Everyone has ideas, but few actually bring them to reality. Only in reality can you test whether the game is actually fun or if it’s just a fun idea. This can also assist in prototyping a video game before spending the many hours needed to learn and code a demo using an engine. Video games are, in essence, board games that have a computer performing all the complex calculations for you. The advice here will have a cost range of cheap to middling budget, because unfortunately, bringing an idea to the material world will always have a cost, and there’s just no way to get around that. I hope this article helps with bringing your idea to life so that you can either have a prototype that can be licensed by a company for a royalty or self-publish your own game.
A Simple Prototype
When you imagine a prototype, most individuals picture the final product—the game you want people to enjoy and spend their time playing. Though it may get there eventually, the first prototype will need to be very basic. Focus on the few functions that will be fun or enjoyable and prioritize making those parts first. You don’t need to balance the stats or think of winning strategies. Understand what the main function is what makes the game fun, what makes a person win, what makes them lose and what kind of experience the player should have. This is important because if you spend hours creating a prototype, balancing it, and adding in all the minor functions and gameplay, and you don’t find it enjoyable, then you’ve spent quite a bit of time making something that won’t work. It’s also pretty draining on your motivation.
An example I’d like to use is a game like Risk. There is a giant map of the world, different unit sizes, and cards that give you bonus units, but the basics of the game involve moving units from one space to another and rolling dice against your opponent in battle. If that part is fun, then the rest of the game can evolve from there. Don’t feel disheartened if you must nix an idea. It’s going to happen, but it’s up to you to create the next idea and focus on that.
The Basics
Firstly, you will need a notebook and pencil. Spiral or journal notebooks, like the ones from your grade-school days, will work fine, and getting a good mechanical pencil is my suggestion. I’ve used both the cheap mechanical pencils that you can get in a pack of five and have paid a bit extra for ones that only come with one or two, but the difference is massive. Specifically, it will save you the frustration of constantly breaking lead and allow you to write down everything in your mind without having to stop after every other word to click through more lead. It might not seem like much, but when you’re trying to get rules written or designs made, constantly breaking lead can throw off your train of thought.
Next, you will need blank paper from a sketchbook or loose printer paper, a large white poster board, glue sticks, a ruler, and scissors. If this sounds like a basic arts and crafts list, it’s because it is. Remember, you’re crafting a game from scratch. I recommend getting printer paper with a higher weight than normal printing paper (24lb to 80lb), also known as cardstock, because it will have a bit more firmness and is best for making game cards and board designs.
Use the notebook to brainstorm the functions of your game, board style, assets like game cards and character sheets, whether it will have dice or not, and to write down the basic rules of your game. Use the blank paper to design your game assets, like game cards and board layouts. You can cut out board layouts and glue them onto the poster board to prevent the plain paper from becoming folded or crushed. You can hand-draw each part of your game, but often blank tokens for resources or player tokens can be bought off Amazon to make it easier and less time-consuming to make by hand. These are also easier to handle than flat paper tokens. Tokens can be colored using markers or stickers and come in enough bulk that you will have extras if needed. If you have custom dice for your game, you can create the faces and paste them onto the sides of dice.
Here’s a list of some of the tokens I’ve used for prototypes in the past:
- Round Wooden Discs
- Wood Half Sphere
- Small Wood Blocks
- Plastic Pawn Game Pieces
- Plastic Gold Coins
- Standard 6-Sided Dice
The More Technical Option
The above are the basic things needed with a list of convenient parts, but this section focuses on using a computer and software to make a more efficient prototype. Instead of hand-drawing every part, using a computer and software increases your efficiency. Note that this is written at the very end of 2024, so prices may change over time.
The first thing you’ll need is a computer. You can buy or build a desktop computer, but I would recommend a laptop since most prototypes don’t require a lot of computing power. Using software like Photoshop or Tabletop Simulator will require a bit of computing power, but an open-box or refurbished laptop from your local computer store can keep the cost lower. You will need about $800 to purchase one. If you can afford a new mid-tier laptop closer to $1,000, I suggest getting one, but work with the budget you have. Unless you are going to be video editing or playing the newest games (for research), keeping it below $1,000 is my recommendation.
Next is a printer. I recommend getting an ink tank-style printer, as ink cartridges can start to pile up costs. It’s also frustrating when you go to print everything and realize you’ve run out of black ink, leaving all your cards with a greenish-yellow background or no background at all. Basic Wi-Fi tank printers can run from $160 to $250. If you’re just starting out, look for a deal or cheaper option, then upgrade after you get some prototypes printed and possibly talk with publishers to turn your game into a real product. Higher-weight printing paper (24lb to 80lb) is recommended as it’s sturdier than typical paper. A sliding paper cutter is also recommended as it makes cutting out cards and parts much quicker and easier, and they are relatively cheap, with some costing less than $10.
For software, I’d recommend using Card Creator and Tabletop Simulator, both of which can be purchased on Steam. Card Creator is pretty basic, but allows you to make your cards and player boards at a much faster rate. Editing after playtests relieves much of the stress of erasing and changing handmade cards. Tabletop Simulator allows you to take your game idea and put it on a simulated table so you can see what it will look like when fully printed. It also allows you to playtest with people over the internet instead of always relying on in-person playtesters.
You will also need an image editor to create and modify the token images you use to build your games. Adobe options like Photoshop or Illustrator are available for a monthly fee, but they can be expensive if you’re just starting out. I use pixlr.com, which is browser-based and offers a free option along with a cheaper monthly option than Photoshop. It’s not as in-depth or feature-rich as Photoshop, but its cost-to-use ratio is excellent. Pixlr’s AI image generator also allows me to quickly create filler images.
Images will be needed for your games, but don’t pay for custom art unless you’ve tested the game enough to know it’s fun and worth investing in. Use AI image generators for characters and background art. There’s also a site I highly recommend called game-icons.net, which offers many free icons that work well for token icons and art. The main reason not to pay for custom art is that you don’t know if the game in your head will be fun to play in real life. If you have to shelve the idea, the money spent on art could be wasted. Additionally, if you talk to publishers, they’ll often want to use their own art for the game. However, custom art could also elevate your prototype, so it’s up to you to make that call. If you do decide to commission art, I’d recommend not spending more than $500 unless you’re planning to self-publish.
I hope that this article has helped you in some way along your journey to be a game designer. It’s a summarized version of a larger subject, but it should get you where you need to go for a start. You can always contact us with any questions on our contact page. Have fun and enjoy the day!