In hindsight, my preparation for this presentation was rather rushed, and many ideas were not fully presented in the slides. (so I added more information in the blog posts). Upon revisiting the theme of game ideas, I realized that my understanding had been somewhat limited. Most of the time, I focused on isolated mechanics or a single narrative concept, without effectively integrating the two.
From the feedback, it also became clear that many people did not perceive a strong connection between the game mechanics and the narrative. This prompted me to reconsider how I should approach the development of this game.
I gradually realized that game mechanics design is not one of my strongest areas, a point that was also raised in the Week 7 feedback. How to transform existing mechanics into something truly unique and personal remains a challenge for me.
While listening to other presentations, I considered joining another team, especially since some classmates were exploring themes similar to mine. However, after further reflection, I decided to continue with my own project. Many of the narratives presented by others leaned toward darker themes. This is not a criticism; on the contrary, I admire their ideas and believe many of them address profound real-world issues.
From the outset, I aspired to create a work grounded purely in fantasy, a work that allows players to simply feel that they are experiencing a “good story.”
During my first year participating in Board in the City, a player who guided my game mentioned that games allow her to truly relax after work and experience joy. That idea has stayed with me ever since, and I realized that this is exactly what I want to create.
As a result, I chose not to join another team and instead continue developing this light, fairy-tale–inspired project.
Answer the question in the feedback
When I first considered this issue, I did agree with the suggestion. However, after some reflection, I decided to continue using the cat as my main anchor. First, bees have a clear social hierarchy in the animal world, with naturally occurring queens and kings. However, in some contexts, bees often symbolize punishment or moral enforcement: in stories, people or animals who steal honey or damage hives are frequently stung as a form of retribution. Therefore, in my view, bees carry a strong moral rule metaphor. Thus, I think selecting fluffy, conventionally cute animals as characters seems more appropriate in this fairy-tale-like game.
Further reflection of the game idea
Based on the feedback and my reflections above, I have decided to make further adjustments to the story, aiming to better integrate the narrative with the game mechanics and enhance player engagement.
Additionally, I noticed that many people expressed strong support for using felt as an artistic style, so I plan to incorporate felt elements into the art design in future development.
Leave a Reply