The Board Game Design Document (GDD).
- Game Overview:
Title: The Board! A Game for Life
Genre: Serious Growth Game
Platform: Mobile (with future plans for a social platform)
Target Audience:
- Core Gameplay Mechanics:
Objective: Players challenge themselves or others to a high score.
Main Gameplay Loop: Players score points by completing real-life activities designed to promote well-being and facilitate deep and meaningful connections.
Unique Selling Points: The Board uniquely integrates audiovisual and social technologies with educational elements on biological circuits. This combination inspires players and holds them accountable through real-time notifications when others in their game complete activities.
The game includes a customizable avatar system, where players can unlock new accessories and outfits by completing challenges and tasks, enhancing the player’s personal connection to the game.
- Story and Setting/World Design:
Story:
The Board exists within the vast, unknown reaches of outer space—a backdrop that represents the infinite potential within each of us. As players embark on their wellness journey, they are subtly guided by an ever-present question: What are we really?
The game unfolds as a gradual discovery. Players engage in daily activities that not only enhance their well-being but also unlock fragments of a deeper mystery. With each action—whether it’s breathing deeply in the fresh air or soaking in the sun’s rays—players earn insights into the biological circuits that govern their bodies. These circuits are hinted at being more than just human biology; they are part of a grand, ancient technology that has been dormant within us for millennia.
As the player progresses, the mystery deepens. Are we simply human, or are we the carriers of an advanced, alien technology designed to unlock our full potential? Each category on The Board—from Sun to Unity—brings the player closer to understanding this hidden truth, while subtly guiding them toward a journey of self-discovery.
The answers remain elusive, teasing the player as they dive deeper into wellness practices that transform both body and mind. What lies at the end of The Board? Perhaps, as players balance their lives and unlock their biological circuits, they will come to realize that the real mystery is not out there in space but within themselves.
Setting/World Design:
Art and Visual Style
The visual style of The Board focuses on simplicity, elegance, and a sense of connection to both nature and the cosmos. The goal is to create an inviting, peaceful atmosphere that encourages personal growth and reflection while remaining visually engaging. The design highlights the following elements:
- Primary Visual Theme
The game’s setting and artwork will revolve around outer space and nature. These two realms represent the player’s exploration of both the external world and their inner self, reinforcing the game’s themes of self-discovery and growth. The backgrounds and visuals are minimalistic yet vibrant, balancing clean lines with bursts of color where necessary.
- Category Visuals
Each of the nine categories on The Board has its own distinct visual representation:
Sun: An image of the sun rising above the clouds, with vibrant reds and yellows to symbolize daylight.
Water: A small waterfall situated in a secluded, natural environment, representing the purity and flow of water.
Air: A large tree, symbolizing the freshness and importance of clean air.
Tranquility: A figurine of a person meditating, surrounded by candles, reflecting peace and calm.
Unity: A scene of people dancing together at a party, showcasing connection and shared joy.
Zeal: A heart shape created by the light of a sparkler, symbolizing energy and passion.
Movement: A dynamic figure in motion, possibly breakdancing, representing physical activity.
Nutrition: A cornucopia filled with various foods, emphasizing nourishment and abundance.
Rest: A serene night sky with mountains in the background, representing restful sleep.
Each category is bordered with a metallic gold frame, reinforcing the idea of importance and value across the game. The color gold is a key design element, used throughout The Board to tie all visual aspects together.
- Color Palette
The primary color for The Board is metallic gold, symbolizing achievement, growth, and personal value. Gold is used in the borders and as an accent to highlight key elements such as the scoring tokens and player avatars.
The background and visual elements for each category are colorful yet soothing. Each color palette within the categories is carefully chosen to evoke feelings related to its respective theme, such as the bright, energizing colors of the Sun category or the cool, calming tones in Water and Rest.
- Avatars and Tokens
Players will have customizable avatars that they can personalize as they complete challenges. Avatars are stylized and simple, designed to reflect individuality while maintaining cohesion with the game’s overall aesthetic.
Tokens that represent the player’s score in each category will be color-coded based on the player and will sit on the category section of The Board until the player finalizes their score for the day. The cumulative score is displayed near the player’s avatar, either in gold or a color of their choice.
- Animations and Effects
The game will feature subtle, non-intrusive animations that bring the experience to life:
When finalizing a score, tokens will smoothly disappear from The Board, and the player’s cumulative score will increase in a visually engaging animation, such as gold numbers appearing above their avatar.
