Welcome to People Behind the Meeples, a series of interviews with indie game designers. Here you'll find out more than you ever wanted to know about the people who make the best games that you may or may not have heard of before. If you'd like to be featured, head over to http://gjjgames.blogspot.com/p/game-designer-interview-questionnaire.html and fill out the questionnaire! You can find all the interviews here: People Behind the Meeples.
| Name: | Evan Hunt |
|---|---|
| Email: | Flavorfactionstudio@gmail.com |
| Location: | Simsbury, CT USA |
| Day Job: | I am a Director of Business Development at a Laser Company |
| Designing: | Two to five years. |
| Webpage: | originzthegame.com |
| Blog: | http://www.originzthegame.com/blog |
| BGG: | Originz Superpowered Card Game |
| Facebook: | Originz The Superpowere Card Game or Evan Hunt |
| Twitter: | @flavorfaction |
| Find my games at: | Kickstarter launched September 6th! But you can also find the Print & Play or play the Tabletop Simulator version on www.originzthegame.com |
Evan Hunt
Interviewed on: 08/24/16
Evan Hunt is working on getting his first game published through Kickstarter right now! He and partner Alex Kampmann have been working on Originz for around two years now and are excited to see their game come forth on Kickstarter. Be sure to check it out, especially if you are into super hero card games!
Have something else you'd like to ask that I didn't cover here? Go ahead and comment on this post. I'll ask the designers interviewed to answer any questions!
Some Basics
Tell me a bit about yourself.
How long have you been designing tabletop games?
Two to five years.
Two to five years.
Why did you start designing tabletop games?
We wanted to bring an accessible, comic book style, superhero/villain deck-battle game into the world!
We wanted to bring an accessible, comic book style, superhero/villain deck-battle game into the world!
What game or games are you currently working on?
Originz The Superpowered Card Game (www.originzthegame.com)
Originz The Superpowered Card Game (www.originzthegame.com)
Have you designed any games that have been published?
Our Kickstarter launched September 6th!
Our Kickstarter launched September 6th!
What is your day job?
I am a Director of Business Development at a Laser Company and Alex is Director of Sales at a publishing company.
I am a Director of Business Development at a Laser Company and Alex is Director of Sales at a publishing company.
Your Gaming Tastes
My readers would like to know more about you as a gamer.
Where do you prefer to play games?
Home
Home
Who do you normally game with?
Friends and Family
Friends and Family
If you were to invite a few friends together for game night tonight, what games would you play?
A cooperative card game like Sentinels of the Multiverse or battle game like Warhammer 40k Conquest
A cooperative card game like Sentinels of the Multiverse or battle game like Warhammer 40k Conquest
And what snacks would you eat?
Pizza!
Pizza!
Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
Yes- acoustic versions of popular music.
Yes- acoustic versions of popular music.
What’s your favorite FLGS?
The Portal in Manchester, CT
The Portal in Manchester, CT
What is your current favorite game? Least favorite that you still enjoy? Worst game you ever played?
Originz is my favorite (but I'm biased), least favorite is SOTM because it is too Mathy, worst is Probably monopoly!
Originz is my favorite (but I'm biased), least favorite is SOTM because it is too Mathy, worst is Probably monopoly!
What is your favorite game mechanic? How about your least favorite?
Mechanics that limit note-taking and mathyness are my favorite (like the deck is your health.). Least favorite is the concept of Health points that need to be tracked.
Mechanics that limit note-taking and mathyness are my favorite (like the deck is your health.). Least favorite is the concept of Health points that need to be tracked.
What’s your favorite game that you just can’t ever seem to get to the table?
Warhammer 40k conquest - adult theme and I have kids!
Warhammer 40k conquest - adult theme and I have kids!
What styles of games do you play?
I like to play Board Games, Card Games
I like to play Board Games, Card Games
Do you design different styles of games than what you play?
I like to design Board Games, Card Games
I like to design Board Games, Card Games
OK, here's a pretty polarizing game. Do you like and play Cards Against Humanity?
Yes
Yes
You as a Designer
OK, now the bit that sets you apart from the typical gamer. Let's find out about you as a game designer.
When you design games, do you come up with a theme first and build the mechanics around that? Or do you come up with mechanics and then add a theme? Or something else?
Themes first! The mechanics must match the theme or you are in trouble! The theme is the 'heart' of the game. The mechanics are just the vehicle!
Themes first! The mechanics must match the theme or you are in trouble! The theme is the 'heart' of the game. The mechanics are just the vehicle!
Have you ever entered or won a game design competition?
Originz placed 'Runner up to Best in Show' at the CT Festival of Independent Games
Originz placed 'Runner up to Best in Show' at the CT Festival of Independent Games
Do you have a current favorite game designer or idol?
Greater than Games must be a fun place to work! I've watched them grow with admiration!
Greater than Games must be a fun place to work! I've watched them grow with admiration!
Where or when or how do you get your inspiration or come up with your best ideas?
I think of a type of game I want to play, but can't find on the market.
I think of a type of game I want to play, but can't find on the market.
How do you go about playtesting your games?
Start with friends and family, then branch out to Cons. Tabletop Simulator has been enormously helpful.
Start with friends and family, then branch out to Cons. Tabletop Simulator has been enormously helpful.
Do you like to work alone or as part of a team? Co-designers, artists, etc.?
Alex and I are co-designers. We contract our art and graphic design.
Alex and I are co-designers. We contract our art and graphic design.
What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a game designer?
Kickstarter has been populated by experienced publishers. The community is used to 100% completed games, with reviews and stellar presentations. These days, if you want to make it as an indi publisher, even on Kickstarter, you better be willing to invest in a finished product (art included.)
