Making my Game

After the practical workshop i was really inspired and motivated to start with making my game and planning it. I thought the best place to start would be to go to 3D and print to see what i could do and what resources there is in the uni that i could use to make a board game, and from that i know my options before i start designing.

I first went down to 3D to see how i could make the packaging elements for my game. I found that i can laser cut my net for the packaging, which i would need an induction which i can book with the programme administrator. This would be really useful as it can cut thick materials an do it precisely, which will be good to produce a professional box, with good, sturdy materials.

Whilst i was there i spoke to the technician where i asked about plastic vacuum moulding, which i would like to use for inside the box to have compartments for the different elements of the game. Although i know this isn't exactly a necessity, i want to make the game as professional as i can, with this being what i think, an important part to the presentation.

To do this i wouldn't need an induction, i just need to go a week before to book a slot with them. I will need help to make a wooden mould for the vacuuming. He reminded me that i will need to consider tapered angles for each compartment within my design, otherwise it is difficult to get the plastic away from the mould. I will have to keep this in mind and spend adequate time on designing so these issues can be resolved.

I also need to measure the size of the vacuum before designing as i will need to take into consideration what size mould can fit into the machine.

I then went to the digital print room to see what options there are for printing a board game, whether i can print onto a thick board etc. He told me that i could actually print onto board, but the only problem with that is that i wouldn't be able to fold it. Although this could be used as an alternative, i would really like to find a way that i could make it fold, so it could fit in the box and it all be functional like a real game.

After this i spoke to my tutor who told me a way that i could make a board that actually folds. It wouldn't be a technique that would last long term, but as a prototype it would be very good as it wouldn't be used a lot. With this i would need two halves of the board and then leave a slight gap in between and use the material used in hard back book covers to hold the boards together at the back and the game design printed and stuck on the front, the gap in the middle of the board making it able to fold up.