I wanted to share a special project I recently undertook that combined two of my passions: the love of my life, Katy, and board gaming. As I planned a unique way to propose, I thought, why not design a board game that encapsulates our journey? (FYI, I’m not married yet but I was still smart enough to ask for permission to post this first in case Katy didn’t want to share it with the world)
I’ll introduce the game first but I’ll come back later to show my design process, how the game works, and how I had the game produced.
Concept:
‘Snapshots’ isn’t just any game—it’s the story of Katy and me. Each space and card represents memories, places, and experiences that shaped our relationship. From our first chat to memorable trips, every step was a trip down memory lane.
Components:
1. **Memory Tiles:** These tiles have photographs representing moments of our lives. Some are joyous occasions, others are simple daily moments we cherish, and some are even memories we might want to forget but still shaped our lives.
2. **Special Tiles:** “Move to Dallas”, “Move to Red Oak”, these tiles signaled big changes and decisions in our journey.
3. **Final Card:** The climax of the game, and my heart pounding moment, was the last card that read, “Will you marry me?”
Design Choices:
The most distinctive design element of the game was the face of the memory tiles. Using a woodgrain pattern, I simulated the feel of photos laid out on a tabletop. Special tiles had a corrugated cardboard texture to set them apart (these were the “moving” tiles so cardboard made sense).
The Challenge:
The tricky part was ensuring the game was not only sentimental but also engaging. Balancing personal touches with at least a bare minimum of gameplay mechanics was a challenge, but the look on Katy’s face as we progressed through the game was priceless. Basing the game off of our shared memories meant we had plenty to talk about as we remembered each moment.
Outcome:
I am elated to share that Katy said YES! Not only did the game serve its purpose, but we now also have a keepsake that we can revisit in the years to come.