Makerghat
Board game design
"Legends of Innovation: The Ancient Civilization Challenge"
Game Design
Visual Design
About Makerghat
MakerGhat builds low-cost makerspaces in underserved schools and communities. The 90 mins weekly sessions cover evidence-based curriculum and hands-on maker education. I worked closely with the curriculum lead to design and develop a board game that incorporates the different inventions of the ancient civilisations.
Problem
“How can we create an ancient history themed hands on learning experience for students?”
Solution
The story
Once upon a time, two siblings, Karthik and Ananya were searching their refrigerator for an after school snack when they accidentally fell into a time travel portal and ended up in year 4000 BCE - the Ancient Mesopotamian Civilisation.
They tried to go back, but the time travel portal is not working! Apparently, someone had wiped out a file labeled 'Ancient Civilisations' from its memory. To return back home, they have to redo all of the Ancient Civilisation’s discoveries and inventions.
Research
Curriculum Requirement
I collaborated with Makerghat's curriculum lead to understand the requirements for the game. Over the first few meetings, we delineated our requirements and drafted a memo document.
Game Mechanics Analysis
Using BoardGameGeek as a source, I researched similar board games and their game mechanics. I also referred to game making frameworks and strategies. We wanted the gameplay to be familiar.
Design
Designing the board
Testing
Feedback & Review
Ongoing
Play Testing
Ongoing