Board Game
Tech: Illustrator
Materials: Acrylic boards, Water, Sponge, Clay, Oil, Washing detergent
Tech: Illustrator
Materials: Acrylic boards, Water, Sponge, Clay, Oil, Washing detergent
“Let It Flow” is an exciting board game where players guide water drops through various obstacles and challenges on a game board. But what makes this game unique is the use of unconventional materials like sponges, clay, oil, and washing detergent. Sponges can soak up water, clay can block its flow, oil traps it, and washing detergent frees it. Players must use strategy and creativity to navigate the game board and overcome these obstacles to reach the end. “Let It Flow” is a fun and challenging game that can be enjoyed by all ages!
Process
I started experimenting with the tension and mobility of water on an acrylic board. Seeing how the water drops merged with each other in forming different shapes and how the shapes changed as time went by, I thought it would be suitable for a territory game—while players can compete with each other, occupying lands with water, they also need to make sure that the water would not flood their territory.
With the idea in mind, I designed the first game map and leaser cut the acrylic game board. For the initial playtest, I put the game board on iPad and had the digital game map on the screen, and tested out the proper size of the grids.
Eventually, I designed and printed out three kinds of game map, each representing a different scenario.
Game #1: Flow for Flourish
Materials: Water
In “Flow for Flourish,” two players will compete with each other in watering the fields. With a limited amount of water, the one who irrigates more fields wins. However, players should be cautious not to flood the village or run into pollutants that will contaminate the water body.
Game #2: Flow for Freedom
Materials: Water, Oil, Washing Detergent
In “Flow for Freedom,” two players that represent water warriors will fight against a third player that represent an oil monster. Water warriors win when they beat the oil monster and protect the villages, while the oil monster wins when it occupies the villages. The oil monster has the power to trap water warriors, and the only way for the water warriors to fight against the monster is to obtain washing detergent to restrict the movement of the oil monster.
Game #3: Flow for Fast
Materials: Water, Sponge, Clay
In “Flow for Fast”, two players will try to get to the shore in the center to avoid getting drowned. The first one who reaches the shore is the winner. But be careful of the obstacles around—while sponges will absorb players’ limited water source, the clay blocks might prevent players from going in the direction they want.