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The Number One Educational Resource for the Game Industry

Session Name: A Study in Transparency: How Board Games Matter
Speaker(s): Soren Johnson
Company Name(s): Mohawk Games
Track / Format: Design

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Overview: What defines a board game? If a video game is described as being "like a board game," what does that mean exactly? Judging by the recent success of video games inspired by mobile ports of tabletop games, the defining trait of board games is not, in fact, their actual physical components. Instead, the key factor is the transparency necessitated by the physical design. This transparency fosters many positive traits, including deep engagement, player comfort and meaningful choice. This talk will go into extensive detail on how transparency works for successful tabletop games and what lessons apply to the design of digital games.

GDC 2014

Soren Johnson

Mohawk Games

free content

Design

Design