Here is the dilemma I’m struggling with today as I plan for building the first GTi game:

Should I build a classic game (tic-tac-toe, hangman, etc) or invent my own game.  Here are the pros and cons:

Build Classic:

• Pros

1. Don’t have to spend time thinking about rules
2. Don’t have to teach people how to play
3. Get experience with the development technology and Platform (iPhone)
4. I can modify the game rules if I want in whatever way I please

• Cons

1. Kind of boring – I might get halfway through and decide to bail on this since it’s not creative
2. I don’t have to explore what makes a game compelling for people in quite the same way.

Invent My Own New Game:

• Pros

1. More creative process which I think will be fun
2. Get experience with the development technology and Platform (iPhone)
3. Can modify game rules as I want if I want
4. I have to explore what makes a game compelling for people and hope to get a lot of valuable feedback

• Cons

1. Have to spend time thinking about rules – might get bogged down in this
2. Have to teach people how to play

I’m sure this is an incomplete list but after writing out even this much the decision is pretty clear to me.  Go with a classic game but feel free to modify the rules and add twists to the game as I like.  Doing this allows me to minimize the Cons in inventing my own while gaining the benefits of inventing my own.