Building Board Games with Ruby

Given @ GoGaruco 2014

Board games are seeing a huge resurgence right now, everywhere you look people are playing new games. The Internet and crowd funding has made it possible for almost anyone to design and develop a physical board game.

Join me while I share the story of how I used Ruby to design my first board game. How I honed the game mechanics and optimized all the different moving parts. You will leave this talk knowing the process of designing and developing a board game from scratch and how Ruby can help you iterate fast on new ideas using simple code, simulations and some statistics.

Transcript

1. Building Board Games with Ruby
2. Yonatan Bergman @YONBERGMAN
3. Tech Lead eBay Israel Innovation Center
4. 60+ GAMES* *not my collection
5. Intro to board games
6. Monopoly
7. Risk
8. Settlers of Catan
9. Carcassonne
10. Ticket to Ride
11. Agricola
12. Galaxy Trucker
13. The Resistance
15. 2000 540 Games Published Per Year
16. 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2000 540 547 614 759 850 956 943 974 987 1053 1100 1106 1118 1033 Games Published Per Year
19. GAME DESIGNER
20. GAME DESIGNER
21. PUBLISHER
22. DEVELOPMENT
23. PLAYTESTING
24. MANUFACTURING
25. MANUFACTURING
27. Kickstarter
28. 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 H1 $30M $100K Kickstarter
29. Print & Play
41. ATTACK BLOCK CHARGE
42. ATTACK BLOCK CHARGE
43. ATTACK BLOCK CHARGE
44. ATTACK BLOCK CHARGE
45. ATTACK BLOCK CHARGE
49. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ,''''', '''''' '''' :++++++ `++++++, '''' '''' ++++++++++++++ `++++++. '+' :++++++ ++++++ ++++ +++++++++: :+++++++++ ++++ ++++ ++++++++++++++ '+++++++++ +++++ :++++++ ++++++ ++++ +++++++++++. ,+++++++++++ ++++ ++++ ++++++++++++++ :+++++++++++ +++.'++ :++++++ `++++++ ++++ ;++++++++++++ ++++++++++++: ++++ ++++ ++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++. `+' ;+` :++++++` ;++++++ ++++ ++++++'++++++: ;+++++'+++++++ ++++ ++++ ++++++++++++++ '+++++'+++++++ '+ +' :++++++' +++++++ ++++ `++++ +++++ +++++ '++++ ++++ ++++ ++++++++++++++ ++++; +++++ ++ ++ :+++++++ +++++++ ++++ ;+++' `++++ ++++ ++++: ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++. ++ ++ :+++++++ +++++++ ++++ ++++. ++++ ++++ '+++' ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++: '+ ++ :+++++++ .+++++++ ++++ ++++. ++++ ++++ .++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ;+++; .+. `+, :+++:+++: ++++++++ ++++ +++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++ ++ ,+++,++++ ++++++++ ++++ :+++++ +++++. ++++ ++++ ++++ +++++` ++ ,+' ,+++,++++ +++'++++ ++++ +++++++` +++++++; ++++ ++++ ++++ +++++++: ++.++ ,+++,++++ +++`++++ ++++ +++++++++' ,+++++++++. ++++ ++++ +++++++++++++` ;+++++++++` ++++ ,+++,.+++. :+++ ++++ ++++ `++++++++++' +++++++++++ ++++ ++++ +++++++++++++` +++++++++++ +++ ,+++, ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ;+++++++++++ +++++++++++` ++++ ++++ +++++++++++++` +++++++++++ ++++, ,+++, ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ .++++++++++; +++++++++++ ++++ ++++ +++++++++++++` +++++++++++ +++ ++ ,+++, ++++ +++, ++++ ++++ .+++++++++ '++++++++; ++++ ++++ +++++++++++++` '++++++++, ;++ ;+; '. ,+++, ,+++``+++ ++++ ++++ '++++++, .+++++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ,+++++++ ++ ++ +. ,+++, +++;'+++ ++++ ++++ '+++++ `+++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ .+++++ ;+. ,++ +` ,+++, ++++++++ ++++ ++++ ```` +++++ ```` ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ```` `++++ ++ ++ `+ ,+++, +++++++: ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++` ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++ `++;+ ,+++, ;++++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++` ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ +' ++++ ,+++, ++++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ +++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++' ++++ +' ++' ,+++, ++++++ ++++ ++++ +++++ ++++; ,++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ;++++ .++++ ++ ++, ,+++, +++++' ++++ ++++ '+++++ +++++ +++++, .