SUBMIT YOUR STORY
story

The Pioneers Program

I am Odin, a game designer from the UK. I was living in Kuala Lumpur when the first ideas for The Pioneers Program were jotted down. The idea was to capture and recreate the struggle of trying to survive and rebuild society after the apocalypse. Fans of the genre and sci-fi books in general will be familiar with towns struggling to scrape an existence in unforgiving lands preyed upon by the various factions that have risen up. I wanted to place players in the role of a town leader where tough decisions have to be made and managing resources is always a consideration.

analog games

So I started by creating a framework for the game, early and very simple prototypes were made (with pen and paper) and together with friends I began to test the game. Constant iterations and improvements are part of the process and this continued nicely until I first encountered the work of a Macedonian artist who draws under the name ‘the Mico’. His artwork for another game blew me away and I knew as soon as I saw his work that he was the artist to bring The Pioneers Program to life.

analog games

We had discussions about the game and the art direction and then he began to work his magic. This is one of the elements I love about creating games; the opportunity to work with talented people who can take your ideas and make them even better. Some game designers prefer to be just that, concentrating on the game and mechanics but I really enjoy the 360 approach creating a game, being involved with every step feels right to me. I am a part of a company called GCT Studios that self publishes games and so this was the reason I was able to take the opportunity to commission an artist and move forward with the game.

analog games

So with the Mico knocking out incredible artwork it became more important to ramp up the play testing. I had returned to London and now had access to a wider player base, blind play testing allowed me to identify holes in the rules and fix them. The game was becoming very fun with increasing balance, games were starting to end with players on a knife edge poised, more than one player a point away from winning. I knew it was working when people discussed what they would like to try next time and how they would win. With this I again worked with a talented graphic designer called Tom Hutchings at Thorn Design, he worked with the art and the game mechanics to get a balance between prettiness and functionality.

analog games

It was time to bring the game to a wider audience and we opened up the game to volunteers who wanted to print and play the game and offer feedback, this went well and players really enjoyed a mechanic involving the choosing of a different survivor from the wastes each turn. These survivors provide asymmetric skills and often more importantly they affect turn order and so players have to manage the skill they need that turn with how quickly they need to achieve their plan. It was great to hear from people that they felt the pressure the game was trying to create and their stories of building a great town or crippling the production of an opponent.

analog games

I took the game to the UK Games Expo and ran demos for the press and public alike. A recurring idea of a fixed turn limit kept popping up and so we added it in, increasing the importance of every decision the players made. A doom clock made the experience even better. Watching people analyse the game, come up with a plan and then in the aftermath decide that they now have a new strategy has persisted and I was happy together with the ideas of all the contributors we had made a great board game.

analog games

It has been a brilliant time making The Pioneers Program and the next step is to take it to Kickstarter to generate the support needed and the funds to begin manufacturing the game. It is a scary step into the unknown when launching a KS but we hope people enjoy the ideas and want to play it as much as I do ☺

analog games




Did you like this story? Please share or comment. Go to this page to submit a story yourself. Subscribe to our online magazine here!

28 responses to “The Pioneers Program

Hithe1957

The Pioneers Program is a group of individuals who are working to help the science and technology develop future generations. Need to check this Rotorua Tree Services and get more steps about tree removing. It is also a way for us to remember those who have passed and serve as an example to others as to how we can better our world through philanthropy and social activism.

Luelf0111

The Pioneers Program is one of my favorite parts about working at this company. It’s our opportunity for all staff to get out into the world, explore, and have fun. I prefer to visit here briansclub and get more new tips for manage their coins.If you’re not familiar with what I’m talking about we like to think of it as a leadership program for employees.

It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d certainly donate to this outstanding blog!
I guess for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
I look forward to new updates and will share this site
with my Facebook group. Chat soon! veoh

“Grazie per le informazioni e continua a scrivere questo tipo di contenuto. Mettiti in contatto con noi”.

Bel post. Stavo controllando costantemente questo blog e sono impressionato! Informazioni estremamente utili, specialmente l’ultima parte a cui tengo molto a tali informazioni. Stavo cercando questa particolare informazione da molto tempo.skillshare

Nice article inspiring thanks.
It is truly a well-researched content and excellent wording. I got so engaged in this material that I couldn’t wait reading. I am impressed with your work and skill. Thanks.
You should continue this, Im sure most people would agree youve got a gift.
Vist my blog : mitmoradabad.edu.in

Good Your work is truly appreciated round the clock and the globe. It is incredibly a comprehensive and helpful blog.

Piece of writing writing is also a fun, if you know afterward you can write if not it is complicated to write.

You are great. plimbi

The Pioneers Program, in collaboration with magicalkits.com, is an innovative initiative that aims to foster creativity and curiosity among young minds. Through this program, aspiring young inventors and explorers are provided with a unique platform to unleash their imaginations and embark on thrilling adventures in various fields, such as science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Magicalkits.com’s extensive range of interactive and educational kits adds a touch of enchantment, enabling participants to delve into hands-on experiences that fuel their passion for discovery and learning. With the Pioneers Program and magicalkits.com working hand in hand, the future generation is set to embrace the wonders of knowledge, and forge ahead as the trailblazers of tomorrow.

wifice692

The Pioneers Program is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at fostering innovation and pushing the boundaries of possibilities in various fields. This forward-looking program provides a platform for visionary thinkers, creators, and trailblazers to collaborate and bring their revolutionary ideas to life. To learn more, visit https://www.ufabetwins.info/ufabetทางเข้า/. By encouraging cross-disciplinary partnerships and providing resources to turn concepts into reality, The Pioneers Program is propelling us towards a future defined by cutting-edge advancements.

Perhaps the most prominent advantage is their convenience. Disposable vape Products bundles come pre-packaged and pre-filled with e-liquid, eliminating the need for any additional accessories Dummy Vapes or maintenance. This convenience makes them ideal for both beginners and experienced vapers who want a hassle-free experience.

La Calculadora de Alicia es una famosa herramienta matemática diseñada para estudiantes, matemáticos, profesionales y amantes de los cálculos que participan diariamente en cálculos. Debido a su interfaz fácil y amigable, es popular entre los amantes de las matemáticas debido a su capacidad para resolver ecuaciones complejas en simples. Esta calculadora puede resolver números de factores, división, multiplicación, adición y resta. Además, puede calcular los números de raíz cuadrados precisos y convertir unidades.

Leave a Reply

About   |   Store   |   Submit


Subscribe

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.