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Thinking of making some kind of virtual desk for prototyping and online testing. What do you think of this idea?

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Zeto
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Joined: 03/06/2017
virtual desk idea

Hi! I am thinking of making a virtual desk online for prototyping and online testing. Basically, I am thinking of a virtual 2d space where I can write some stuff down and upload and move some images around to play around with a game idea. Something easy to use to brainstorm and test some ideas by myself.

Then, I had a thought that this space could be shared to somebody else and make it possible to playtest together. It could work like an interactive way to showcase a game idea to a friend!

So I attached an image of how it should look like. There is a virtual desk that is shared by everyone, and everyone can write stuff and move stuff around. Then there is a chat on the side to chat. I can use it alone too. The goal would be to be able to playtest a game of chess on it, then add more features like dices and hidden fields for cards in hands (though I am not sure, I don't want to make it too complex).

What do you think of this idea? Any advice/suggestions will be welcome!

BHFuturist
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I like the idea

I like the idea...

There are a number of collaboration type software packages out there in the world. Some are better than others but none of them do the sorts of things I would want from a true shared brainstorming space.

There are some digital prototyping and play testing software out there and one of them might be a great place for something like this.

Table Top Simulator & Tabletopia are two that anyone can add "add" things to. If you were to make a module for one of them that had a bunch of commonly used game pieces it might work as such a play ground for ideas. (I have thought of doing something like that myself)

Building something from the ground up will give you full control of how things work, but it probably will be a very large project to program/code even if you keep it simple.

I would like to see something like what you are talking about come to life.

@BHFuturist

Zeto
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BHFuturist wrote:Table Top

BHFuturist wrote:
Table Top Simulator & Tabletopia are two that anyone can add "add" things to. If you were to make a module for one of them that had a bunch of commonly used game pieces it might work as such a play ground for ideas. (I have thought of doing something like that myself)

My problem with table top simulator or tabletopia is that they look way too complex for the casual stuff I want to do when I am prototyping. They look amazing (especially tabletopia), except that it is too complicated to setup, especially when I want somebody else to check my idea. I am thinking of building something that works in a browser. Oh, maybe some kind of page that can be shared with a link directly, so that it is simple to use (not necessarily binded to an account, more like gdoc).

BHFuturist wrote:
Building something from the ground up will give you full control of how things work, but it probably will be a very large project to program/code even if you keep it simple.

Ya, I think it will take some time. I started coding little parts here and parts there a while ago. Maybe I will ask some friends for help and hopefully make something out of it.

Hey thanks for the input, Futurist! I will think a little more about this!

ElKobold
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Zeto wrote:I am thinking of

Zeto wrote:
I am thinking of building something that works in a browser.

Tabletopia works in a browser.

And it's much less complex than it looks. PM me if you need help with it.

tikey
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Joined: 03/31/2017
Sounds great. Similar to some

Sounds great. Similar to some of the shared whiteboard applications like padlet.com
I'm no coder but I suspect that things will become a bit more complicated once you get into a few objects properties. I presume objects would have to be able to move, rotate and be flipped.
Tabletopia is great but I can see this working for throwing a quick prototype that can be modified while testing. Tabletopia has a long setup time with you having to create all assets beforehand.

Zeto
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Joined: 03/06/2017
ElKobold wrote:Zeto wrote:I

ElKobold wrote:
Zeto wrote:
I am thinking of building something that works in a browser.

Tabletopia works in a browser.

And it's much less complex than it looks. PM me if you need help with it.

Really? I will try now. I saw it in Steam but didn't want to download it. Thanks for the info!

Tikey wrote:
Sounds great. Similar to some of the shared whiteboard applications like padlet.com
I'm no coder but I suspect that things will become a bit more complicated once you get into a few objects properties. I presume objects would have to be able to move, rotate and be flipped.
Tabletopia is great but I can see this working for throwing a quick prototype that can be modified while testing. Tabletopia has a long setup time with you having to create all assets beforehand.

I haven't heard of padlet. I will try it too.
That is a good idea, an object can be locked, moved or flipped. That would be good enough.
Ya tabletopia is like a full blown board game simulator. I am thinking something simple that helps me organize myself while being able to share it to others if possible.

Thanks guys.

tikey
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Padlet

Keep in mind that padlet serves a different purpose altogether. I was reminded of it because of the same "shared workspace" approach.

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