+++++ ++++ +++++++++++++` ++++++++++++++` +++++. ,+++++ ++ +++ ,+++, '++++` ++++ ++++ ++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++. ++++ +++++++++++++` ++++++++++++++` ++++++++++++++ ;+, ++'+; ,+++, `++++ ++++ ++++ '++++++++++++. +++++++++++++ ++++ +++++++++++++` ++++++++++++++` +++++++++++++ ++ ;++ ++ ,+++, ++++ ++++ ++++ +++++++++++' .+++++++++++ ++++ +++++++++++++` ++++++++++++++` ,+++++++++++ ;++; `+++ ,+' ,+++, ++++ ++++ ++++ '++++++++: `+++++++++ ++++ +++++++++++++` ++++++++++++++` .+++++++++ '++++++ ++ ;++++: .++++'` .++++'` `;+'` ;+++: .++++` .+++' :+', ,+++++; ++++++ ++++ '+++++++: ++++++++++++` `++++++++ `++++++++ ++++: ++++; ++++, +++++++++++. ++++++++ ,++++++ ++++++ ++++ ++++++++++' +++++++++++++; ,++++++++++` :++++++++++ ++++: ++++; ++++, +++++++++++++ ++++++++++ ,++++++ ++++++ ++++ ++++++++++++: ++++++++++++++. `++++++++++++ `++++++++++++ ++++: ++++; ++++, ++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++ ,++++++ ,++++++ ++++ .+++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++, ++++: ++++; ++++, ++++++++++++++` ;++++++++++++, ,++++++, +++++++ ++++ +++++++;++++++' +++++++++++++++` :++++++;'++++++` ;++++++;'++++++ ++++: ++++; ++++, +++++++++++++++ +++++. `'+++++ ,+++++++ +++++++ ++++ `+++++ +++++ ++++ ,++++' +++++. :+++++ +++++` +++++` ++++: ++++; ++++, ++++` +++++ ++++ :++++ ,+++++++ +++++++ ++++ +++++ `++++ ++++ +++++ `++++: '++++ .++++, +++++ ++++: ++++; ++++, ++++` ++++ `++++ ++++ ,+++++++ +++++++ ++++ ++++: ++++: ++++ :++++ +++++ ++++: +++++ ,++++ ++++: ++++; ++++, ++++` ++++. ,+++' ++++` ,+++++++` :+++++++ ++++ ++++ ,++++ ++++ .++++ ++++: +++++ ++++, ++++ ++++: ++++; ++++. ++++` '+++, ,++++ ''''. ,+++,+++' ++++++++ ++++ :++++ '''' ++++ .++++ ++++ `++++ ++++ '''' ++++: ++++; ++++. ++++` '+++: .++++` ,+++,++++ ++++++++ ++++ ++++' ++++ :+++' ++++ ++++ `++++ ++++: ++++; ++++. ++++` ++++, +++++' ,+++,++++ +++:++++ ++++ ++++, ++++ ++++` `++++ ++++ ,++++ ++++++++++++++++; ++++. ++++. ++++ ++++++++, ,+++,;+++ `+++ ++++ ++++ ++++` ++++ ;++++ ,++++ ++++ ;++++ ++++++++++++++++; ++++. ++++. :++++ :++++++++++ ,+++, +++: '+++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++++++++++++: :++++ ++++` '++++ ++++++++++++++++; ++++. ++++::::;++++++ +++++++++++. ,+++, ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ +++++++++++++' ;++++ ++++` '+++' ++++++++++++++++; ++++. ++++++++++++++: +++++++++++` ,+++, ++++ +++' ++++ ++++ ++++ +++++++++++++` :++++ ++++` '++++ ++++++++++++++++; ++++. ++++++++++++++ ,++++++++++ ,+++, '+++ +++` ++++ ++++ ++++` ++++++++++++++ ,++++ ++++ :++++ ++++:```````++++; ++++. +++++++++++++ `++++++++, ,+++, `+++.,+++ ++++ ++++ ++++, ++++;;;;;++++++ `++++ ++++ ,++++ ++++: ++++; ++++. ++++++++++++ ;++++++ ,+++, ++++++++ ++++ ++++ ++++' ++++ ++++ :++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++ ++++: ++++; ++++, ++++,....` +++++ ,+++, ++++++++ ++++ ++++ :++++ `++++ ++++ ++++` ++++ .++++ ++++ ++++ ++++: ++++; ++++, ++++` ++++ `++++ ,+++, +++++++. ++++ ++++ ++++ '++++ ++++ ++++, ++++; +++++ ++++: ++++ ++++: ++++; ++++, ++++` ++++ ++++ ,+++, ,++++++ ++++ ++++ ++++; ++++, ++++ ;+++; '++++ ++++, +++++ '++++ ++++: ++++; ++++, ++++` ++++ ++++ ,+++, ++++++ ++++ ++++ +++++ ,++++ ++++ ,+++' ++++' +++++ `++++; ++++; ++++: ++++; ++++, ++++` ++++' ++++ ,+++, ++++++ ++++ ++++ +++++ `+++++ ++++ `++++ +++++: '+++++ +++++: +++++ ++++: ++++; ++++, ++++` '++++` +++++ ,+++, +++++: ++++ ++++ ++++++++++++++, ++++ ++++ .++++++++++++++ ,++++++++++++++ ++++: ++++; ++++, ++++` ++++++.`:+++++` ,+++, :++++ ++++ ++++ +++++++++++++ ++++ ++++ ++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++ ++++: ++++; ++++, ++++` ++++++++++++++ ,+++, ++++ ++++ ++++ :+++++++++++ ++++ ++++ ++++++++++++ +++++++++++' ++++: ++++; ++++, ++++` ++++++++++++` ,+++, ++++ ++++ ++++ ;+++++++++. ++++ ++++ ++++++++++ ++++++++++ ++++: ++++; ++++, ++++` ++++++++++, ,+++, +++; ++++ ++++ `+++++++ ++++ ++++ +++++++' +++++++, ++++: ++++; ++++. ++++` ++++++++ .:. `,, `:, `,:`
50. ! game = SimpleGame.new(players: 4) game.run > “Winner: ["#Player 2"] at turn number 31”

