Beyond 3D tic-tac-toe: from O to ball and X to boX
S. Rajath, J. Joshua Thomas, Muzammil Bagewadi, Vishal Singh · Proceedings of the Design Society · 2025
ABSTRACT: This study explores user engagement and strategic interaction with a newly designed tangible game board- a 3x3x3 cube frame with 27 voids and 27 game pieces. 15 teams, each with 2 players, were provided with only the game set to develop their own game rules and strategies, encouraging participants to engage in the spatial and experiential aspects that the game board offers. Researchers observed how players approached the 3D structure and developed gameplay tactics without predefined rules, fostering creativity and exploration. Importantly, the study captured feedback on the structure’s versatility, with many participants developing new game rules, which implies its potential as a game platform. The experiments revealed that one of the emergences resulting from the affordances of the game platform is a game strategy for 3D Tic-Tac-Toe, amongst the many other possible games identified.