CPSC 386 Introduction to Game Design and Production

Rosa Farre
Fall 2014
October 4, 14
California State University
Ana Carolina Castro
Assignment #1

Game: Helping Gisele

a) Formal elements
1. The game creator did identify all 6 aspects of Juuls classic game
model clearly and correctly.
2. The game has an emergent structure. The game has rules that leads
the match to have several possibilities, which makes the players come
up with strategies.
3. Some parts of the rules were not very clear.
i. The ending game condition was not specified at the game
rules section and it is not very specified, the game design says
The game ends when the first three human game pieces
escape the haunted house it is not clear if the game ends
when the first three human pieces of both team scape or if they
must be of the same team. The winning condition was not
written there too, but it is at the goal section.
ii. Also, the game design didnt explain about the ladder, if the
player had to stop at its space or if you could use the ladder as
a shortcut and pass by it and keep advancing spaces during
the same turn.
iii. The game creator did not clarify what to do when a player ends
up at a space with more than one piece to scare.

iv. The game designer says that you can use some bonus card
can be used immediately or hold for later depending on the
type, but dont specify which one(s) can or not.
4. The game creator didnt translate the rules in algorithmic form nether
as FSM.
5. Yes, it is clear that the goal of the game is to have more points
accumulated.
b) Non-formal elements
1. Yes, the sources of conflict are detailed in the document.
2. Yes, the challenges are clearly outlined and I agree with them.
3. Yes, I agreed with all the strategies presented, I would add the
strategy that you use the right piece to end the yellow spaces, so you
get a lot of bonus cards. For example, if you got 5 on dice and you
have on piece that is exactly 5 spaces away of the yellow space and
others are far or closer, you chose the option with the right number.
Since the yellow cards is always beneficial it is better to reach them
then to try to scary one of the other players piece.
4. Yes. Dynamic, fun, and entertainer.
5. Yes, the game is related to memory and chance, so it is correct to say
that the game appeal to player that have good memory and like to
play with the element of chance.
6. Yes, the game does identify the skill level of the players and I agreed.
The game does not provide ways of adjusting for different skill levels.
7. It is not present at the documentation.
8. No, it does not specify any forms of feedback.
9. Yes, there is design/customization in the game elements. The choice
was made based at the story. The board image is a hunted house, the
spaces colors are dark, and the player are related to story as well (not
the design, only the representation), which complement and is related
to the rules of the game.
c) Suggestions

One suggestion it would be that if the player ends at the second ladder space,
he has to go back. By adding this element of chance the game becomes a
little bit more challenging to the player reaches the end.