51. ! game = SimpleGame.new(starting_energy: 10, 
 winning_energy: 20) game.run > “ --- TURN 1 --- “ 
 > “ #Player 1 (10) defends “
 > “ #Player 2 (10) attacks #Player 3 (10) “ 
 > “ #Player 3 (9) charges (10) “
 > …
 > “ --- TURN 47 --- “
 > “ #Player 1 (13) defends “
 > “ #Player 3 (19) charges (20) “
 > 
 > “ Winner: ["#Player 3"] at turn number 47 "
52. ! games = MultiGames.new(games: 1000) games.simulate! ! game.average_turns
 > 24.821 game.victory_count_per_player
 > “ [["Player 1", 314], “ 
 > “ ["Player 2", 354], “
 > “ ["Player 3", 340]] “

53. ! class ActionResolver def resolve
 case player.action
 when :attack then resolve_attack
 when :charge then resolve_charge
 when :block then resolve_block
 end
 end def resolve_charge
 Result.new(player: +1)
 end end
54. ! class RoundResolver def resolve
 @players.each do |player|
 resolver = ActionResolver.new(player)
 result = resolver.resolve()
 player.energy += result.player
 player.target.energy += result.target
 end
 end end
55. ! class GameRound def run
 start_turn
 choose_cards
 reveal_aim_cards
 change_actions
 reveal_action_cards
 resolve_actions
 end_turn
 end end
56. ! class ActionResolver def resolve
 case player.action
 when :attack then resolve_attack
 when :charge then resolve_charge
 when :block then resolve_block
 end
 end def resolve_charge
 Result.new(player: +1)
 end end
57. ! class ActionResolver def resolve
 case player.action
 when :attack then resolve_attack
 when :charge then resolve_charge
 when :block then resolve_block
 end
 end def resolve_charge
 unless under_attack?
 Result.new(player: +1)
 end
 end
 end
58. ! class ActionResolver class Result < Hashie::Dash
 property :player, default: 0
 property :target, default: 0
 end . . . Result.new(player: +1, target: -1)
 
 end
64. ! class Player::Random < Player::Abstract def choose_aim
 targets.sample
 end def choose_action
 actions.sample
 end def change
 false
 end end
65. ! class Player::Simple < Player::Random def choose_action
 if low_energy?
 [:block, :charge].sample
 else
 actions.sample
 end
 end def change
 targeted? ? :block : false
 end end
66. ! games = MultiGames.new(players: [
 Player::Random.new,
 Player::Random.new, 
 Player::Simple.new,
 ]) games.simulate! game.victory_count_per_player
 > “ [["Random 1", 30.08], “ 
 > “ ["Random 2", 31.93], “
 > “ ["Simple 3", 38.13]] “