Sound effects will be tied to these animations for additional feedback, such as the sound of wind blowing in the Air section or flowing water in the Water section.
Special effects such as light sparkles or glowing borders will highlight moments of achievement, like reaching milestones or completing significant challenges.
- User Interface Design
The UI is clean and minimalistic to avoid clutter, with a focus on simplicity and ease of navigation. All important game elements, such as categories and the player’s score, are readily accessible without overwhelming the player. Menus are tucked into a corner button that expands when needed, preserving the elegance of The Board as the central focus.
Characters and Roles:
The Player: Each player is the main character in their own journey. Their role is to complete real-life activities across different categories, striving for personal growth, well-being, and meaningful connections. The player could be seen as a Seeker or Explorer, on a quest to achieve balance and harmony in life.
Guides: There will be digital guides throughout the game to offer encouragement, tips, and explain the benefits of certain activities. These guides will help the player stay motivated and informed. Additionally, the player can unlock special personalized messages from the game creators, offering extra encouragement or insights as they progress through their journey.
Collaborators: Players can invite friends or family members to join their board. In this case, everyone shares the same role but acts as motivators and accountability partners for one another. This cooperative role enhances the social aspect of the game, fostering connection and shared experiences.
- User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX):
The UI/UX of The Board is designed to be simple, intuitive, and highly engaging. The main focus will be on an uncluttered, seamless experience, with easy navigation that keeps players focused on progressing in the game. The clean layout will emphasize the core categories and allow players to access other features through a single menu button.
Main Playing Area (The Board)
The primary interface will be The Board itself, with the nine categories visually represented. The categories are interactive and designed to encourage immediate engagement with real-life activities.
The Categories: Each of the nine categories (Sun, Water, Air, Tranquility, Unity, Zeal, Movement, Nutrition, and Rest) is represented by vibrant imagery. These categories are the central focus of the main playing area. Each player has a uniquely colored token that displays their current score for the day within each category. The tokens and scores are updated in real-time as players complete activities.
Simple Layout: The Board’s main area will remain uncluttered, providing players with a straightforward interface where they can easily track their progress and interact with the game.
Scoring System: Players will record their points directly on The Board by tapping the corresponding category as they complete each activity.
Menu Button for Additional Features:
To maintain a clean and simple layout, all other game functions (including avatar customization, notifications, settings, etc.) will be accessed through a single Menu Button located in one corner of the screen. This button will expand into a dropdown or side panel when selected, giving players access to the following features:
Avatar Customization: Players can open the avatar section from the menu to customize their appearance as they unlock new items through gameplay.
Group Chat: Players in the same game shall have access to a Group Chat feature which allows for real-time communication between players, creating opportunities for encouragement, sharing experiences, or coordinating group activities.
Notifications: Players can see updates when their friends’ complete activities or receive other relevant game notifications.
Challenges: The daily challenges and special achievements can be viewed from this menu.
Settings and Guides: This section will contain settings for adjusting game preferences and access to the digital guides for assistance.
The Board
The Board itself remains the focal point of the gameplay experience:
Interactive Categories: Each category will remain interactive and will be paired with sound effects and animations (e.g., wind blowing when the Air category is opened). These add immersion without detracting from the simplicity.
Minimal Distractions: By keeping the main playing area focused solely on the categories and scoring, players can engage with the game quickly and without unnecessary distractions.
Guides and Assistance
When needed, players can access digital guides through the menu. The guides will provide help and encouragement as well as personalized messages from the creator (you), ensuring support is always available without interfering with gameplay.
- Rewards and Progression:
Rewards and Progression
The rewards and progression system in The Board is designed to motivate players to engage consistently with wellness activities while fostering personal growth, meaningful connections, and friendly competition. Players earn rewards through completing daily activities, meeting personal goals, and interacting with others in their game. Progression is reflected in both tangible rewards (such as avatar customization) and intangible achievements (like personal growth and increased wellness).
Scoring and Periods
Every player starts at zero points at the beginning of each scoring period, and the goal is to accumulate as many points as possible before the period ends.
The scoring period aligns with the lunar cycle, specifically resetting at each new moon. There will be a small icon on The Board showing the current moon phase, keeping players connected to the real-world timing.
