Fingerboard
Fingerboard is a digital recreation of a traditional South African board game similar to the Indian Carrom, bringing cultural nostalgia and challenging gameplay to mobile devices through an accessible, offline experience.
Context
Fingerboard represents a significant piece of South African cultural heritage, being the local adaptation of the Indian Carrom board game that many South Africans played during childhood. Traditional board games like Fingerboard have historically served as important vehicles for social interaction, skill development, and cultural transmission across generations. However, as digital entertainment has become increasingly dominant, many traditional games risk being forgotten or overlooked by younger generations who have grown up with smartphones and digital gaming platforms. This creates an opportunity to preserve cultural gaming traditions by adapting them to contemporary digital formats, making them accessible to new audiences while evoking nostalgia for those who played these games in their physical form.
Approach
The development approach centered on creating a faithful digital adaptation of the traditional Fingerboard game while enhancing it with features that take advantage of the digital medium. The team focused on recreating the tactile experience of the physical game through intuitive touch controls and realistic physics that simulate the authentic feel of flicking discs across a board.
Rather than simply replicating the traditional game, the development included innovative game modes to enhance engagement, most notably the Time Attack Mode that challenges players to pocket all discs within a 2-minute time limit. This addition creates a competitive element that adds replay value and skill progression to the experience.
A deliberate choice was made to ensure the game functions completely offline, making it accessible in areas with limited connectivity—an important consideration in many parts of South Africa and other regions where internet access may be inconsistent or expensive. This offline functionality also makes the game more suitable for casual, on-the-go play in various contexts.
The user interface was designed with simplicity in mind, ensuring that players of all ages and technological familiarity levels could easily learn and enjoy the game, thereby maximizing its cultural accessibility and preservation potential.
Output
The completed Fingerboard: Our Carrom Pool game successfully translates the traditional South African board game experience to the digital realm with several key features that enhance the playing experience:
The game offers multiple play modes including Time Attack Mode, which challenges players to pocket all discs within 2 minutes, creating an engaging competitive element that encourages skill development and replayability. The Single-Player Mode allows for solitary enjoyment without requiring additional participants, making the game accessible in more contexts than the traditional physical version which typically requires multiple players.
One of the most significant achievements is the complete offline functionality, allowing players to enjoy the game without an internet connection. This feature ensures accessibility across various contexts and locations, particularly in areas with limited connectivity.
The game mechanics feature intuitive controls combined with realistic physics that faithfully recreate the feel of the physical game. The beautifully crafted digital boards maintain the aesthetic appeal of traditional Fingerboard/Carrom boards while taking advantage of digital visual enhancements.
Through this digital adaptation, Fingerboard preserves an important element of South African cultural heritage in a format that appeals to contemporary audiences, bridging generational gaps and introducing traditional gameplay to new players while evoking nostalgia for those familiar with the original physical game.
Credit
Game Developer
Sisanda Tech
Technology Used
Unity 6
Google PlayStore
Google Admob