Advanced Play Design - S2,2022 - week1 play&self - Kory

Theme:

Play and self

This week's theme is Play self so I decided to find inspiration from myself and explore my likes and needs. Then I can design a play method from my own needs. I chose Bodystorming as the design method for inspiration. After fished Bodystorming's process, I found a series of problems about myself. Including lack of interaction with other people, monotonous recreational activities and sub-health problems caused by lack of exercise. In order to solve these own problems and needs. I made a card game prototype.

Game rules: This game requires multiple people to play together, each person draws a card and rolls a dice each round. The way of Randomly drawing cards and throwing dice can bring the fun of gambling. After the card is drawn, the player completes the activity task according to the exercise content of the card and the number of the dice as the activity repeat amount. Each card has a corresponding point value. Win method: 1. If your physical strength cannot support the activity, you can voluntarily admit defeat. 2. Be the first to reach 1000 points. In general, I designed a game prototype that serves my own needs. It is related to the weekly theme of play&self.

Method:

I got this game prototype through Bodystorming. Bodystorming is a design method for inspiration, which is very similar to Brainstorming (Tomitsch, 2018). The difference is that Bodystorming emphasizes obtaining Key Findings/needs/problems by observing and recording behaviour. Since this week's theme is play and self, I set my day as a scenario for observation. Obtain the corresponding Key Findings/needs/problems. Including insomnia caused by lack of exercise, lack of interaction with other people, lack way of entertainment and lack of exercise may lead to sub-health problems.

To help myself solve these problems, I designed this game. The multiplayer approach brings more interactivity, allowing players to communicate with people in the game. Exercise is the main content of the game, which can solve various problems caused by my lack of exercise. Draw cards and dice are light gambling elements that make the game more fun.

Context:

At first, when I saw play self, I didn't feel like I could think of any interesting ideas, because I could see myself every day and know myself too well, so I was very bored with reading myself. Whenever I don't have an idea, I think of using design thinking to find problems. So I used Bodystorming's method to systematically find my own problems. Finally, guided by the design method, I found a direction to work on.

Reflection:

Firstly, there is still space for improvement in the way the game's win method. I hope that the rules of winning can enhance the competitiveness of the game. The way to win in the current version depends more on the luck of the players. What I think can be improved is that players who exercise harder get more points.

Second, regarding the card content, the famous fitness game switch platform's fitness ring adventure, his action design has been guided by professional fitness professionals, so it can bring better exercise benefits to users. If I can write the action content of the cards with help of professional fitness professionals, I can make the exercise more effective.

On the other hand, there is also space for improvement in the usability of the game. Each professional fitness action of the fitness ring adventure is assisted by animation, which can ensure that players can imitate more correct exercise actions and make exercise more efficient. Therefore, if the corresponding fitness action pattern can be printed on the card, it will be easier for players to make more correct fitness actions.

Reference

Tomitsch, M. (2018). Bodystorming. Retrieved July 26, 2022, from http://designthinkmakebreakrepeat.com/methods/bodystorming/