Board game design course at HELIX
Adam Dixon, HELIX’s Innovation Design Specialist, brings a range of experience as a previous freelance game designer. His projects include the RPG game ‘Ryne’ (which raised 24.5k through crowd funding), Red Bull commissioned coaster puzzles, and an AR walking trail.
This semester, Adam launched a Make a Board Game course at HELIX. The course covers game mechanics, playtesting, design principles, and more.
Robin Hayward (School of Earth and Environment) designed a gamified teaching resource about woodland creation. Charles James and James Pickering (Leeds Institute of Medical Education) created a game to teach students about the body’s immune system.
Location: HELIX Makerspace, 3D Printing workshops and Laser Cutting workshop
Aims: Teaching staff and students how to create a prototype of a board game using components made in the HELIX Makerspace.
Output: Participants created a range of board games, from gamified educational resources to card and board games to be played for fun.
How do you think using the HELIX facilities supported your project?
Robin Hayward: ‘It was helpful to see what we could mock up that looked semi-professional for a small outreach game before going to manufacturers. I also think the real value here is the people and the expertise.’
Charles James: ‘The HELIX facilities are great – I think the best thing for me is the breadth of opportunity that it offers; it gives you the freedom to align the technology with your vision, rather than vice versa.
What was your favourite week/part of the course and why?
Robin Hayward: ‘A lot of the theory surrounding interactive storytelling was really interesting, and it can go into more than just creating a board game. You can apply that to all sorts of outreach and engagement stuff beyond making a board game.’
Charles James: ‘My favourite part was looking at making physical elements for a game, because it’s always exciting seeing an idea turn into a physical artefact!’
What did you expect from the course, and how did it meet or differ to your expectations?
Robin Hayward: ‘I knew it's like wildly optimistic to create like a full-fledged game in seven weeks, but the course has really pushed me through to getting something that looks like a game.’
Charles James: ‘My expectations for the course were undefined, I was just curious to see what it might entail. I think I was surprised that a finished prototype could be finished within the duration of the course.’
What advice would you give HELIX users?
Robin Hayward: ‘Don't worry about what you sign up to, but sign up to something. A lot of what I've gained is the confidence to know what is available and who I can talk to about different things. Whether I'd signed up to make a board game, or to use the recording rooms, I would still have the knowledge of the building to use for future projects.’
Charles James: ‘My advice for HELIX users would be to be curious about what the space can offer; I feel you can get the most out of it by arriving with a specific issue or question, but without a specific solution in mind. Similarly, attending a course can be a great way to explore solutions for problems you haven’t encountered yet!’
To find out what you could learn at HELIX, go to our Eventbrite! HELIX Events - 16 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite