INTRODUCTION TO THE SAO BOARD GAME PROJECT

1. Overview

SAO is a board game inspired by Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival, created to bring traditional Vietnamese cultural values closer to people through a modern form of entertainment. Designed for players aged 12 and above, the game supports 2–4 players and combines strategy, luck, and interaction.

In SAO, players use cards, calculate their moves, and choose suitable strategies to overcome opponents and reach the finish line. Each turn brings unexpected situations that challenge players’ thinking, observation, and decision-making skills.

2. Creative Concept and Inspiration

The name SAO is inspired by the star-shaped lantern, a familiar symbol of Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival and childhood memories. The team developed the game around traditional elements such as lanterns, carp, stars, and children carrying lanterns, creating a lively game world that reflects Vietnamese cultural identity.

Characters named Cậu Vàng, Cam, Cún, and Tèo add a sense of familiarity and charm while evoking interesting cultural associations. Through a friendly illustration style and a modern visual approach, SAO aims to help players explore traditional culture in a natural and engaging way.

3. Gameplay and Product Design

SAO combines a movement-based board with a card system featuring different abilities, creating various strategic choices during each turn. Players must consider when to use their cards, take advantage of opportunities, and respond to unexpected changes to achieve their goals.

Visually, the game features a cute illustration style, warm colors, and decorative elements associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival. The game board, characters, cards, and packaging follow a consistent visual style, ensuring both aesthetic appeal and clear presentation of information during gameplay.

4. Team Members and Responsibilities

Member 1: Trần Thị Huệ

• Develops the game concept, theme, and overall creative direction.
• Researches Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival culture for the game.
• Contributes to the game content, rules, and mechanics.

Member 2: Nguyễn Thục An

• Designs the visual elements, character illustrations, and overall art style.
• Designs the game board, movement map, and related illustrations.
• Ensures consistency in colors, linework, and visual style.

Member 3: Trần Thị Phương Linh

• Designs the card system, icons, and gameplay-related graphics.
• Designs the packaging, layouts, and accompanying materials.
• Arranges, checks, and finalizes designs for printing.

5. Team Collaboration and Contributions

All three members participate in discussions, contribute ideas, test the gameplay, and adjust the rules to ensure the game functions properly. They also work together to maintain consistency between the content, visuals, and game mechanics, while reviewing and finalizing the product before printing.

By combining their different areas of expertise, the team ensures that SAO has a clear creative direction, a consistent visual identity, and a gameplay experience that aligns with the project’s original goals.

6. Objectives and Conclusion

Through SAO, the team hopes to introduce Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival to young audiences and international players through a creative form of entertainment that combines gameplay with cultural exploration. The project also provides an opportunity for team members to apply their knowledge of concept development, graphic design, game development, and teamwork.

SAO is more than just a race to the finish line. It is a journey of sharing Vietnamese stories, imagery, and cultural values in a friendly, engaging, and accessible way.