The Final [Assessed] Showdown

2-Player Head-to-Head - Rob Vs Chris (Best of Three)...

"Let the judging commence!"

Rob wins 2-1. Well done Rob 

(and we'll get you a little bell to try out before the end of the semester I promise)

Final Presentation Slideshow

View Slideshow

Playtest Feedback Forms

More Playtesting

2-Player Head-to-Head Playtest Joseph Vs Justin Beiber...

ITERATION: Pizza tripods added at the top of each player Start Ramp to act as 'starting block' Ball Holders, so they cant move about of their own accord before the game begins.

2-Player Head-to-Head Playtest Joseph Vs Jesus...

ITERATION: Giant Ring goal moved to inside of track to give players a better angle (no stretching or bending across the table needed).

Playtester Jack raises some unexpected/awkward questions, so I appease him with Chaos emeralds...

ITERATION: Control Mechanisms (Straw and Paddle) compared.

Single Player Game - Sully decides he wants to see once and for all which game mechanic really is best in a brutal straw Vs paddle showdown...

ITERATION: Gold Rings made smaller in an attempt to stop the ball getting lodged/stuck if travelling on the outside or inside of the hoop. This was interrupting the flow and speed of the game.

Single Player "Collector" Game - A more leisurely test lap but nevertheless, Ruth proves that the game does appeal to female players, young or old (older than me anyway)...

ITERATION: Gold Rings moved to outer edge of the racing line to remove risk of getting stuck entirely.

ITERATION: Larger Straws!

2-Player "Cheat-to-Cheat" Playtest Alfie Vs Grant (then two minutes Vs the ramp)...

2-Player Head-to-Head Playtest Grant Vs Eddie...

ITERATION: Extra Grass Buffer added near both player Start Ramps to help prevent the Balls from being intentionally blown off the table by mischievous players.

And Here's One I Made Earlier.

When I say "made earlier" it actually took about a week of hard work and involved a tedious amount of cutting and sticking, plus shed loads of cash spent on printing! So was it all worth it? Absolutely I say!

Concept Sketches and Notes V0.3

I tried to consider various circuit designs where I could incorporate my rail idea but it wasn't working out - neither in my head or on paper. I just couldn't get around the fact that I knew an opponent would end up interfering (intentionally or not) with any player ball that was attempting to traverse it. I felt that this would by criticised by my playtester's and rejected as unfair. Since I couldn't decide on a solution to this potential problem I abandoned it. Time was short and I wanted to get my final prototype into production ASAP.

After deliberating for the rest of the evening I returned to one of my original sketches and realised it had everything it needed, so why was I over-complicating the matter? I carefully re-drafted my earlier track concept (to help me think on how easy/feasible it would be to build as I did so) and locked it down as 'FINAL' ... well, subject to change only after all components were complete and playtested is what I mean!

Track Designs For Final Cutouts

I've prepared some image templates in PhotoShop, which I can print on good quality A2 paper and cut my final track pieces out of...

Game Logo

Similar(ish) Concepts That Already Exist

As part of my research I scoured the internet looking for games that were similar to my idea. After many MANY hours I failed to come up with a direct comparison but there were some products I noted as bearing some resembling features (which should be obvious just from the photos) and wanted to mention them on the blog. If you wish to learn more about any of the items listed here, please follow the links provided on the Reference and Resource List page for further details (including videos of many of them in action).

• DaGeDar 

• Screwball Scramble

• Paper Rollercoasters/Marble Runs

• Handmade Cardboard R/C Race Tracks

• Fingerboarding

• Block N Roll/Race N Roll

• BiSikle

• Hair Formula 1

Though completely unaware of it happening at the time... this piece was perhaps the original subliminal trigger behind Sonic Blow/Wings - I randomly came across an art installation many months ago whilst researching for my Box of Neutrals F1 racing game. I think it somehow embedded itself deep in my memory banks because ultimately what I've done is replaced the hairdryers with a non-electrical means of wind power! Looking back on these images now, it's no wonder I was inspired - you can't help but marvel at the creative ingenuity of this masterpiece.

A Formula 1 racetrack constructed from hair dryers, hair curlers and hairpins. When the audience pushes the red button all the dryers start simultaneously, which results in a massive sound reminiscent of the roar from cars at a racetrack.

The ping-pong ball follows the current of air around the track, and the guardrail of rollers helps it to survive the “hairpin bend.”~ Michael Johansson

60 Second Retro Gamer Podcast 01 - Sonic The Hedgehog (MegaDrive)

Listen to the full podcast episode by pressing play below...