【Game Studies】Exercises 2 -- Board Games Reborn
NAME: LEE XIN YI, CINDY | STUDENT ID: 0373299 | PROGRAMME: BACHELOR'S OF SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
The Digital Evolution of Board Games
-- A Case Study on Pandemic --
For over a decade, Pandemic has gathered players around a table while they race outbreaks and exchange strategies to stop deadly viruses. However, when this cooperative classic game jumped from cardboard to screens, its high-stake struggle for survival took on an entirely new life, with the same mission but a wildly different experience.
— Key Aspects of Analysis —
▷ Gameplay Mechanics Overview
▷ Physical vs. Digital
▷ Digital 2D & 3D Comparison
Gameplay Mechanics Overview
◆In Pandemic, 2–4 players act as disease control specialists working together to cure all four rapidly spreading viruses rather than competing wtih each other. Each player takes up to four actions per turn which include "traveling between cities", "treating infections", "sharing knowledge" and "discovering cures" while new infection cards intensify the outbreak after each turn. To win, the team must discover all four cures and prevent uncontrollable outbreaks all before the infection deck runs out. Simultaneously, the team loses if eight outbreaks occur, the infection card deck runs out or cures aren't found in time.
Victory only comes through teamwork, smart planning and just enough luck to stay ahead of chaos.
Physical vs. Digital
◆As technology advances, many long-established activities such as board games have gradually shifted into digital formats. This transition invites new ways to play and experience the game while raising questions about how digital versions differs from physical versions in terms of experience, interaction and design.
Differences
Physical
Digital
Game Setup
Manual
Players manually place disease cubes, role pawns and other components, creating a hands-on experience that builds anticipation and a sense of ownership. This setup process may take around 5 to 10 minutes, enhances immersion through tactile engagement but it can feel slow.
Automated
The board is randomized instantly by the system. Players can join with a single click, trading the tactile ritual for speed and convenience. Automated tutorials guide players efficiently, replacing the slower process of learning rules together.
Rule Enforcement
Disputable
Players self-enforce rules, which can lead to mistakes especially during outbreaks. These rule checks spark group discussions and negotiations that add tension, but errors may disrupt balance.
Precise
The system enforces all rules automatically. Illegal moves are blocked while outbreaks play out clearly. This ensures fairness and speed, though it removes spontaneous group decisions.
Components
Tangible Pieces
In the physical game, wooden role pawns, plastic disease cubes and glossy cards offer real weight and texture. Be it sliding cubes to treat infections or placing a pawn on a city, holding and moving these pieces engages the player’s sense of touch. This not only deepens the immersion but gives each action tangible weight.
Virtual Assets
On screen, every game component is pixel-based, like colored icons for cities, 3D-modeled cubes and markers, and digital cards that flip at a click. Interactions are limited to clicks, drags and taps rather than haptic gestures. Despite this removes the tactile feel of moving actual objects, it streamlines interaction as there’s no risk of knocking over the board or misplacing a tile.
Player Interaction
Face-to-face
Players got to sit around a physical table, negotiating in real time while reading each other's body language. Everyone shares the same feel of tension when outbreaks unfold, sparking lively table talk and spontaneous alliances. This direct social engagement can be the most memorable part of the experience.
Online chat
In digital play, communication occurs via text or voice chat. While it is convenient for remote groups of friends, players from faraway places to play together, the lack of nonverbal cues such as tone and facial expressions may dampen emotional impact.
Temporal Flow
Slow-paced
Physical actions like manually placing cubes, shuffling cards and especially calculating outbreaks create natural pauses. These moments allow for strategic discussion but also introduce downtime between turns, which can test players’ patience.
Accelerated
Digital automation instantly resolves outbreaks, draws cards and updates the board. Turn transitions are rapid as it offers fewer natural breaks and pauses for thought process in strategy discussions, this increases the tensity of the gaming experience.
Action Resolution
Deliberate
In the physical game, players collectively resolve epidemics by discussing outcomes, counting cubes and deciding who moves what. Each outbreak can take up to 3 minutes to resolve, encouraging collaboration and critical thinking between players, though it can decelerate the game's momentum.
Instant
In the digital version, outbreaks resolve automatically through fast-paced animations. The system is capable of calculating chain reactions instantly, so updating the board can be in few seconds time. This ensures efficiency and consistency throughout the gameplay as it shortens resolution time for action.
Tension Experience
Shared Tension
In the physical version, tension builds collectively as players hold their breath during draws, exchange nervous glances and reacting out loudly when outbreaks escalate. This shared emotional rhythm adds a human intensity that deepens the stakes of each turn.
Solo Tension
Digital Pandemic often supports solo play or quieter online sessions. Urgency is created through pulsing visuals, alarm sounds and countdowns which are directed at a single player. While these stimuli heighten immersion, the resulting tension is internalized, lacking the shared emotional echo found in face-to-face group reactions which can feel lonely.
Game Duration
Longer Duration
A standard 4-player session on a physical board typically lasts 45–60 minutes. Manual setup, rule discussions and slow outbreak resolutions all contribute to the time length, players also need more time for strategic planning and occasional downtime. Hence, it takes up longer duration per game.