Players earn 1, 2, or 3 points in each of the nine wellness categories (Sun, Air, Water, Tranquility, Unity, Zeal, Movement, Nutrition, and Rest) by completing real-life activities each day. These points are visually represented as tokens in each category.
Daily Scoring Process
Players’ daily progress is displayed on The Board as tokens in each category, showing their completed activities for the day. A finalize score button will be available for players to lock in their progress for the day.
Once the finalize button is pressed, a visually engaging animation will play as the tokens are removed from the board, and the points are added to the player’s cumulative score for that lunar cycle.
The cumulative score for the current scoring period is displayed in gold next to the player’s avatar, giving a clear and motivating visual of their overall progress.
Progression Tiers
As players accumulate points within a lunar cycle, they progress through tiers. Each tier brings rewards such as new avatar customization options or special challenges to complete.
Milestone achievements are unlocked for reaching certain cumulative scores, which can result in exclusive rewards like special avatar items, badges, or personalized messages from the game’s creators.
Avatar and Token Customization
As players accumulate points and complete challenges, they unlock avatar and token customization options. These options allow players to visually represent their progress with clothing, accessories, and other visual elements.
Certain customizations are exclusive to those who reach higher cumulative scores, creating a prestigious reward system tied to wellness and engagement.
Badges and Achievements
Players can earn badges for achieving certain goals, such as completing all activities in a single category for a week or reaching specific cumulative score thresholds.
Badges are displayed alongside the player’s avatar and are visible to others in the game, fostering friendly competition and pride in personal achievements.
Special Rewards and Personalized Messages
Special challenges and events will give players opportunities to earn unique rewards, including exclusive customizations for badges, avatars and tokens.
Players who reach significant milestones or complete specific challenges will receive personalized video messages or content from the game’s creators, serving as an added layer of encouragement.
Social Progression and Interaction
In games with multiple players, each player’s tokens will be displayed on the main board in the corresponding categories, allowing for real-time visual updates on each player’s daily progress.
Players can see each other’s cumulative scores next to their avatars and can track each other’s progress throughout the scoring period.
The game encourages friendly competition as players can challenge each other to reach certain score milestones, either individually or as a team.
Leaderboard
The Board itself naturally acts as a visual leaderboard, simplifying the gameplay experience.
- Sound and Music:
The sound design in The Board serves to enhance the player’s experience without overwhelming the senses. The audio will be carefully crafted to align with the game’s themes of mindfulness, personal growth, and nature, offering a subtle and relaxing backdrop that encourages focus and immersion. The sounds are meant to complement the gameplay, creating an atmosphere of calm, motivation, and engagement.
- Ambient Sounds
The game will primarily feature ambient sound effects rather than continuous background music. Each category on The Board will have its own set of atmospheric sounds that players experience when interacting with it, reinforcing the thematic elements of the game:
Sun: Gentle, warm tones accompanied by distant birdsong or the faint hum of sunlight breaking through clouds.
Water: The soothing sound of flowing water, such as a babbling brook or soft waterfall, to invoke a sense of tranquility.
Air: The sound of wind blowing through leaves, creating a sense of open, fresh air. This will be triggered when the player opens the Air category.
Tranquility: Soft, meditative tones, possibly mixed with the sound of burning candles or distant chimes, helping players relax and focus.
Unity: Faint sounds of joyous laughter, clinking glasses, or gentle party chatter to evoke a sense of celebration and togetherness.
Zeal: The crackling and sparkling sound of fireworks or sparklers, mixed with an upbeat, energetic tone to convey excitement and passion.
Movement: Rhythmic sounds, such as footsteps or the swish of movement, designed to encourage physical activity.
Nutrition: The sound of food being prepared or fresh produce being gathered, paired with a satisfying “refresh” sound when nutrition goals are achieved.
Rest: Soft, deep tones reminiscent of nighttime, such as crickets or the gentle breeze over mountains, inviting the player to relax and unwind.
These ambient sounds will be triggered when a player selects a category for scoring or interacting with it, and fade in and out smoothly to avoid abrupt audio changes.
- Music Snippets
While there will be no constant background music, The Board will feature short music snippets that are triggered during specific moments in gameplay, particularly when players score points or complete challenges. These short pieces of music will be personal, with guitar recordings provided by the game’s creators, adding an intimate and motivational touch.
Point Scoring: When a player scores points in a category, a one-second guitar snippet will play, offering a brief yet satisfying reward sound.
