Maximum Security
2016
Group Leader / Game Designer
Student Project
Maximum Security is a 2-6 player board game where players take on the roles of prisoners attempting to escape a maximum-security prison. Each player is assigned a unique prisoner with special abilities and must navigate the prison, collecting items, avoiding guards, and sabotaging opponents. The game features both competitive and cooperative modes, offering diverse strategies and engaging player dynamics.
As part of an introductory game design course at SCAD, I collaborated with a small team to create Maximum Security. I contributed heavily to the core design, mechanics, and iterative development process, ensuring the game was fun, balanced, and replayable. This project introduced me to foundational game design principles and methodologies that have shaped my approach to design ever since.
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Game Design:
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Designed the core rules and mechanics, including player abilities, item card effects, and win conditions for both competitive and cooperative modes.
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Balanced the game to ensure both modes offered unique yet equally engaging experiences.
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Created the prison layout, incorporating multiple escape routes requiring varied strategies.
My Contributions
Iterative Development:
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Conducted extensive playtesting sessions, gathering feedback and identifying areas for improvement.
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Iteratively refined the game by adjusting the prison layout, introducing new item cards, and tweaking rules to amplify the game’s core fun—player sabotage.
Collaboration and Leadership:
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Fostered a collaborative environment within the team, encouraging brainstorming and creative problem-solving.
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Organized tasks and facilitated group discussions to ensure consistent progress and alignment.
Presentation and Documentation:
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Documented rules and game mechanics in a clear, player-friendly format.
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Created a polished presentation for the class, showcasing the game’s features and development process.
Results:
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Developed a fully playable board game prototype that engaged players with its dynamic mechanics and competitive interactions.
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Introduced to iterative design principles, which became a cornerstone of my design philosophy.
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Strengthened my ability to identify and amplify the "fun" in a game through extensive playtesting and refinement.
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Sparked my passion for game design, setting the stage for my future projects and professional development.