OUGD503 - Studio Brief 2 - Hasbro Board Game (Large Collaborative) - Existing Domino Game Concepts and Commercial Games

Domino Variations

- This design reconsiders the shape of the domino allowing the shape of the gameplay to be different to the conventional perpendicular format creating an interesting layout. Aside from the shape however the rest of the game uses the same rules as the original dominoes game so isn't very innovative in terms of gameplay like the brief asks for. 

- The packaging design for this game mimics the lines on the actual pieces creating a minimalist and refined design. However the use of the white card for the packaging makes the design look more like a beauty product rather than a game.  

- This again has the same problem as the previous design in that the game play concept is the same as the original game however instead of using dots different etched lines have been used to create 'symbols'. These are then matched up in the conventional manner. The use of the wood however with the etched design on the tops creates a contemporary finish with the use of traditional materials.

- The game play for this design is similar to the original in terms of matching similar pieces however the use of varying shaped coloured segments within the design creates a bright and playful contrast to the original monochrome design of dominoes. The geometric designs on the dominoes create a contemporary aesthetic that is suitable for a design conscious young adult audience.

Invers

- At the beginning of this game each player decides whether they will play life or death, (life being the white side and black being the black side) after which the game is played in the same way as normal dominoes. During the game pieces can be flipped from life to death and vice versa if two life or death pieces surround the opposite game piece. At the end of the game whoever has the most pieces on the board wins.

- The name of the game Invers ties to the flipping of the pieces however doesn't link to the Amazonian life and death concept within the game. 

- The illustrations have ornate details through the use of curved lines which creates a sense of tribal art, linking well to the Amazonian concept. 

- However there is no direct link between the rule book and packaging to the Amazonian concept.

- The use of a restrained colour pallette of black on wood creates a traditional sense that works well with the natural imagery and concept. 

Domiknot

- The play on words (Domiknot) within this design really solidfies the link between the knot concept and the original game.

- The use of 'stitches' to replace the dots on dominoes creates a contemporary and crafty aesthetic to the design. 

- Although the stiches have been placed either side of an imaginary line potentially some of the higher number dots could get a little confusing e.g. a double six, because of the proximity of the stitches to each other.

- The game play for this design is the same as the original matching of numbers

Fraktur

- The packaging shape and colour for this game works really well in mimiking the look and finish of the game pieces.

- Rather than matching numbers these pieces are matched by the height and shape of the pieces creating a tactile and three dimensional aesthetic to the game play.

- The game was developed to reuse spare materials from a furniture shop so the geometric shape of the pieces and packaging have aimed to reflect the contemporary furniture that the pieces originate from.

- The veneer on the packaging reflects that of the game pieces, whilst the card inside the packaging is used again for the instruction manual creating consistency. This could perhaps of been improved by using a similar coloured card to the plywood at the base of the pieces to better reflect the materials that they are made from.

- The pieces have been created from plywood, the angled to create geometric shapes. On top of this what looks like wood veneer has then been glued over the top to match the shape of the wood below. This design would not be very practical in terms of creating the pieces as it would take a long time to produce, instead making the pieces out of a solid piece of wood would be better. Even then creating the shape of the pieces would still take a long time.

- Changing the shape of the pieces in this way however creates a completely new take on the game aesthetically and conceptually, whilst still retaining the 'matching' aspect of dominoes.

Choince Dominoes 

- The aesthetic of the game aims to appeal to male audience through the use of icons related to a 'classic gentleman', this also is appealing to a vintage loving audience.

- The packaging aims to reflect the shape of a cigar box. This combined with the wooden materials used creates a sense of traditionalism fitting with the era of  the 'classic gentleman'.

- Within the game there is a combination of choice and chance, base pieces are chosen and sliders are picked at random. These are then configured however the player wants to create their dominoes during the game. 

- Creating your own dominoes doesn't seem to add any extra strategy to the game as you are still only working with the pieces you have like in normal dominoes. 

- However this could allow players to branch off perpendicularly if they create a double with their pieces.

Opt 

- Stacking the dominoes within the packing is reminiscent of Jenga and rotates the format  of the conventional box of dominoes on its end. 

- The box uses the same material as the pieces making it consistent however the design looks possibly a little over engineered and clunky.