Challenge Completion: For larger accomplishments, such as completing a major milestone or unlocking new customization options for their avatar, longer guitar riffs or melodies may play to mark the moment.
These brief musical elements will serve as celebratory cues, connecting the player’s progression with personalized sounds that enhance emotional impact.
- Player Feedback Sounds
In addition to ambient sounds and music snippets, The Board will feature sound effects for key interactions:
Finalizing Score: When a player finalizes their daily score, there will be a sound effect associated with the tokens being removed from the board, such as a soft chime or the sound of tokens stacking together, accompanied by a rising tone as their cumulative score increases.
Notifications: When another player in the game completes an activity, a gentle notification sound will play, distinct but unobtrusive, keeping players informed without disrupting their focus.
Avatar Customization: When players unlock or equip new customization options, there will be a satisfying sound cue that reinforces the feeling of progress and achievement.
- Special Messages from the Creators
A unique aspect of The Board is the inclusion of special messages from the creators. As players reach significant milestones or complete certain challenges, they will receive personalized audio or video messages, creating a direct connection between the game’s creators and the player. These messages will feature encouragement, motivation, or insight.
- Optional Meditation Mode
The Board may feature an optional meditation mode, where players can access calming soundscapes designed to promote mindfulness and relaxation. This could be a feature under the Tranquility category, allowing players to immerse themselves in a serene audio environment for a few minutes as part of their gameplay.
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Technical Details:
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Platform and Distribution
The Board will initially be developed as a mobile app for both iOS and Android platforms, using cross-platform technologies to ensure consistency in performance and user experience. The app will be distributed through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
The long-term vision includes potential expansion to a web-based platform and eventual integration with a social platform to further the connectivity goals of the game.
- Development Tools and Frameworks
To ensure a smooth development process and ease of cross-platform deployment, the following tools and frameworks will be used:
Unreal Engine 5: The game will be built using Unreal Engine 5, leveraging its powerful UI/UX design capabilities and rendering engine to create smooth, immersive gameplay experiences. UE5’s cross-platform compatibility will also streamline the mobile app development process.
Blueprint Scripting: Blueprint scripting will be utilized for much of the core game logic to allow for rapid prototyping and ease of adjustments throughout the development process. This will also enable non-programmers to make necessary changes or improvements.
APIs: Integration of third-party APIs will be necessary for certain features, including:
Moon Phase API: To display real-time moon phases within the game and align scoring periods with the lunar cycle.
Social Sharing API: To allow players to share achievements or milestones on external social media platforms.
Push Notification Services: To notify players when friends in their game have completed activities, as well as for reminders to finalize scores or complete challenges.
- Server and Data Management
The Board will feature real-time multiplayer elements, requiring server infrastructure for data storage, player progress synchronization, and group communication. The following technical aspects are critical:
Cloud Hosting: The game will use cloud-based server solutions, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Google Cloud, to manage real-time multiplayer elements and save user data securely. This will ensure scalability, high availability, and data protection.
User Authentication: The game will incorporate a secure login system to authenticate users. Players can sign in using their email addresses or third-party authentication options, such as Google or Facebook, ensuring both flexibility and security.
Data Storage and Privacy: Player data (progress, scores, and chat history) will be stored securely in the cloud. The game will adhere to data protection laws such as GDPR and CCPA to ensure player privacy is respected. Sensitive data will be encrypted, and only necessary data will be stored.
- Multiplayer and Social Features
Multiplayer functionality is a core aspect of The Board. Players will be able to invite friends and family to join them in their games, sharing progress and achievements. Key technical features include:
Synchronous and Asynchronous Multiplayer: Players will be able to interact with others in real-time, such as seeing updated scores, while also allowing for asynchronous play (players complete activities at different times but see cumulative progress).
In-Game Chat: A built-in group chat feature will enable communication between players within the same game. This will be a lightweight chat solution, allowing text communication between players to enhance social interaction and foster connection.
- Graphics and Performance Optimization
Due to the mobile nature of The Board, performance optimization is key to ensuring smooth gameplay on a variety of devices:
Low Poly Models and Optimized Textures: To reduce the game’s memory footprint and ensure smooth performance, visual assets will be designed using low poly models with optimized textures. This will minimize load times and maintain a balance between visual fidelity and performance.
