Design at Open

Having recently returned from a short break abroad, the 'service' I chose for my boardgame was booking and heading-off on a budget holiday aboard via an airport.

 

Brainstorming game ideas with my family, identified several potential themes, including 'fill the plane', 'book the extras', and 'beat security'.  This last idea became the chosen theme for my 'Security Smuggle' game where players compete to sneak as many banned items as possible past airport security

 

I wanted to design a game that was fun to play, with a range of different game mechanics such as 'bonus' and 'penalty' cards, a strong element of chance, and an element of learning about items that are banned in hand luggage (or banned in general) from being taken onto a flight.

 

Play-testing my game with family and friends allowed me to refine the game mechanics and my final prototype was thoroughly enjoyed by all - especially the 'catastrophe' element that sent the leading player right back to the start just two squares before the finish! 

 

A further twist at the end of the game means the player who reaches the end of the 'security queue' appears to win, but the final scores are actually determined by the total points 'value' of items in each players' suitcases at the security gate!