YOU MAKE THE RULES
Your game starts with an idea.
What if you made a game your friends could play? Start small. A maze with one exit is already a game. Grab some paper and a pencil. You do not need a computer yet.
From idea to game in three steps
Choose the goal
What must the player do? For example: lead Pli to the treasure. Draw a starting point and some treasure on your paper.
Think of one rule
Draw walls between the start and the treasure. You cannot go through a wall. Make sure you leave a path to the treasure!
Let someone play
Ask someone to follow the path with a finger. Is it too easy? Add one wall. Then try it again.
TRY IT YOURSELF · ON PAPER
Give your maze a twist
Choose one extra rule. That is plenty for now. Draw what the player needs to do.
- Draw a door in front of the treasure. Put a key on the path to the door. The door only opens if you have the key.
- Or draw a star. Picking up the star earns an extra point.
How do I know if my rule works?
Play both ways: with and without the key or star. Does what you planned happen? Explain your rule to someone else and let them play too.
Ready to try it on a computer?
There is a laser maze in the Pliro projects. Open it with a grown-up. Change something small and see what happens.