Written by Yanbo Dai
After the playtest, we got really good feedback but also found out some flaws. We went through the feedback and then make some changes to make the game better, especially working on wording, organizing, and restriction on voting.
- Sabotage -> Interjection
From the feedback of the game “Movie Mayhem”, play testers found that the movement which is to interact other player with cards is not properly named. When a player wants to “sabotage” others, they sacrifice their own cards, but use it to enlarge other-player’s story. However, on most situation players that got “sabotaged” are actually with short length story and hardly to finish. And “sabotage” just simply enlarge they story and helps them to finish on time. However, the original meaning of “sabotage” is to interfere others movement in bad ways. Due to this, group members had a discussion and decided to change the name “sabotage” to “interjection” which can be both positive and negative meaning. With this wording, later play testers said that it makes more sense, and also helps with understanding the game.
2. A discard pile for each player
From the playtest, play testers also pointed out that while playing the game, cards that are discard are not properly organized. Player just simply throw the card onto the table and sometimes mass the game a bit especially while some players miss take what the card that previous player used into his story. This makes the game seem to be not well organized. So, we make an attempt that making a discard pile for each player so that the cards that are discard will not mass the game while it’s in progress. In later playtests, it shows a better organized game, and no player are disrupted by the discarded cards.
3. Players cannot reward themselves
There’s one more flaw about this game is player can reward themselves in the voting phase. During the playtest, players found that there’s no restriction on voting. So they all reward themselves in order to win the largest prize – “best overall”. This makes the game boring if all players all reward themselves the “best overall” prize but put no effort and passion on making their story in order to win the prize. According to this, we decided to add a restriction that player cannot reward themselves. Due to this, players are only encouraged to make good story to gain honor rather than just vote themselves, and in later playtests players make better story and are more enjoying the game.
After all, several changes make huge different. By making these changes we make the game more reasonable while interjecting other’s story, and we also make the game more organized. Players also enjoy the game more. Trying their best to win the best prize. However, even if they don’t get the “best overall” prize they will also gain they own prize to honor their effort.
We are also creating a website to showcase the game once it is complete and ready to be showcased to the world. Stay tuned for more information, we can’t wait to showcase what we’ve worked on!
The Bits 