Grinding: Games in the Play Testing Phase

Game Design, On the Crab

Unpub 3 – On the Crab update

My experience at the recent Unpub 3 event in Delaware was AWESOME! I got to meet a lot of people – designers and publishers. I wasn’t completely prepared for the event with my demo of On the Crab and Mill City, but it was still awesome. I got to play a lot of great games…

Buzzkill: Life on the Highway of Death, On the Crab

Getting back into the saddle

Well all, between my job killing my creative stress and promises of publishing with a company diminished, I took a break from any designing… well not exactly. With the introduction of several new fishing games and the complaint that On the Crab was a solitaire game, I decided to merge a few ideas together and…

On the Crab

Play test kit #1 of v9.3

I managed to assemble a play test kit for OTC v9.3 that went out to a gamer at BGG.con. Let’s see what they have to say. I am working on one to go down to the guys in Richmond next. I made some minor modifications to v9.3 which include increasing the crab volume, removing a…

On the Crab

OTC v9.3 play test kit build

Ok… So I spent today assembling a play test kit for OTC v9.3. 80% is printed. I need to do the weather cards and player boards. Then cut and glue and pack. Let’s see how tomorrow goes at work. Hopefully, I am not drained and can work on getting this task completed. I really would…

On the Crab

Idea for v10

Well I just had an epiphany for OTC that I am going to try to flush out this snowy weekend. I am sensing a late night tonight on the computer.

On the Crab

Play test of OTC v9.3

Adeel and I played OTC v9.3. This version is an attempt to reduce the number of cards and also the amount of math in the game. Unfortunately, it does increase the number of cardboard components, which hopefully is not too costly. In addition, I reduced the number of rounds from 24 down to 21. The…

On the Crab

Play test OTC v9.2 with Richmond Crowd

OTC v9.2 was play tested down in Richmond with Nathan, John, Bryan, and Justin. The game went well. However, John really took it on the chin with the storms, ice pack, and crab kill losses. However, the winner only won by $4. So recommendations: – I modified the max card draw, but did not realize…

On the Crab

Play test of v9.2 with Geoff, Madelyn, and Josh

Play tonight at the Game Parlor in Chantilly with Geoff, Madelyn, and Josh. Madelyn walked through the rules and for the most part they were right on. Josh got caught up in storm alley. Geoff had the run of red. I lost time trying to limp along. And I have no idea what Madelyn was…

On the Crab

Play test of v9.1 with Ryan

Greetings. Had a 2 player play test with Ryan yesterday that lasted about 1.25 hours. Ryan won with $78. Eric lost with $62. Ryan liked how the game played. The weather was deadly when trying to fish in red. The ice pack made it to row 2. Orange field was not touched and all sales…