Danger the game

I came up with the idea for Danger The Game in late 2015 after helping a friend on a concept for a scrabble-like game where you create inventions. The idea soon evolved into a story telling party game using different skills and tools to rescue victims from bizarre and dangerous scenarios.

I pitched it to my friend and after some discussion with others, we began to fully develop the concept. After many iterations, a failed Kickstarter, and a total company rebranding, Danger The Game officially released in 2019.

It along with two expansions can be found at OrigamiWhale.com, Amazon, and select Target or Barnes & Noble retail stores.

Role: Lead Designer

Contributions:

  • Designed the original concept and gameplay

  • Created multiple prototypes for playtesting and evaluation

  • Wrote card and instruction text in collaboration with the team

  • Sketched initial art and card designs

  • Researched multiple games within the same space, pinpointing what works and does not

  • Refined and drafted the art as well as box and instruction designs using the Adobe Suite

  • Worked on promotional material ranging from digital and print.

Prototype V1

When I first began creating the prototype, I started with handwritten note cards but quickly realized that would take way too long and lead to carpal tunnel. I quickly pivoted to typing everything out and set up a template in Photoshop for easy printing. To combat players being able to read the card before it was show, I added watermarks to the back that also identified the card type. It didn’t do much to stop the bleed, but it worked well enough for playtesting purposes.

Prototype V2

For the next prototype, I used heavier duty paper that alleviated the bleed issues while also making them far more sturdy. Some cards where edited or replaced based on initial feedback and the game started to take shape.

Also pictured is a business card we used to help promote the upcoming Kickstarter.

Prototype V3

These were the first factory produced versions of the game. Only three were made for budget reasons, but each was used at numerous conventions and local settings to continue playtesting and refining the basic rules of play.

I created the files and templates used to make these cards as well as sketched concepts for the art featured on them. At the time we hired an outside artist to assist in completing the art. I and another member of the team took these pieces and cleaned them up for the final prints.

Prototype V4 and Plot Twist

After lots of testing and discussion, the cards were mostly finalized. During development, I came up with a new card type that would introduce some variety to the game. Initially it was planned as an expansion, but after positive feedback and requests to include it in the base game, we decided it was best to incorporate it into the core gameplay. This was the right choice as games from this point on became from more dynamic and interesting for players.

Final and Expansions

With years of development and playtesting, Danger The Game was finally completed and ready for the shelves. I was responsible for the drafts of the box’s layout as well as designs for the logos and instructions. Although it took a few more years to get a proper distributer for the base game, we began work on expansions.

The first expansion consisted of more cards and took about a year to produce. The second expansion was much larger, not only introducing new cards, but also new mechanics based around RPGs like D&D. This new take on the game included a booklet that broke down various RPG concepts and helped players create an overarching narrative for their adventure. My role on this expansion was focused more on the art side as the main designer was another member of the team.

Below are some of the thumbnails I created for cards in the first and second expansions as well as the adventurers book.