The Birth of Atomic Edge
Board games don’t just materialize out of thin air. Our first game, Atomic Edge, is no different. The journey began in early 2020, sparked by a fascinating Hardcore History podcast by Dan Carlin about the Cuban Missile Crisis. As a history enthusiast and a strategy game enjoyer, I thought, “This bluffing, confusion, and tension could make an incredible game.” So, I started brainstorming and before long, Atomic Edge began to take form. Interestingly, this was right when the world started going into lockdown due to COVID.
Being confined at home turned out to be a boon for the game’s development. With nowhere to go and plenty of time on my hands, I was able to dedicate myself to developing the game. By the time summer arrived, I had a working prototype and decided to give Atomic Edge its first playtest on the Fourth of July with some friends.
Well, the game fell apart within 20 minutes and was a confusing mess.
But to my surprise, my friends and my wife saw past the initial chaos. They could see the potential of a great game concept beneath the rough exterior. That’s when I realized the importance of playtesting. What made sense in my head didn’t necessarily translate well when other people with different play styles got involved. For instance, I’m usually a cautious and reserved player. I like to take my time and ensure my strategy is solid before making a move. But one of my friends is more of a shoot-first-ask-questions-later kind of player. The moment he realized he could launch nuclear attacks on his opponents, he was all in.
Playtesting Round Two
So, I went back to the drawing board and a few weeks later, I ran another playtest with a couple of friends. This time, Atomic Edge seemed to be heading in a better direction. It was still rough around the edges, but it was starting to feel like a real game. After that, I kept refining the game, played it several more times, and began to smooth out the gameplay, the rules, and the mechanics. At the time of writing this, I have completed dozens of playtests and feel that the gameplay is in a very stable place. If you’d like to get an early look at Atomic Edge, sign up to be a playtester!
Lessons Learned So Far
When people say you need to playtest your game non-stop, they’re absolutely right. I learned that lesson early on and I believe it’s put me on a much better path. There are still plenty more playtests to come and I’m excited for all the feedback.
Looking ahead, I plan to keep this dev blog updated regularly with all the latest on the game’s development. Currently, I’m a bit tied up with some bigger-picture stuff, so the next few updates will delve into the details of the game itself.
As Pablo Picasso once said, “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” So, let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work!