Major Project - Board Game Design (Kedai Khaos)
23/9/2024 - 6/1/2025 (Week 1 - Week 14)
Anna Chin Siaw Fong / 0354370
Major Project / Bachelor of Design
(Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Kedai Khaos - Board
Game Design
INSTRUCTIONS
Kedai Khaos - Board Game Design
Week 1
This week, we had our first class with Miss Anis. She briefed us on the course and the assignments we need to complete. After the briefing, she offered to consult with students who already had project ideas. Since I didn't have any ideas at the time, I didn't consult her this week. Instead, I went home and dedicated time to researching and brainstorming ideas for my major project.
Week 2
This week, I came up with some ideas and consulted Miss Anis about them.
Although I had some ideas, I wasn't entirely confident about them. I shared my
ideas with her to get some feedback and direction. Miss Anis suggested that I
go back to the drawing board and refine my ideas further since I was still
unsure. Taking her advice, I went home, solidified my ideas, and conducted
more research about them.
Week 3
Week 3
This week, I had a more developed idea and proposed it to Miss Anis. My
concept was a fast-paced memory board game, addressing a few current issues
I’ve observed:
- Reduced social interaction, as people tend to spend more time alone
- The dominance of digital games over physical ones
- The need for more opportunities for physical play
I presented the gameplay mechanics and components to her, along with two
possible themes: a candy-themed game or one based on a konbini (Japanese
convenience store).
1.0 Candy Shop Theme Idea
1.1 Konbini Store Theme Idea
After hearing my idea, Miss Anis suggested that I explore a
kedai runcit (traditional Malaysian convenience store) theme
instead of candy or konbini, as it could add a cultural layer to the
game. Following her suggestion, I went back and put more thought into
incorporating the kedai runcit
theme as the new art direction. I started exploring visuals and elements
that could reflect the unique feel of a traditional Malaysian convenience
store, adding a nostalgic and cultural touch to the game’s design.
Week 4
This week, I consulted Miss Anis about the design style and components of
my board game. For the design style of my item tokens, I was thinking of
using an abstract, gradient and flat aesthetic. I tried it out and showed
it to her, and she said it was fine. I also asked for her input on the
color palette, and she suggested that using a variety of colors would be
better than limiting the palette to a set number, as it could help improve
memory recall.
I proposed organizing the item tokens into categories to reflect the
variety typically found in kedai runcits. I suggested five categories:
food and beverage, household items, personal care, stationeries, and
miscellaneous, with ten items per category. Miss Anis recommended using
different shapes for each category and incorporating playful, parodied
versions of familiar items to add a fun touch.
After discussing the design style, I moved on to the other game
components. To help her visualize the concept, I included reference images
of the game components.
2.0 Week 4 Progress
I also shared some potential names for the board game, and the three most
viable options were:
- Pek-it-up
- Kedai Khaos
- Runcit Rumble
We decided on the name Kedai Khaos for the board game because it
perfectly captures the chaotic and fast-paced nature of the gameplay, while
also grounding it in a familiar cultural context. The word
Kedai refers to a kedai runcit, or traditional convenience store,
which is instantly recognizable and relatable to the target audience. The
addition of Khaos (a playful twist on the word "chaos") highlights
the game's fast-paced, memory-driven challenge, emphasizing the fun and
energetic atmosphere of trying to pack items under pressure.
Week 5
This week, I made significant progress in refining my board game by diving deeper into its core components. I focused on defining the game rules, determining the ideal size for the item tokens, and brainstorming packaging ideas. To bring these ideas to life, I conducted a simple test run to evaluate the gameplay and gather insights for further improvements.
Week 5
This week, I made significant progress in refining my board game by diving deeper into its core components. I focused on defining the game rules, determining the ideal size for the item tokens, and brainstorming packaging ideas. To bring these ideas to life, I conducted a simple test run to evaluate the gameplay and gather insights for further improvements.
3.0 Simple Game Tester
After doing the test run, I realized that having so many tokens in a
small area was challenging to play with, especially since players only
had 30 seconds to collect the items. They had to search through a
cluttered space, which made the gameplay experience less enjoyable. The
test run also made me realize that having 5 categories of tokens might
be too much, so I decided to reduce both the number of tokens and
categories. This allowed me to focus on improving the gameplay
experience and making it more engaging for players.
Week 6
4.0 Art Direction
This week, we didn’t have any consultations as it was presentation week. Instead, we showcased our progress to other lecturers. I presented my slides, and I’m glad to say everything went smoothly, leaving me feeling confident about the direction of my project.
5.0 Proposal Presentation Slides
REFLECTION
Reflecting on this project, I can't believe I was able to push through and complete it. When I first started, I never imagined that I could actually create a board game, but here I am, having done it, and I am incredibly proud of myself. This journey has been so rewarding, and I couldn't have done it without the support and guidance from my lecturers and family. Their encouragement kept me going, and I am truly thankful for their presence throughout this process.
Week 8
This week, I began working on the visual designs for my board game, starting with the item tokens. I created a detailed list of all the tokens needed and dove straight into designing each one. Once the initial designs were complete, I refined them by recoloring everything to ensure a cohesive and polished look. Afterward, I printed the designs to evaluate the colors and see how they appeared on paper, ensuring they matched my vision for the game.
