Presenter(s)
Stephanie Dasbach
Abstract
Alien Out is a space-themed pop-up board game where players complete mini challenges on different planets to help lost aliens return home, offering multiple ways to play: solo, competitive, or team-based. The goal is to create a versatile gameplay experience that accommodates different player dynamics, ensuring that individuals, small groups, or larger teams can engage with the game without limitations. The concept is inspired by a love for astronomy and a desire to incorporate interactive pop-up elements into board game design. By combining these elements, Alien Out aims to provide an immersive, strategic, and visually dynamic experience.
The development of the game required extensive research into pop-up mechanics, game design principles, and interactive storytelling. Foundational research involved studying books and online resources on paper engineering, exploring techniques to build engaging three-dimensional elements. Mind-mapping and sketching were essential in conceptualizing the overall layout of the board, the interactive features, and the narrative flow. The design process included testing various materials such as paper, poster board, wires, magnets, and hot glue to construct the first prototype, ensuring that the pop-up elements function effectively. These materials allow for flexibility in refining the mechanics while maintaining the game’s structural integrity.
A key aspect of the design process was the use of Adobe Illustrator. Used to develop the board’s layout, game pieces, and design supporting elements such as cards and packaging. The design plays a crucial role in reinforcing the game’s theme, enhancing the user interface, and making gameplay instructions clear and accessible. The iterative process of prototyping and playtesting, was instrumental in refining game mechanics. Playtests were conducted with classmates and friends to gather feedback on the game’s flow, usability, and overall engagement. These sessions helped identify areas that needed improvement, leading to adjustments that enhanced the game’s overall balance, smoothness, and functionality.
The final product is a fully functional and visually engaging board game that provides an exciting experience while showcasing strong design and packaging skills. Through this project, valuable insights into game development, interactive design, and user-centered experiences were gained. All in all, this project contributes to my deeper understanding of both the creative and technical aspects of board game production.
College
College of Liberal Arts
Department
Art & Design
Campus
Winona
First Advisor/Mentor
Danilo Bojic
Start Date
4-24-2025 10:00 AM
End Date
4-24-2025 11:00 AM
Presentation Type
Poster Session
Format of Presentation or Performance
In-Person
Session
1b=10am-11am
Poster Number
20
Included in
Alien Out
Alien Out is a space-themed pop-up board game where players complete mini challenges on different planets to help lost aliens return home, offering multiple ways to play: solo, competitive, or team-based. The goal is to create a versatile gameplay experience that accommodates different player dynamics, ensuring that individuals, small groups, or larger teams can engage with the game without limitations. The concept is inspired by a love for astronomy and a desire to incorporate interactive pop-up elements into board game design. By combining these elements, Alien Out aims to provide an immersive, strategic, and visually dynamic experience.
The development of the game required extensive research into pop-up mechanics, game design principles, and interactive storytelling. Foundational research involved studying books and online resources on paper engineering, exploring techniques to build engaging three-dimensional elements. Mind-mapping and sketching were essential in conceptualizing the overall layout of the board, the interactive features, and the narrative flow. The design process included testing various materials such as paper, poster board, wires, magnets, and hot glue to construct the first prototype, ensuring that the pop-up elements function effectively. These materials allow for flexibility in refining the mechanics while maintaining the game’s structural integrity.
A key aspect of the design process was the use of Adobe Illustrator. Used to develop the board’s layout, game pieces, and design supporting elements such as cards and packaging. The design plays a crucial role in reinforcing the game’s theme, enhancing the user interface, and making gameplay instructions clear and accessible. The iterative process of prototyping and playtesting, was instrumental in refining game mechanics. Playtests were conducted with classmates and friends to gather feedback on the game’s flow, usability, and overall engagement. These sessions helped identify areas that needed improvement, leading to adjustments that enhanced the game’s overall balance, smoothness, and functionality.
The final product is a fully functional and visually engaging board game that provides an exciting experience while showcasing strong design and packaging skills. Through this project, valuable insights into game development, interactive design, and user-centered experiences were gained. All in all, this project contributes to my deeper understanding of both the creative and technical aspects of board game production.
