Board Game: Evaluating Work so Far:

Spider Diagram:

I started to evaluate my ideas by using a simple spider diagram. I would to further into the idea that games through out time had relied upon a few basic principles in order for them to work well and be classed as 'good' games. The main ones that i looked at were Rules, Age and interactivity. I really wanted to see how these affected the gameplay and if these were the actual reason for certain games still existing now.

Results:

From the spider diagram I was able to refine my ideas, and apply them to modern games in order to prove my point. Below is a list of, what I believe, to be the basic principles that are needed by most games in order to be successful:

• Teaching: Many of the worlds first games came around in order for children to learn and practice new skills in a way that they wouldn't get bored and that it would stick in the mind. For example chess teaches strategic thinking and competitiveness, whilst Monopoly teaches trading and bartering, all of which are useful in day to day life.
• Rules: Many of the games that have survived from the past and many of the best games from today have very simple rules which allow the game to be easily set up and played, and also allows constant flowing gameplay.
• Interactivity: Keeping a player interested and wanting to play on is a key part of every game, and to do this many games have some interactive elements, for example in chess once a piece is taken the player then removes that piece an early form of interactivity, whilst in more modern games such as monopoly you can now have credit cards which have to be balanced as well as varying types of house and hotel. All of which help to keep the player interested.
• Competition: Competition is the point of most games, to crown an eventual winner. This can be seen in any game from Chess, Scrabble, Zombies and Monopoly. This also links back to the idea of teaching as it teaches the child/player to have a good competitive appetite wether that be through strategic thinking or efficient playing.