How We Built a Family Board Game App: Our 7-Month Journey – The Story Behind MyMarble

A dad, a mom, and a daughter accidentally built a board game that became a web app.

It all started with a simple thought about creating a family board game app.
One evening, I watched my wife and daughter playing Monopoly and laughing so hard that the entire living room felt brighter.
Something about that moment stayed with me — the smiles, the little arguments, the joy of rolling dice together.
And I thought, “What if we could bring that feeling anywhere?”
That small spark of curiosity became MyMarble, our family-made board game.

At that time, I had zero experience with game development.
I have no experience to make game — I was working on solid-state physics analysis tools, deep in data and formulas.
Creating a family board game app felt like trying to build a treehouse with no hammer.
But I was curious. I wanted to see what would happen if I just tried, even if it meant failing along the way.

From Camping Idea to a Real App

I originally made MyMarble so our family could play together during camping trips.
Those moments under the stars, without screens or distractions, were where the idea grew roots.
The platform I used wasn’t designed for games — it was for web services —
so every piece had to be hand-built.
It was rough, messy, and full of bugs, but it was ours.
And that made it fun.

Over time, I refined the idea.
These days, there are countless tools — AI code assistants, no-code platforms —
that make it easier to create something new.
I use AI often to handle repetitive work, but I’ve learned something important:
AI can’t replace human creativity and warmth.
After a few close calls, I realized that real understanding still comes from a person who cares about what they’re making — especially when it’s something meant for family.

Building, Testing, and Learning Together

My wife and daughter became my first testers and my most honest critics.
Every bug we fixed together, every time the dice finally rolled right,
it felt like a shared little victory.
Through this process, I learned that creating a family board game app
wasn’t just about code — it was about connection.
It reminded me that the best parts of making something
come from the laughter and the stories that happen around it.
Seeing my wife and daughter test the app with such enthusiasm made me realize that this was more than just coding; it was about creating memories and meaningful experiences

These days, I spend more time sharing our journey online —
writing about how MyMarble came to be,
posting updates, or simply reflecting on what I’ve learned as a dad.
It’s funny — I now open my blog and camera roll more often than my code editor.
But that’s where the memories live.

Lessons Beyond Coding

Working on MyMarble changed how I think about learning.
Some of the smartest people I’ve met believe that true education
comes from making and experiencing, not just listening.
Looking back, I realize that building MyMarble together
was the best kind of lesson for my daughter —
a mix of creativity, problem-solving, patience, and joy.

What Started as a Hobby Became a Memory

Our small weekend project turned into a real family board game app
that anyone can play through the web.
It’s still far from perfect, but that’s part of the charm.
It began with curiosity and love,
and became a reminder that the best projects
are the ones we make — and live — together.
This journey taught me that creativity and warmth from human hands can never truly be replaced by AI, no matter how advanced.

👉 You can try it here: https://mymarble.kr

ios : Link

korean version : Link

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