Midterm - Alpha Version
- Kiara Castillo Magallanes
- Nov 20, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 13, 2024
Alley Cats
For our midterm project, we were tasked with creating a completely original board game from scratch, and my team developed Alley Cats. This competitive war-style game puts players in control of unique cat factions, each with distinct abilities, strategies, and win conditions, as they vie for dominance over a sprawling urban map. Players can build structures, trade resources, and engage in battles, with each action tied to the faction’s unique strengths, such as the Cat Mafia’s battle advantage or the Bodega Cats’ resource efficiency. I took on the role of lead designer for the visual elements, creating custom cards, a city-style game board, a logo, and a box design that reflected the playful yet strategic tone of the game. This phase required extensive collaboration, as we brainstormed and iterated on mechanics to ensure balance and variety. The alpha version highlighted the importance of combining creativity with problem-solving, as we worked to create a game that was both engaging and strategically rich.
Paper:
Overall Experience of the Game
People should play our game because it offers a delightful mix of strategy, competition, and
whimsy through its engaging theme of feline gangs battling for territory. The combination of
adorable cat characters with challenging, strategic gameplay creates a unique experience that
is both fun and memorable. Players can immerse themselves in a world where cunning,
strategy, and resource management determine which gang dominates the city.
Designed for 2 to 4 players, the game fosters interaction, competition, and replayability. A typical game takes about 60 minutes to complete, making it ideal for casual gaming sessions that fit within a variety of social settings. Our target audience includes teenagers and adults, especially
those who appreciate charming visuals and competitive, lighthearted gameplay. The theme
resonates with players who love cats and enjoy games where rivalry is encouraged but kept
playful. The mechanics such as role-playing, action retrieval, advantage tokens, action points,
and dice rolling enhance the sense of tactical decision-making. These features provide players
with a dynamic and immersive experience, creating a balance between luck and strategy that
simulates the unpredictable yet calculated nature of territorial conflicts.
Analysis of Rules
Our game has been well-received during playtesting, with players noting that it is both
enjoyable and easy to understand. The feedback assured us that the game’s core mechanics
are engaging and fun. Crafting a ruleset that captured our vision for the game was a
moderately challenging process. While it wasn’t overly difficult, there were moments when
we had to refine certain rules for better clarity and balance. The positive reception from
playtesters affirmed that the game’s structure aligns well with its theme and mechanics.
However, we made iterative changes to address minor areas of confusion, such as clarifying
the roles of specific tokens and ensuring the objectives were straightforward. These changes
were not drastic but were essential to making the gameplay smoother and more intuitive. By
incorporating the feedback into our ruleset, we were able to ensure that the instructions
matched the players' expectations and provided a clear understanding of how to engage with
the game.
Design Process
The design process was both collaborative and iterative, highlighting the value of teamwork
and external feedback. One of the key observations during development was that every
opinion mattered. At the start of our brainstorming sessions, we explored several ideas, but it
was through combining and refining our collective thoughts that we arrived at the final
concept. The input of playtesters was especially important, as it helped us identify gaps and
areas for improvement. Playtesting significantly shaped the development of our game. It
allowed us to uncover and address unclear rules, balance gameplay mechanics, and ensure
that the overall experience aligned with the theme. For example, playtesters helped us
determine whether the resource allocation system was balanced and whether the flow of
gameplay was smooth. Questions such as, “Is the game easy to understand?” and “Does the
gameplay feel coherent and engaging?” guided our revisions. Assignment duties were
divided according to each team member’s strengths. Jules and Jason concentrated on writing
and refining the rules, while I focused on designing the visual elements of the game. This
division of labor allowed us to play to our strengths while ensuring a cohesive product.
Despite our individual responsibilities, we collaborated on all aspects of the game, ensuring
that everyone’s input shaped the final result.
Game Narrative/Theme
The main theme of our game centers around a city governed by four rival feline gangs. The
genre is a wargame, where players strategize to expand their gang’s influence and dominate
the territory of their rivals. This theme is both quirky and engaging, offering players a unique
narrative framework to immerse themselves in. The theme draws inspiration from other
wargames like Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy, Root, War of the Ring, and Illuminati,
which also involve strategic battles for control over resources or territories. Our mechanics
such as building, battling, and trading align with the theme by providing players with the
tools to develop their strategy, attack opponents, and expand their influence. Key components, like the construction tokens and crafting action cards, enhance the resonance of
the theme by giving players tangible ways to interact with the game’s narrative. While the
game does not currently include a detailed story, we believe adding one in future iterations
would ground players more deeply in the world we’ve created. A compelling backstory could
add another layer of immersion and give players a stronger connection to their chosen gang.
Art
The art style of our game is designed to evoke a sense of charm and playfulness, reflecting
the unique characteristics of cats. The visuals feature a hand-drawn and painted aesthetic that
emphasizes their cuteness while maintaining a distinctive look. This approach was chosen to
make the game visually appealing and to draw players into its whimsical world. However,
some aspects of the art need adjustments. For instance, certain color tones on the board and
tokens must be revised to improve readability and ensure that all components are easily
distinguishable during gameplay. These changes will not only enhance the visual clarity of
the game but also make it more enjoyable and accessible for players. The simple yet striking
art style ties seamlessly into the mechanics and theme, reinforcing the idea of a quirky,
competitive battle between feline gangs.
Next Steps to Beta
For the beta version, we plan to finalize and fully integrate all visual and design elements to
create a polished and cohesive product. This includes revising the rulebook to add missing
details, clarify instructions, and include essential elements such as credits and detailed card
descriptions. Additionally, we aim to refine specific aspects of gameplay, such as adjusting
supply values and balancing resource allocation. One of our main goals for the beta phase is
to ensure that all components are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. We will also
evaluate whether the game remains engaging and replayable. Based on playtester feedback,
the game is already enjoyable, but we recognize that addressing the remaining unclear
elements and refining the design will elevate it to a professional level. With these changes,
we are confident that our game will deliver a fun, competitive, and replayable experience for
all players.
Rulebook:
Play Time:
Art Design:
Board:
Cards:
Art samples:
Team credits:
Jules Pages
Jason Ferguson
Kiara Castillo Magallanes
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