Assignment description

Throughout the course you will modify, playtest, and improve a game, engaging in several parts of the game design process.

At the end of the course you will have a card game you can play, keep improving, and use as a portfolio artefact.

1.1 Tiny Pixel Fights

The assignment game is Tiny Pixel Fights. It is a high-fantasy pixel-art card game in which emblematic classes and medieval fantasy town folk form groups and fight each other (because medieval times were crazy).

You will modify this base game in many ways to make it your own. Every student’s game will be different, so try new things as long as they align with your design goals and result in an engaging game.

1.1.1 Print & Play

Download the assignment card pack from your course materials (GDT Game Design Essentials Assignment Cards.zip) and print one set. You can also create the cards with pen and paper. Use the default names and numbers on the cards for now.

Do not print or use files named with the Assignment4_ prefix yet. Those are for Lesson 4. There is also an interactive PDF for custom numbers and abilities later in the course.

You may add more space for parameters later, or leave empty spaces unused. That is your decision as designer. For now, copy the mechanics and parameters as indicated on the cards.

If you still have the PDF companion (Companion Website - Game Design Essentials Tools, Theories and Techniques.pdf), you can use it for offline work.

1.1.2 Tiny Pixel Fights rules

2-player game
8 cards + 1 cheat sheet
Game end: the player who loses all their characters loses. The remaining player wins.
- Both players can lose their last character at the same time, which is a draw.

Watch the how-to-play video from the original course materials if you have it.

Setup

Choose a way to decide who goes first.
Each player chooses 1 character in order until both have 4 characters.
Put all characters in a horizontal line facing your opponent’s characters (it does not matter which characters face each other).

Gameplay

Players take turns attacking with 1 of their characters.
The first player chooses one of their characters (the attacker) and one opponent character (the defender).
After a player finishes attacking with one character, it is the opponent’s turn.
When attacking:
- Choose the attacker and the defender.
- The attacker reduces the defender’s life by the attacker’s attack value.
- At the same time, the attacker’s life is reduced by the defender’s attack value.
Damage is accumulated. Use coins, glass stones, or similar tokens to track current damage.
When a character’s life is 0 or less, remove that character from the game.

Empty spaces on the card key are for new mechanics you will add later.

1.1.3 Reference games

If you are not familiar with card games, use the titles below as references for mechanics, systems, art, and so on. They are free to start with. You may also use other card games you know better.

Note elements that catch your attention. One example is given for each; play them and add more.

Commonly used mechanics in card games

Deck of cards
Hand of cards