- This game allows an element of choice to be introduced through the use of movable ball bearings. There is a gap in the middle of the pieces allowing only the smaller ball bearings to go through. Each piece has varying amounts of large ball bearings meaning players do not have complete control over the number they can create.

- The interactivity of the pieces creates an interesting and engaging format that would also add an element choice and skill to be added to dominoes which is game of chance.

Braque

- In this game players decide on the numbers they have on their dominoes through the movement of the balls. 

- The game is still restrictive because only a certain amount of balls are on the pieces in the first place

- The design of the pieces reference cubism through the use of multi planed surfaces, which is described as creating 'a dynamic, low-relief form with endless vanishing points to evolve as play progresses', which allows the pieces to be matched together, creating an interesting layout on the table.

- Because of the shapes of the pieces and the angles that they sit on the table at, it could make it hard for players at certain angles to see what numbers are on all the pieces.

- The continuation of the angled shapes of the pieces is carried through onto packaging design in the form of line drawing illustrations.

 Ledge - Land 

- Ledgeland aims to combine elements of both Tetris and Dominoes in one game.

- The design has the colour and form aesthetics of Tetris and the stacking gameplay, whilst has the matching element of Dominoes through the use of colours.

- The three dimensional pieces mean that the game can go up and down creating an engaging game, that also adds an element of risk through gravity within the game. 

Dyadomino

- This variation of dominoes allows choice between two numbers on each half of the piece, the large numbers and the number within the large number. 

- The refined monochrome pallete and wood material is used throughout the design creating consistency. However the combination of illustrative numbers and typography perhaps contrast a little too much with the rawness and cleancut geometric nature of the rest of the design. Perhaps having coloured pieces would have better reflected the playful quality of the illustrated numbers. 

- Having the ability to choose between two numbers on each half of the domino would potentially allow the game to continue for longer before no one could play. 

The Grid Game 

- The use of different coloured sections within each piece emphasises the geometric nature of the game.

- The simple geometric nature of the game makes it easy to understand however the added element of three dimensionality makes it harder to play 

- The packaging design is refined to one of the colours seen in the game pieces creating a link between the two however this lets the actual game stand out.

- The presentation of the pieces within the box is well executed allowing the combinations of the different colours to be seen when the box is opened, suggesting how the game pieces are played with during the game. 

- The aim of the game is to connect all your tiles first. Tiles must be matched based on colour and height of the tile. Tiles can be blocked through the use of a black tile. 

Tessellationo

- The concept of this game shows the development of different types of shoes through the ages, through the use of imagery of different shoe fronts e.g. shoe laces. 

- The tiles are matched in terms of colour with the corresponding pairs forming a chronology of shoe history with the highest number being the most recent development.

Dominoes Variations on the Market 

From browsing shops online that sell games it was found that there weren't many commercial variations of dominoes. Most of the sites sold normal dominoes made from different materials or there size or colour was slightly different to the classic set, however there weren't many adaptations to the rules. There were also quite a few sets that focus on knocking all the dominoes down however these are more of a toy rather than a game.

One variation that was found was Triominos which uses triangular shapes pieces. The aim of the game is to match both numbers on each side to another side of a domino. Points are scored if players can match a domino to a domino that is already in play, a player gets the sum of their domino as their points for each turn. If a match can't be made then they have to pick up a domino from the well. The player to get rid of all their tiles or the person with the least amount of tiles if the game is blocked wins the round. They get the total worth of everyone else's domino's and an extra 25 points if they got rid of all their tiles. The first to get to 400 wins. 

There are bonus points for different shapes created within the game.

https://www.fastcodesign.com/1671407/two-sleek-subversive-remakes-of-the-humble-domino
https://www.behance.net/gallery/35022599/domiknot
https://www.behance.net/gallery/3212891/Fraktur-Dominoes
https://www.behance.net/gallery/16090547/CHOINCE-DOMINOES
https://www.behance.net/gallery/15749827/Opt-Dominoes
https://www.behance.net/gallery/15327025/BRAQUE-Dominoes
https://www.behance.net/gallery/10285543/Ledge-Land-Dominoes
https://www.behance.net/gallery/60954793/Dyadomino
https://www.behance.net/gallery/46294295/The-Grid-Game-A-designers-boardgame
https://www.behance.net/gallery/7824513/Tessellationo-Dominoes

http://www.triominos.com/