Game setup

What is Game setup?

Game setup is the configuration phase that turns a blank slate into a playable game. In a paper scavenger hunt it might mean writing a list, photocopying it, and printing scoring sheets. In a modern mobile platform like EventBattle the game setup is a guided wizard that takes about five minutes from start to publish.

What goes into a typical game setup:

• Game name and description. What the game is, who it's for, when it runs. Players see this when they join, so it sets the tone.
• Task list. 10–50 tasks with point values. Each task has a title, a description, and rules (see below).
• Schedule. Start date and time, end date and time, timezone. Multi-day games also set the hour each game day closes, so each day's ranking locks overnight.
• Branding. Logo, cover image, custom colors. Optional but high-impact for corporate events.
• Access code. A short alphanumeric string players type to join. Most platforms generate it automatically; some let you pick your own.

Per-task setup options on EventBattle:

• Title and description — the prompt players see ("photograph something blue").
• Points — usually 10–500 depending on difficulty.
• Photo required — toggle on to demand a photo as proof, off for trust-based tasks.
• Repetitions limit — how many times one player can complete the task. Empty = unlimited.
• Cooldown — seconds a player must wait between repetitions. Prevents point-spamming on repeatable tasks.
• Sort order — drag to reorder; the first task in the list is the first thing players see.

Game setup is where most game quality is decided. A great task list with bad pacing produces a mediocre game; a mediocre task list with great pacing still works. Three setup choices matter most:

1. Number of tasks vs. duration. 20 tasks for a 60-minute game is the rough rule. Fewer means players finish early; more means tasks no one ever sees.
2. Point distribution. Mix quick-win tasks (5–10 points), standard tasks (15–30), and stretch tasks (50+). The stretch tasks decide the leaderboard.
3. Cooldowns on repeatable tasks. Without a cooldown, one determined player can rack up hundreds of points spamming the same prompt. 60 seconds is a sensible minimum.

Once the setup is published, players install the EventBattle app, enter the game code, pick a nickname, and they're in. No accounts, no email confirmation — the friction is intentionally low so nobody drops off before the game begins.