Adaptive Graphics Settings: The game will detect the device’s performance capabilities and adjust the graphics settings accordingly. This will ensure that lower-end devices can still enjoy a smooth experience, while high-end devices can take advantage of enhanced graphics.
- Sound Integration
Sound integration in The Board will be managed using the Unreal Audio Engine, which allows for precise control over ambient soundscapes, sound effects, and dynamic audio elements. Sounds will be triggered contextually, and the audio system will be optimized for mobile devices to reduce resource consumption without compromising quality.
- Updates and Maintenance
Regular Updates: The game will have regular content updates, bug fixes, and performance optimizations. The backend infrastructure will support continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines to streamline the process of pushing updates.
Version Control: A robust version control system will be employed (such as Git), ensuring the development team can collaborate efficiently while maintaining a stable and organized codebase.
- Future Expansion and Scalability
The game’s infrastructure will be designed to support future expansions, including the potential for new content packs, additional customization options, or integration with a larger social platform. Scalability will be a core consideration, with cloud-based services that allow for increased capacity as the player base grows.
- Monetization and In-App Purchases
The Board will feature a freemium model with in-app purchases to support continued development. Players can purchase:
Premium Customizations: Unique avatar items, tokens and accessories.
Exclusive Content: Special challenges or additional activities.
The game will ensure that monetization remains fair and non-intrusive, focusing primarily on cosmetic and optional upgrades.
- Development Roadmap:
The development of The Board is structured into distinct phases, focusing on research, design, development, testing, and deployment. The roadmap outlines the key milestones, deliverables, and timelines for each phase.
Phase 1: Concept and Prototype Development (Completed)
Physical Game Prototype: Successfully produced a physical version of The Board, serving as a prototype for research and development purposes. This hands-on approach allowed for gathering initial feedback and refining gameplay mechanics.
Website Launch: Created a small website that outlines the basic gameplay information, helping to establish an online presence and generate initial interest in the game.
Pilot Testing with School Counselors: Collaborated with school counselors to test the physical version with students, receiving positive feedback on its effectiveness and engagement. This validation strengthens the game’s educational potential and user appeal.
Phase 2: Pre-Production (In Progress)
Game Design Document (GDD): Continue refining the GDD, incorporating feedback and insights from prototype testing and establishing a clear vision for the digital version.
Technical Specification: Finalize the technical details, including the choice of development tools and frameworks, server infrastructure, and multiplayer functionality.
Art and Sound Design: Begin initial concepts for the game’s art style, character designs, and soundscapes, ensuring a cohesive aesthetic that aligns with the game’s themes.
Main Playing Area Development: Built most of The Board’s main playing area, focusing on creating an intuitive and visually appealing interface. A 30-second animation has been created to showcase how it will look in a digital environment, providing a clear vision for the user experience.
Phase 3: Digital Development (Projected Timeline: Q1 2025 - Q4 2025)
Alpha Version Development:
Complete the core features of the mobile app, including user interface (UI) design, gameplay mechanics, and integration of social features.
Implement avatar customization and scoring systems, ensuring they function as intended.
Internal Testing: Conduct internal testing of the alpha version to identify bugs and gameplay issues. Gather feedback from a small group of testers to refine gameplay.
Feedback Iteration: Incorporate tester feedback into the development process, refining gameplay mechanics and user experience.
Phase 4: Beta Testing (Projected Timeline: Q1 2026)
Open Beta Launch: Release a beta version of the app to a larger audience to gather additional feedback and identify any remaining issues before the official launch.
Community Engagement: Foster an active community around the game during the beta phase, encouraging players to provide feedback and share their experiences.
Final Adjustments: Make final adjustments and optimizations based on feedback gathered during beta testing, focusing on user experience, performance, and bug fixes.
Phase 5: Official Launch (Projected Timeline: Q3 2026)
Launch Preparation: Finalize marketing strategies, including promotional materials and outreach to potential players, influencers, and educators.
Official Launch: Release The Board on mobile platforms (iOS and Android) and ensure a smooth launch experience for players.
Phase 6: Post-Launch Support and Expansion (Ongoing)
Regular Updates: Implement a schedule for regular updates, including new content, features, and bug fixes based on player feedback.
Community Building: Continue engaging with the player community through social media and in-game events, fostering a sense of belonging and encouraging word-of-mouth promotion.
Future Expansion: Explore opportunities for expanding The Board into web-based platforms and integrating additional features, such as a social platform focused on wellness and connection.