These are our responses to three suggestions by the judges.
There are two ways created to progress from a simple map to a complex map.
Start with a simple map.
Overlay a transparency with more parts to make a more complex map.
My students are into making simple maps that can transform into more complex ones.
Another student also discovered making small clusters with few lines. This turns out to be a good method to make challenging maps.
Another way to increase complexity: Add shapes to the maps.
Below is a map that uses connecting lines, colors, and shapes. To play a simpler version of the map, just use the lines and colors. To play a more complicated game, also use the shapes. For example, from the red moon, you can travel to the other two tiles that are connected by lines. You can also jump to another red tile. But now, you can also jump to another moon-shaped tile. In this way, you increase the complexity of the map without making it more crowded.
A student created the map below that layered a tile system over a generic city map.
I created mock-ups of hybrid cities, each of which combined landmarks from two real cities.
A possible game name: Building the London map, I thought of Dr. Who. So, Dr. Where travels through a mysterious transit system.
1,000 illustrated maps are accessible from the link below. These maps give a plethora of landmarks and art styles that could be used in the game. Here are a few examples.
Toronto
Paris
Rio de Janeiro
Rome
San Francisco
Dubai
Catch-Up Feature: Use a Power Tile, which is multi-colored and allows you to jump to any tile that has a color included on the Power Tile. This could allow you to catch-up. For example, the Power Tile below is yellow, gray, and purple. Jump to the Power Tile from a yellow, gray, or purple tile. Jump from the Power Tile to a yellow, gray, or purple tile. This could help you catch-up. Note that you cannot jump to an orange tile and immediately win. Also, you cannot jump to a green, blue, or red time and get into a position to get one move from winning.
Another use of the Power Tile could be to make 2 moves after landing on it. This could allow you to catch-up also.
This is the sum of our responses to the judges suggestions.
Finally, my students are so into creating the game that, should I win, I will share my winnings with my school for the benefit of my students (e.g., a party and more games/puzzles for my classroom). The parents and the school community are also excited and would buy the game, spread the word, and help market it.