Shorter Duration
With automated setup, instant rule enforcement and accelerated turn cycles, the same player count in a digital version usually finishes in 20–30 minutes. The compact pace keeps energy high, shorten the overall duration per game.
Similarities
Despite the differences between physical and digital versions, there are still similarities between both them which are in aspects of cooperative gameplay, role-based ability and win-lose conditions.
Cooperative Gameplay
Both versions emphasize teamwork. Players must collaborate to stop global outbreaks and coordinate actions every turn.
Role-Based Abilities
Each player takes on a unique role (like Medic or Scientist) where each role functions the same way in both formats, shaping how teams strategize while playing (Medic’s rapid treatment or the Scientist’s reduced cure requirements).
Win-Lose Conditions
The rules to winning and losing apply across both formats. Victory comes from curing all four diseases. Meanwhile, players lose if there are too many outbreaks, not enough disease cubes or the player deck runs out.
The Digital Pandemic: A Remediation of the Board Game?
Perhaps yes, in this case for Pandemic. The digital version can be seen as an effective remediation of the physical board game by offering greater accuracy in outbreak resolution, enforcing rules to prevent misplays, providing tutorials to support new players, enabling solo play and passing down the game for future generations. Firstly, complex outbreak calculations are automated, eliminating human error and speeding up gameplay without sacrificing accuracy. It also enforces the rules strictly, ensuring that the game is played as intended even for beginners. Built-in tutorials making it easier for new players to learn without needing an experienced group to teach them. Most importantly, the digital version supports solo play, allowing individuals to enjoy the game without needing to find a group, which has been an obstacle in physical play. This not only makes Pandemic more accessible but also helps preserve traditional board games for newer generations in the future where digital comes first.
Digital 2D & 3D Comparison
◆
Which is better— 2D or 3D Pandemic?
Well, it’s hard to say one is truly better than the other since both visual formats deliver the same core gameplay and cooperative mechanics. Just the differences lie mainly in presentation. Visuals and interface design may affect how the game feels, but not how it functions. Hence, the better option really depends on the player's personal preference and playstyle.
2D Version
- Reference: Pandemic - #1 - The Disease Fighting Board Game (4 Player Gameplay) by Stumpt
- Published: May 21, 2019 | Watch full video ↗
Benefits
- Flat, top-down map displays all cities and disease icons clearly at a glance
- Minimal animations help players focus on core mechanics without distraction
- Simple UI and point-and-click controls support quick, tactical decisions
- Low system requirements ensure smooth performance on most devices
- Uniform interface offers consistent gameplay across platforms
Disadvantages
- Lacks visual depth, making the experience feel less immersive
- Static elements lack dynamic feedback during events like outbreaks
- Fixed camera angle limits spatial awareness and thematic engagement
Best for: Players who value fast-paced, accessible strategy with a clean layout
3D Version
- Reference: Tabletopia: Pandemic Hot Zone! by John Stone
- Published: May 12, 2021 | Watch full video ↗
Benefits
- Rotatable 3D globe offers spatial clarity and global perspective
- Animated disease spread (vein-like visuals) increases visual urgency
- Visual depth and detail enhance tension during outbreaks
- Cinematic effects and sound build a stronger thematic atmosphere
- Dynamic camera controls let players zoom, pan, and rotate for immersion
Disadvantages
- More complex controls may slow down gameplay or confuse new users
- Higher hardware demands can cause lag on older or low-end systems
- Animations and transitions slightly delay game actions and pacing
Best for: Players who enjoy visually rich, immersive gameplay with thematic flair
Design Takeaways for Self-Designed Game (Sugar High)
After comparing the physical and digital (2D and 3D) versions of Pandemic, several design elements stood out as particularly useful and worth considering for improving our group’s educational card game, Sugar High.
Gameplay Enhancements
User Experience (UX)
• Immersive Visual Feedback
Analysis Summary
Gameplay Overview
Pandemic has a cooperative structure across all versions, requiring players to prevent outbreaks and discover cures through teamwork.
Physical vs. Digital
Differences (8 Aspects): Physical play emphasizes face-to-face interaction and tactile components, while digital play offers solo modes, automation and remote accessibility.
Similarities (3 Aspects): Cooperative mechanics, player roles and game goals are unchanged across both formats.
Digital Remediation (5 Aspects): The digital version enhances accuracy, prevents rule misapplication and introduces tutorials, making the game more accessible and scalable for new and solo players.
2D vs. 3D Digital Pandemic
2D Benefits: Faster, more tactical gameplay with minimal hardware demand and a clean, top-down interface.
2D Drawbacks: Less immersive, static visuals with limited perspectives.
3D Benefits: Provides visual depth, cinematic effects and a more immersive atmosphere through animations and camera movement.
3D Drawbacks: Heavier system demands and more complex navigation may slow gameplay.
Best For: 2D suits players who value speed and clarity; 3D appeals to those seeking a richer visual experience.
Design Takeaways for Sugar High
Accurate Resource Tracking: Automating Glycogen, Sugar and ATP counters prevents miscounts during exchanges or card effects.
Rule Enforcement: Built-in logic ensures complex cards like "Double or Nothing" follow correct conditions.
Reliable UI Components: Digital meters replace fragile physical trackers, improving clarity and durability.
Enhanced Immersion: 3D-inspired effects could boost engagement and learning.
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