Brassbound - Game Prototype

​In the Spring 2024 semester, I completed GAME 355, which examined the study of meaning through game designers' rhetorical choices, how players construct identities in response, and how scholars critically engage with games as objects of academic research. During the course, I was assigned to create a working game prototype that would be presented at the end of the year at the Game Expo held at Monarch Hall.  This opportunity gave me the chance to apply what I have learned not only in my GAME 355 course, but also throughout my experience in the Game Studies & Design major. The prototype I developed was a card game named Brassbound. I wanted to challenge myself and attempt to create a game that combined elements from other titles, such as Instryption, Pokémon, Balatro, Magic: The Gathering, and more.
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Through this experience, I gained a deeper understanding of the game design process and the challenges it presents. I encountered numerous roadblocks along the way while working on this project, as I had to figure out how to balance cards correctly, write rules for the game, create assets, and design the card deck itself. Additionally, I decided to adopt a Steampunk theme, which involved conducting research into the genre and examining other games that have employed a similar approach. Despite these setbacks, I was able to produce a working prototype for the Game Expo. Although there were some unforeseen issues with the game, that is part of the process and something I have kept in mind as I have developed other projects in my major.
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I was able to hone some of the skills I learned through the course, such as analyzing other games and thinking critically about them, as well as their applications to the industry and research. Additionally, I had the opportunity to work on balancing a game, a skill I previously lacked experience with. There is a lot of trial and error in game development and design, something that has taken me a while to get used to. Through this experience, I became familiar with recognizing when something wouldn't work before testing it, which made me more confident in my skills.