Hi, my name is Michael. I love games. All games are loved by me. If you can play it, I probably love it.
I've been married since 2007 and I'm the proud father of 3 school-aged kids.
In my limited-free time, I've worked to blend two interests of mine together - learning to code and making new games out of old games using technology.
I reserve the right to be a complex person, liking video games but disliking screen addition.
I think augmented reality (AR) will play a big role in the future of gaming.
As they reduce the clunk factor, we'll start to see some really cool stuff.
And if AR is going to have a place together with board games, it's important to me that the games on those platforms are developed for people over profit.
To me, that means:
- Avoiding additive game elements (like the ones that plague mobile games).
- Microtransactions are handled responsibly.
- Basically, that games are enjoyable and don't cost well-being.
Growing up, I would beg my two older brothers to play Monopoly. That enthusiasm died prematurely.
You see, anytime they'd land on one of my big-money properties, they'd quit unless I gave them properties. I basically paid them to lose to them.
Those memories resurfaced after playing some co-operative games.
I began to wonder, "Why couldn't you change the rules of Monopoly and make it cooperative?"
I continued messing with that idea and Awesome Town took shape.
I'm really excited about this game not because its so amazing, I'm excited about the potential I see in this project.
At first, I was worried that adding a screen to a board game would negatively impact board games "One more screen people are glued to".
I think technology (screens or AR) blending with board games is inevitable, but I also think it could be amazing if done right.
Here are my goals for mixing technology with board games:
- It is fun.
- It is not distructive.
- The experience couldn't be achieved any other way..
No. Awesome Town is not an AR game...yet. I see it as a first attempt at technology adding new elements to games—in this case:
- an algorithm to distribute tourists that's far too complex to handle in a purely analog board game.
- a computer opponent.
- randomization of virtual population so every game is different.
Future Planned Elements:
- Competition between other people's games.
- Plot twists like natural desasters, robot uprises, crime and influencers.
- Customizable graphics.
In the future, I see potential for
- Combat games like Risk could have fog of war, heroes, cover, flanking, moral, fatigue.
- Economic games, like Awesome Town, can have multi-household potential.
- All kinds of games could have scenarios like alien invasion, zombie apocalypse, natural disasters, influencers, etc.
- Another HUGE potential is how game developers could make games as platforms for user-generated content. So, maybe Isaac Childres publishes Gloomhaven with it's 95 scenarios and fans create another 300 scenarios.
- Lastly, I see AR infused board games as a way to draw video gamers into a more social game setting. My friends and I played a ton of Star Craft, Command and Conquer, etc. we always sat alone in front of our computers. Can you imagine how fun it would be to play a realtime strategy game with AR in your living room together with your friends?
About Me |
Why I Made this Project |
Project Concerns |
The Potential Here |
About Project