67. ! games = MultivariantGame.new games.simulate!
 > “...................“ games.save(“output.csv”)
68. 2 1 5 4.0913 LMS 90.37% VP 9.63% 2 2 5 6.0226 LMS 73.47% VP 26.53% 2 3 5 6.1922 LMS 50.30% VP 49.70% 2 4 5 4.0649 VP 77.52% LMS 22.48% 2 1 6 4.7287 LMS 93.21% VP 6.79% 2 2 6 7.4563 LMS 82.80% VP 17.20% 2 3 6 8.8977 LMS 66.31% VP 33.69% 2 4 6 8.2597 VP 53.56% LMS 46.44% 2 5 6 5.0287 VP 79.29% LMS 20.71% 2 1 7 5.0806 LMS 95.63% VP 4.37% 2 2 7 8.6032 LMS 87.94% VP 12.06% 2 3 7 11.1296 LMS 76.95% VP 23.05% 2 4 7 11.9691 LMS 61.34% VP 38.66% 2 5 7 10.266 VP 58.27% LMS 41.73% 2 6 7 5.9262 VP 80.90% LMS 19.10% 2 1 8 5.406 LMS 97.02% VP 2.98% 2 2 8 9.4609 LMS 91.88% VP 8.12% 2 3 8 12.9289 LMS 83.70% VP 16.30% 2 4 8 14.8757 LMS 72.81% VP 27.19% 2 5 8 15.0612 LMS 56.91% VP 43.09% 2 6 8 12.5056 VP 60.03% LMS 39.97% NUMBER OF PLAYERS STARTING ENERGY ENERGY TO WIN —————————— AVERAGE TURNS
69. 2 1 5 4.0913 LMS 90.37% VP 9.63% 2 2 5 6.0226 LMS 73.47% VP 26.53% 2 3 5 6.1922 LMS 50.30% VP 49.70% 2 4 5 4.0649 VP 77.52% LMS 22.48% 2 1 6 4.7287 LMS 93.21% VP 6.79% 2 2 6 7.4563 LMS 82.80% VP 17.20% 2 3 6 8.8977 LMS 66.31% VP 33.69% 2 4 6 8.2597 VP 53.56% LMS 46.44% 2 5 6 5.0287 VP 79.29% LMS 20.71% 2 1 7 5.0806 LMS 95.63% VP 4.37% 2 2 7 8.6032 LMS 87.94% VP 12.06% 2 3 7 11.1296 LMS 76.95% VP 23.05% 2 4 7 11.9691 LMS 61.34% VP 38.66% 2 5 7 10.266 VP 58.27% LMS 41.73% 2 6 7 5.9262 VP 80.90% LMS 19.10% 2 1 8 5.406 LMS 97.02% VP 2.98% 2 2 8 9.4609 LMS 91.88% VP 8.12% 2 3 8 12.9289 LMS 83.70% VP 16.30% 2 4 8 14.8757 LMS 72.81% VP 27.19% 2 5 8 15.0612 LMS 56.91% VP 43.09% 2 6 8 12.5056 VP 60.03% LMS 39.97%
70. 2 1 5 4.0913 LMS 90.37% VP 9.63% 2 2 5 6.0226 LMS 73.47% VP 26.53% 2 3 5 6.1922 LMS 50.30% VP 49.70% 2 4 5 4.0649 VP 77.52% LMS 22.48% 2 1 6 4.7287 LMS 93.21% VP 6.79% 2 2 6 7.4563 LMS 82.80% VP 17.20% 2 3 6 8.8977 LMS 66.31% VP 33.69% 2 4 6 8.2597 VP 53.56% LMS 46.44% 2 5 6 5.0287 VP 79.29% LMS 20.71% 2 1 7 5.0806 LMS 95.63% VP 4.37% 2 2 7 8.6032 LMS 87.94% VP 12.06% 2 3 7 11.1296 LMS 76.95% VP 23.05% 2 4 7 11.9691 LMS 61.34% VP 38.66% 2 5 7 10.266 VP 58.27% LMS 41.73% 2 6 7 5.9262 VP 80.90% LMS 19.10% 2 1 8 5.406 LMS 97.02% VP 2.98% 2 2 8 9.4609 LMS 91.88% VP 8.12% 2 3 8 12.9289 LMS 83.70% VP 16.30% 2 4 8 14.8757 LMS 72.81% VP 27.19% 2 5 8 15.0612 LMS 56.91% VP 43.09% 2 6 8 12.5056 VP 60.03% LMS 39.97%
71. AVG TURNS ENERGY TO WIN STARTING ENERGY
72. AVG TURNS ENERGY TO WIN STARTING ENERGY
73. AVG TURNS ENERGY TO WIN STARTING ENERGY
