "walk, crawl, run" to determine how many spaces one can move.

Other things to keep in mind:
1) if we are using a path, I would want the path steps to look like bloody footprints. The best way to do this is to get an image offline with a white background, but I will try to make something with more aesthetic appeal.
2) should we have a killer card?
3) what about other "action" cards like moving back or forward spaces or killing off a fellow member.

For next class, we need to solidify our concepts and come up with a board design. I will look into how to make these cards and what the cards should include.

Until then,
Carin