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How to Build a Proto Board

You've developed your own board game, and you think it is ready for market. Slow down, turbo, you need to play-test it first. If you build your own prototype, you will be able to test your work on the cheap. Is the game balanced? Is it fun? Does the game progress at a good pace, or are there lulls in the play? A prototype will help answer these questions long before your game goes to market, saving you money while giving you a chance to enjoy your game.

Things You'll Need

Printer
Glue
Poster board
Board-game parts

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the game-board from a board game that you already own but do not play. If you don't want to pillage any of the games in your closet, consider picking up a used board game at a thrift store. You will be able to find games for only a few dollars, and they will contain many usable parts.
- 2
  Create an image for your board game board prototype. You can use the program of your choice, or draw the graphic by hand.
- 3
  Paste the image onto the old game board. You can also paste the image directly onto heavy card stock or poster board instead.
- 4
  Create any cards or unique tokens your game needs, using the design program of your choice or by hand. You can create them on a computer, print them and paste them onto cardboard, poster-board or heavy card-stock paper.
- 5
  Ransack your other games for pawns, dice, timers and any other bits your prototype needs.
- 6
  Play-test your board game with a group of friends and fellow designers. Make notes of any issues that arise during play-testing, and write them down.

Board Games