74. AVG TURNS ENERGY TO WIN STARTING ENERGY
75. Winning Energy Starting Energy Zero Energy
76. AVG TURNS NUMBER OF PLAYERS
77. AVG TURNS NUMBER OF PLAYERS
78. AVG TURNS NUMBER OF PLAYERS
79. 2 1 5 4.0913 LMS 90.37% VP 9.63% 2 2 5 6.0226 LMS 73.47% VP 26.53% 2 3 5 6.1922 LMS 50.30% VP 49.70% 2 4 5 4.0649 VP 77.52% LMS 22.48% 2 1 6 4.7287 LMS 93.21% VP 6.79% 2 2 6 7.4563 LMS 82.80% VP 17.20% 2 3 6 8.8977 LMS 66.31% VP 33.69% 2 4 6 8.2597 VP 53.56% LMS 46.44% 2 5 6 5.0287 VP 79.29% LMS 20.71% 2 1 7 5.0806 LMS 95.63% VP 4.37% 2 2 7 8.6032 LMS 87.94% VP 12.06% 2 3 7 11.1296 LMS 76.95% VP 23.05% 2 4 7 11.9691 LMS 61.34% VP 38.66% 2 5 7 10.266 VP 58.27% LMS 41.73% 2 6 7 5.9262 VP 80.90% LMS 19.10% 2 1 8 5.406 LMS 97.02% VP 2.98% 2 2 8 9.4609 LMS 91.88% VP 8.12% 2 3 8 12.9289 LMS 83.70% VP 16.30% 2 4 8 14.8757 LMS 72.81% VP 27.19% 2 5 8 15.0612 LMS 56.91% VP 43.09% 2 6 8 12.5056 VP 60.03% LMS 39.97%
80. ! class ActionResolver def resolve_block
 Result.new(player: -1) unless under_attack?
 end end
81. 2 1 5 4.0913 LMS 90.37% VP 9.63% 2 2 5 6.0226 LMS 73.47% VP 26.53% 2 3 5 6.1922 LMS 50.30% VP 49.70% 2 4 5 4.0649 VP 77.52% LMS 22.48% 2 1 6 4.7287 LMS 93.21% VP 6.79% 2 2 6 7.4563 LMS 82.80% VP 17.20% 2 3 6 8.8977 LMS 66.31% VP 33.69% 2 4 6 8.2597 VP 53.56% LMS 46.44% 2 5 6 5.0287 VP 79.29% LMS 20.71% 2 1 7 5.0806 LMS 95.63% VP 4.37% 2 2 7 8.6032 LMS 87.94% VP 12.06% 2 3 7 11.1296 LMS 76.95% VP 23.05% 2 4 7 11.9691 LMS 61.34% VP 38.66% 2 5 7 10.266 VP 58.27% LMS 41.73% 2 6 7 5.9262 VP 80.90% LMS 19.10% 2 1 8 5.406 LMS 97.02% VP 2.98% 2 2 8 9.4609 LMS 91.88% VP 8.12% 2 3 8 12.9289 LMS 83.70% VP 16.30% 2 4 8 14.8757 LMS 72.81% VP 27.19% 2 5 8 15.0612 LMS 56.91% VP 43.09% 2 6 8 12.5056 VP 60.03% LMS 39.97%
89. ! class Player::SingleMinded < Player::Abstract def choose_action
 return @action
 end end
90. ! games = MultiGames.new(players: [
 Player::Simple.new,
 Player::Simple.new, 
 Player::SingleMinded.new(action: :block),
 ]) games.simulate! game.victory_count_per_player
 > “ [["Simple 1", 44.95], “ 
 > “ ["Simple 2", 45.28], “
 > “ [“Single Minded block", 9.77]] “

92. WRITING RULES IS HARD
97. ! games = MultiGames.new(players: [
 Player::Simple.new,
 Player::Simple.new, 
 Player::SingleMinded.new(action: :block),
 ]) games.simulate! game.victory_count_per_player
 > “ [["Simple 1", 44.95], “ 
 > “ ["Simple 2", 45.28], “
 > “ [“Single Minded block", 9.77]] “
 yonbergman/missiles_and_microchips
99. GIVEAWAY ! ! My first computer #gogaruco #microchips
100. @YONBERGMAN