The Art of designing boardgames
As with any other art, whether it be painting, sculpting, writing or composing, board game authorship is an art because it retains those same illusive qualities, which make it “good” or even “great”. A good game contains something immeasurable that is apparent when experienced, but never fully explainable. It fits the phrase typically applied to art “I know what I like when I see it”.
If a game could be derived from some sort of mathematical formula or manual, where we could plug in our ideas and create a game, we would be disappointed at the results; as those who find themselves coloring by numbers from an art book, we would find our wonderful idea would be a mere mockery of what we hoped to accomplish.
A board game is also so much a matter of taste. It is readily apparent when bad science or mathematics fails to accomplish it’s goals, but again something intangible draws us to some games over others, that pull their own audience.
This is how I speak in terms of designing or creating. I only speak something that is pefered to the subject at hand, depending if I know the subject at hand. But when I design or go into the world of illusion or reality to show others how they to can open up their minds eye and visit the world I have created I want that person to feel excited, Depressed, Anger, Love, Rage, Thinking on his or her feet, Disgusted, worried, amazed, Inspired.
Alot of emotions go toward the games we design and yet when we speak or do an action out side of that world we forget that we are still human and we still love or hurt people in a way that makes us think more of our conscienceness.
When I speak about this subject to others its hard for them to keep the subject going. They would tell you no it needs to be this way or they would say this is how I would do it or the person would say if I had created a game it needs to be in a situation that makes sense to them or some one they know. It all depends on the person which makes it a unique topic about how each person has his or her own idea about life or the life they would like others to take venture into either it be a trading card game, board game, trivia game, puzzle game, adventure, mystery, thriller, fantasy, or horror.
I enjoy designing and creating. Its an awesome feeling to experience something you havent been able to conjure up while doing something else at the same time. I have an extreme wild imagination that can feel and taste the other world by doing something else or not doing anything at all.
BullDog