This week, I began working on the visual designs for my board game, starting with the item tokens. I created a detailed list of all the tokens needed and dove straight into designing each one. Once the initial designs were complete, I refined them by recoloring everything to ensure a cohesive and polished look. Afterward, I printed the designs to evaluate the colors and see how they appeared on paper, ensuring they matched my vision for the game.
6.0 Designing Tokens
After finishing my item tokens, I moved on to designing the order cards.
However, when I began working on them, I encountered a problem. The
initial card types I had planned made the game feel overly complicated,
and the gameplay experience wasn’t as smooth as I’d hoped. To resolve
this, I rethought the card structure. Instead of the original structure,
I decided to include 40 normal order cards and 20 khaos cards, creating
a better balance and ensuring a more enjoyable flow for the game.
I also created four different types of khaos cards to introduce more variation and excitement into the challenge cards. This addition ensures that each game round feels unique and adds an extra layer of fun and unpredictability to the gameplay.
Week 14
6.1 Recolored Tokens
Week 9
This week, I shared my item tokens with Ms. Anis for feedback. She
pointed out that the tokens were a bit difficult to see and that
the colors still felt somewhat dull. To improve the visibility and
vibrancy, she suggested brightening the colors and adding shadows
to the items. Additionally, she recommended swapping the border
colors between the miscellaneous and household items &
personal care categories, as blue is more closely associated with
personal care products.
7.0 Final Item Token Design
I also created four different types of khaos cards to introduce more variation and excitement into the challenge cards. This addition ensures that each game round feels unique and adds an extra layer of fun and unpredictability to the gameplay.
7.1 Type of Khaos Cards
7.2 Draft 1 - Order Cards Design
Week 10
This week, I presented my initial order card designs to Ms. Anis. She
pointed out that the khaos cards looked too similar to the normal cards,
which could make it difficult for players to differentiate between them.
To resolve this, she suggested adding borders around the khaos cards for
better identification. Additionally, she noted that the readability of
the cards could be improved, so I’ll need to revisit the font choice for
the khaos cards to make sure they’re clearer and more legible.
8.0 Draft 2 - Order Cards Design
Week 11
This week, I also started thinking about the packaging for my board
game. Ms. Anis suggested that I consult Mr. Shamsul, who has more
expertise in packaging, so I did. He offered some helpful suggestions
for the packaging design and recommended that I create a prototype
first before finalizing the actual game box. This approach will allow
me to test the concept and make adjustments before committing to the
final design. Therefore, I bought materials online and went to
Illustrator to create all the necessary measurements and dielines
before starting to make the prototype.
9.0 Prototype Dielines
9.1 Prototype
Other than that, I also began designing the game money, experimenting
with a few different variations to see which one would best fit the
overall theme and aesthetic of the game. Ms. Anis suggested changing the
font on the money, as the current one wasn’t very readable. She
mentioned that the second design looked better and that it’s important
to create contrast with the game money to distinguish it from the board
game itself.
9.2 Game Money Design
9.3 Revised Game Money Design
Week 12
This week, I showed Ms. Anis and Mr. Shamsul my prototype. They said
it looked pretty good, but there were still areas for improvement.
They provided valuable suggestions on how I could enhance the
packaging. After hearing their feedback, I gained a clearer vision
of how to execute the actual game box and immediately began working
on it. I started by measuring all the dimensions and creating the
dieline in Illustrator. Once that was done, I headed to the laser
cutter room to cut everything. Although the process wasn’t the
smoothest, I managed to push through and successfully cut all the
parts I needed for the box.
After completing the cutting process, I began assembling the box. At
the same time, I started getting everything printed. I focused on
printing the stickers first, as I needed them to paste onto the item
tokens. I also printed out the game money and carefully cut each
piece by hand.
10.0 Dieline for Laser Cutting
10.1 Progress Pictures
10.2 Compilation of Progress Videos
Week 13
This week, I focused on finalizing the designs for my cards. I also
printed out the wrap needed to complete the assembly of the box.
Once I finished designing the cards, I sent them out for printing.
However, the printing service had specific requirements, and I was
forced to change my designs to meet their specifications. While it
was an unexpected adjustment, it was necessary to ensure the final
prints would turn out as expected.
11.0 Wrap Design
11.1 Order Cards Design
Additionally, I laser-cut the dividers for my gameboard and
assembled them. I also printed out the graphics and carefully
pasted them onto the gameboard to bring the design together.
11.2 Assembling Gameboard
11.3 Final Gameboards
Week 14
This week, I was nearly finished with everything, with only the
final component left which is the game instructions. I designed the
instructions in Illustrator and printed them out, ensuring they were
clear and visually cohesive with the rest of the game. Afterward, I
added some finishing touches to the box, marking the completion of
my board game! We also had a final presentation, and with that, my
work is officially done.
12.0 Game Instruction Design
12.1 Kedai Khaos Board Game
12.2 Kedai Khaos Game Box
12.3 Final Presentation Slides
Kedai Khaos Board Game
13.0 Final Compilation
13.1 Kedai Khaos Brand Guideline
13.2 Kedai Khaos Photo 1
13.3 Kedai Khaos Photo 2
REFLECTION
Reflecting on this project, I can't believe I was able to push through and complete it. When I first started, I never imagined that I could actually create a board game, but here I am, having done it, and I am incredibly proud of myself. This journey has been so rewarding, and I couldn't have done it without the support and guidance from my lecturers and family. Their encouragement kept me going, and I am truly thankful for their presence throughout this process.
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