game design

Designing games is the epitome of backwards planning.  Like any lesson of quality, the learning goal is paramount, and the game design sets the path.

Goal

By the end of game play, what do you want players to know, understand, and/or be able to do?

Action

What actions will your players take to accomplish that goal?  What challenges will they face in doing so?

Materials

What materials will your players use?

Space

How will you set up your game?

Rules

What are the rules of game play?

actions

(game mechanics)

examples:

• judge

• persuade

• bet

• match

• bluff

• block

• blind

• guess

• choose

• switch

• bounce

• collect

• spin

• simulate

• construct

• shed cards

materials

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examples:

• cards

• dice

• bandana

• pawns

• chits

• balls

• paper

• pen

• iPad 

• game board

• money

• spinner

• masks

Templates