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Optical Illusion Board

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schmanthony
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Joined: 12/18/2008

My game board uses an optical illusion. I've been contemplating how this will affect its playability. Interestingly, it only affects players who are viewing the board sideways.

I'm working on a paragraph to use near the beginning of the rules to explain its effects and how to manage it.

I'd like to know if the paragraph is clear enough and if anyone feels that these unusual qualities of the board would be a deal-breaker for the game. Here is what I have so far:

*IMPORTANT: The design of the game board uses an optical illusion so that when players are seated on opposite ends of the board, it doesn't look upside-down to anyone. However, when players are seated at the sides of the board it can be difficult for some players to see the board properly. If this is an issue, it is recommended that these players switch seating positions with players who do not have this difficulty, or that all players sit at opposite ends of the board.

scifiantihero
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Joined: 07/08/2009
Why . . .

. . . does the board have an optical illusion?

I am both intrigued and confused!

:)

schmanthony
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Joined: 12/18/2008
3D

It's a modular board which, when assembled, produces an isometric 3D playing field which is different every time. It's one of that common class of illusions that "flips" when you look at it upside-down. The more I work on this design the more I think that I may have first created a gimmick that is now looking for a game. And with the poor sideways visibility, it may be too problematic to use in a game at all - unless it's a solitaire game.

sedjtroll
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Joined: 07/21/2008
schmanthony wrote:It's a

schmanthony wrote:
It's a modular board which, when assembled, produces an isometric 3D playing field which is different every time. It's one of that common class of illusions that "flips" when you look at it upside-down. The more I work on this design the more I think that I may have first created a gimmick that is now looking for a game. And with the poor sideways visibility, it may be too problematic to use in a game at all - unless it's a solitaire game.

Maybe the obvious answer is to make it a 2p game...

It might be alright to make a game for 4 players which requires that they only sit at one of 2 sides of the board, but it might be tough for some players to play that way (if they have a square or round table rather than rectangular for example)

schmanthony
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Joined: 12/18/2008
Exactly what I was thinking

Exactly what I was thinking and what I was concerned about. Personally, I'm just not that interested in making games that are strictly 2-player.

FunkyBlue
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Joined: 08/11/2008
Nothing wrong with 2-player

Nothing wrong with 2-player games. The last few games I've bought recently were 2-player only. If the concept is good enough, it may still sell just as well as a game that plays 4.

tyger4
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Joined: 09/13/2009
Lazy Susan?

Have you thought about lazy susan-ing the game board? A lazy susan is rotating tray, usually circular, placed on top of a table to aid in moving food on a large table or counter top. I have a scrabble game that rotates on a cheap plastic lazy susan style and it makes the game more fair and focused for that player's turn.

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