Resources to teach strategy game design
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I asked students about Designing games, here are their thoughts.

What have you learned from designing a game?


I never realized how much work goes into making something fun and exciting.
That games are really hard to create and publish.
I learned to balance fun and work.
I have learned that failure is okay as long as you learn from it. Your first try will almost never work right away. You just need to use what works.
I learned how hard it is to make the games I play.
It is really complicated! I thought it would be wayyyy less challenging, but you have to specify so many things in the rules!
I learned that creativity is very different from logic. I thought game design would be creativity, creativity, creativity, creativity. But there are many logic pieces fitting into game design puzzles. It is hard but really fun.
I learned that the original idea can develop into a completely different idea. Also, it is important to have good mechanics and theme.
I've learned how hard it is to create prototype after prototype. I learned to be patient and to be able to come up with more ideas.
I've learned that it's important to take other peoples' opinions on your game because sometimes they point out obvious things you missed.
I've learned to be descriptive with my words and how to be even more creative and innovative.
I have to be thorough and precise to complete projects with a good outcome.

I've learned what excruciating pain and stress it takes to create countless prototypes that the game designer must endure as he dreads the thought of hastily running from the other fire-breathing savages attempting to squeeze the living soul of his beautifully crafted ideas for his board game.

I have learned there is so much more to a game that meets the eye: the work, the mechanics, the fun.
I have been educated in the excruciatingly rebarbative beatitude of creating the holy design humankind refers to as a "game." Although the voyage to completing a game is jejune and rhadamontnine, I will attest that the result greatly fills me with a salubrious satisfaction that leaves me contemplating life.


I learned the importance of planning. If you want to get something done you need to plan. This is an important life skill. I also learned that everything does not have to be perfect. I am a perfectionist to the core and working on a game showed me to let some stuff go.

Game design is __(adjective)__ because ________.


Game design is fun because you learn to come out of your comfort zone.
Game design is worth it because it is tough and fun in the end.
Game design is difficult because it forces you to come to compromises with yourself, something that's hard enough with other people.
Game design is hard because you have to constantly revise.
Game design is scary because there are a lot of deadlines and I accidentally destroyed the school.
Game design is exhilarating, awesome, and sometimes, the prototype can be a bit obnoxious, but overall, it is very exciting, because in game design, you can be as creative as you want, and there is literally no restrictions within game design.
Game design is original because no two games are alike and you have to be original to create a hit.
Game design is a tough process because it requires making, testing, and redoing.
Game design is magnificent because there is no limit to how creative you can be.
Game design is lovecraftian because it is strange, alien, and shows you how insignificant you are making board games.
​
Game design is a most fastidious endeavor due to its friable structure, which threatens one's creative breakthrough with a symbolic behemoth that insidiously attacks the mental chamber that houses the inveterate imagination.
Game design is hard work because you need to make every single detail right and working, and you must keep your ideas to the end, even if they may be, "ugh this sucks and I want to give up."
Game design is interesting because many steps are involved with prototyping, designing, and publishing the game. It's exciting and it's hard.
Game design is amazing because you a chance to make what you love in a passion-filled, heartily-worked on game board with a fruitful taste of what your brilliant mastermind leaves as your mark saying, "I made this game!"
Game design is addicting because there are so many ways to make the game and it is all up to you to do what you want.
Game design is fun because you have to make cool and awesome games and play them with your friend.
Game design is innovative because you may have a limited supply of stuff.
Game design is an amazing experience. I have learned more than I would about life doing any other activity. I learned how to be organized and creative.
Game design is a long process because you are constantly improving and making changes to your game.
Game design is an art form. There is so much that has to go into it to make it a great game.
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