The behind‑the‑scenes story of how ZQUALS, the educational math game, came to life
What started as a simple way to help my daughter practice mental math turned into a full game development journey filled with inspiration, testing, pivots, spreadsheets, late‑night play sessions, and a whole lot of learning.
Here’s exactly how it unfolded — step by step.
Have Your Flux Capacitor Moment
Years earlier, I had created a simple paper prototype to help my youngest daughter practice addition. One day in February 2022, while she was quarantining at home, she asked to play that old game again.
I thought, Okay God, I’m here, I’ve got time… what’s next?
Inspiration hit.
My daughter was older now — ready for more challenge and more fun. So I added attack and defense elements, grabbed index cards and sharpies, and made a brand‑new batch of cards.
That day was my flux capacitor moment — the moment everything changed.
Make a Simple Prototype
The first special cards I created were the Minus 1 and the 7 ate 9 Mine! cards. One test later, I realized I needed a defense card. Then a multiplier card. Then more attack cards.
A few playtests later, we found ourselves playing late into the night — way past bedtime.
Oops.
But also… success.
The game was fun.
Test, Test, TEST — and Then Test Some More
“Hey friend… wanna play a game with me? Bring your kids!”
Some said yes. Some couldn’t. But every test mattered.
Take LOTS of Notes
Testing is fun. Feedback is gold. Memory is unreliable.
Kids say things like:
- “Hey mom, she attacked me!”
- “Aw… I wanted to do that!”
- “I can’t believe you beat me!”
Adults give deeper feedback.
But emotions distort what we remember.
So I wrote everything down. Not all feedback is equal. Some people don’t like the genre. Some misunderstand the goal. Some give brilliant insights.
Writing everything down helped me separate the wheat from the chaff — and make confident decisions later. Eventually, I filled an entire notebook… and realized I needed something better.
Enter: spreadsheets.
Prepare, Prepare, Prepare
Before my first playtest with strangers, I was nervous.
So I over‑prepared:
- Printed testing sheets
- Created video consent forms
- Planned to record every session
- Set goals for each test
- Identified which mechanics I wanted to observe
I thought I’d only need three sheets. I used all seven.
Reviewing the videos later helped me catch things I would’ve missed in the moment.
Stay Optimistic — Receive All Feedback, Keep Only the Gold
You will receive negative feedback.
Some of it will be personal.
Smile. Listen. Thank them.
Then later, ask:
- Is this person my target audience?
- Is this feedback relevant to what I’m testing?
- Is it actionable?
Keep the golden nuggets.
Let the rest go.
Pause, Reflect, Implement, Repeat
Game development is iterative.
There were moments when I thought, I’m tired of playing this game.
But I kept going.
I set goals:
- Host my own playtesting event
- Test with teachers Test with kids I didn’t know
- Test with adults who love strategy games
One teacher’s feedback was pure gold — she helped me see how educators would use the game in real classrooms.
Be Flexible and Pivot
Change is the only constant.
At first, I thought I’d pitch the game to a company.
Then I realized companies are busy… and I probably wouldn’t hear back.
So I pivoted.
People suggested Kickstarter.
I researched. I talked to another designer. I realized Kickstarter wasn’t right for me — too slow, too complex, too risky for families who needed the game now.
So I chose print‑on‑demand.
Then came the game board dilemma. I had designed a gorgeous board — but it made the game too expensive for teachers and families. So I pivoted again and redesigned the board into jumbo card spaces.
That change turned into a feature: teachers loved the flexibility.
Implementation: The Hardest Stage
This is where all your notes matter.
I was 80% done — cards finished, rules nearly final, box art in progress.
But I kept second‑guessing myself.
Should I bring back the board?
Should I change the card count?
Should I tweak the rules again?
I reread my notes.
Did the game work? Yes.
Did people enjoy the jumbo cards? Yes.
Then stop overthinking. Move forward.
The ramp‑up to launch was intense.
I had to remind myself:
- Don’t chase perfection
- Rest when needed
- Reassess the task list
- Focus on the MVP
- Keep going
Breaks made me more efficient.
Clarity came when I slowed down.
Launch — and Be Proud of the Journey
I learned so much:
- How to version‑control rules
- How to run playtests
- How to filter feedback
- How to test with strangers
- How to ask for help
- How to pivot gracefully
- How to trust the process
I’m grateful for this journey — and for the chance to pursue it at this stage of my life.
My daughters gave me design critiques.
My family played countless rounds.
Friends and strangers tested with me.
Teachers shared insights.
God guided the process.
ZQUALS became a family project, a creative adventure, and a labor of love.
And now… it’s out in the world.
Thank You for Being Part of This Story
Whether you’re a teacher, parent, tutor, or fellow creative — thank you for reading and supporting this journey. If you’d like to bring ZQUALS into your home, classroom, or tutoring center, you can learn more about ZQUALS on zqualsgame.com
