HATS & ELEPHANTS DESIGN DAIRY
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From an Impossible Trick to a Playable Game
It all started with a simple, absurd idea: what if magicians were competing to hide elephants in their hats?
The image was both comical and mysterious, a perfect spark for a party game. I wanted to create something that felt theatrical and playful, where bluffing and laughter mattered more than strategy.
At first, the concept was just a sentence scribbled in a notebook. But as I played around with it, I realized it could capture that same tension I loved in games like Coup or Skull, where you never know who’s bluffing and every flip of a card can change everything.
Phase 1: The Core Mechanic
The earliest prototype used hidden cards representing “elephants” and “empty hats.” Players took turns trying to uncover each other’s secrets.
But soon I added another twist: some hats contained traps. Suddenly, every choice became risky. Do you expose someone else’s hat, or do you protect your own? The table turned into a stage of suspicion.
This “trap and reveal” system clicked. It was chaotic but fair, simple but filled with tension, exactly what I wanted.
Phase 2: Finding the Theme’s Voice
Visually, I decided to go for a retro comic style, bright, exaggerated, and a little mischievous. Each magician has their own personality: some elegant, some sly, some ridiculous.
I didn’t want a dark, mysterious magic show. I wanted something that feels like a comedy of illusions, where even the elephants seem to enjoy the chaos.
Phase 3: Balancing and Polish
The next challenge was balancing the cards. How many elephants should appear? How often should a player get trapped?
I ran simulations, adjusted probabilities, and added little narrative touches, like audience applause or “misfire” moments when a magician’s spell goes hilariously wrong.
Now the design feels tighter, faster, and funnier. Each round tells its own story.
What’s Next
The next step is art production and prototype testing. I’m working with artists to capture that perfect mix of humor and elegance, a stage full of color and surprise.
Ultimately, HATS & ELEPHANTS isn’t just a game about tricks, it’s about performance, timing, and the joy of making others laugh.