Kickstarter has been populated by experienced publishers. The community is used to 100% completed games, with reviews and stellar presentations. These days, if you want to make it as an indi publisher, even on Kickstarter, you better be willing to invest in a finished product (art included.)
If you could design a game within any IP, what would it be?
Peter Clines 'Ex-Heroes' series about Superheroes in the Zombie Apocalypse.
Peter Clines 'Ex-Heroes' series about Superheroes in the Zombie Apocalypse.
What do you wish someone had told you a long time ago about designing games?
Where to invest our limited time and funds, in what priority. We got most of it right, but we wasted some money and LOTS of time.
Where to invest our limited time and funds, in what priority. We got most of it right, but we wasted some money and LOTS of time.
What advice would you like to share about designing games?
You can't do anything without the right artist and graphic designer. After you have that, be prepared to playtest a ton. Solicit feedback from everybody and don't be sensitive! Be willing to change.
You can't do anything without the right artist and graphic designer. After you have that, be prepared to playtest a ton. Solicit feedback from everybody and don't be sensitive! Be willing to change.
Would you like to tell my readers what games you're working on and how far along they are?
Games that will soon be published are: Originz - The Superpowered Card Game (launched Sept 6th)
This is what I have currently crowdfunding: Originz - The Superpowered Card Game (Sept 6th)
Games that I'm playtesting are: 6 expansion Originz
And games that are still in the very early idea phase are: A mobile version of Originz
Games that will soon be published are: Originz - The Superpowered Card Game (launched Sept 6th)
This is what I have currently crowdfunding: Originz - The Superpowered Card Game (Sept 6th)
Games that I'm playtesting are: 6 expansion Originz
And games that are still in the very early idea phase are: A mobile version of Originz
Are you a member of any Facebook or other design groups? (Game Maker’s Lab, Card and Board Game Developers Guild, etc.)
Tabletop Kickstarter Advice and Kickstarter Spotlight by Druid City Games are two of my favorites.
Tabletop Kickstarter Advice and Kickstarter Spotlight by Druid City Games are two of my favorites.
And the oddly personal, but harmless stuff…
OK, enough of the game stuff, let's find out what really makes you tick! These are the questions that I’m sure are on everyone’s minds!
Star Trek or Star Wars? Coke or Pepsi? VHS or Betamax?
Star Wars, Coke, VHS!
Star Wars, Coke, VHS!
What hobbies do you have besides tabletop games?
Golf, reading, playing with kids!
Golf, reading, playing with kids!
What is something you learned in the last week?
We learned about how services like BackerKit may help your campaign.
We learned about how services like BackerKit may help your campaign.
Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
Love almost all music. Sci-fi / Fantasy / Superheroes are my favorite.
Love almost all music. Sci-fi / Fantasy / Superheroes are my favorite.
What was the last book you read?
Ex-Communication by Peter Clines.
Ex-Communication by Peter Clines.
Do you play any musical instruments?
Wish I did! My dad is awesome at guitar.
Wish I did! My dad is awesome at guitar.
Tell us something about yourself that you think might surprise people.
I was a Weapon Systems Officer on B-1 Bombers for the Air force
I was a Weapon Systems Officer on B-1 Bombers for the Air force
Tell us about something crazy that you once did.
Scuba Dove by myself - almost died because of it!
Scuba Dove by myself - almost died because of it!
Biggest accident that turned out awesome?
Meeting and falling in love with my wife, Lara.
Meeting and falling in love with my wife, Lara.
Who is your idol?
I think President Barack Obama is as cool as they come. (Politics aside.).
I think President Barack Obama is as cool as they come. (Politics aside.).
What would you do if you had a time machine?
Nothing - never mess with the space-time continuum!
Nothing - never mess with the space-time continuum!
Are you an extrovert or introvert?
Extrovert
Extrovert
If you could be any superhero, which one would you be?
Spider- Man. He's such a humble guy, driven by guilt, but never forgetting to have fun and put everything on the line!
Spider- Man. He's such a humble guy, driven by guilt, but never forgetting to have fun and put everything on the line!
Have any pets?
3 dogs, 2 frogs and a fish
3 dogs, 2 frogs and a fish
When the next asteroid hits Earth, causing the Yellowstone caldera to explode, California to fall into the ocean, the sea levels to rise, and the next ice age to set in, what current games or other pastimes do you think (or hope) will survive into the next era of human civilization? What do you hope is underneath that asteroid to be wiped out of the human consciousness forever?
I love the internet, but a part of me hopes it disappears, forcing us to enjoy and learn from the friends and family immediately around us. Plus, more people would play board games, which do the same thing!
I love the internet, but a part of me hopes it disappears, forcing us to enjoy and learn from the friends and family immediately around us. Plus, more people would play board games, which do the same thing!
If you’d like to send a shout out to anyone, anyone at all, here’s your chance (I can’t guarantee they’ll read this though):
Alex Kampmann, my co-designer at Flavor Faction Studio; Nate Brett of Wilderland Campaigns (our graphic designer) and Matt Ryan of MattR Illustration (our artist). Also all of friends and family who have been so supportive while we pursued our dream to bring Originz into the world!
Alex Kampmann, my co-designer at Flavor Faction Studio; Nate Brett of Wilderland Campaigns (our graphic designer) and Matt Ryan of MattR Illustration (our artist). Also all of friends and family who have been so supportive while we pursued our dream to bring Originz into the world!
Just a Bit More
Thanks for answering all my crazy questions! Is there anything else you'd like to tell my readers?
Thanks for taking the time to read and please look for the Originz Kickstarter on Sept 6th.
Thank you for reading this People Behind the Meeples indie game designer interview! You can find all the interviews here: People Behind the Meeples and if you'd like to be featured yourself, you can fill out the questionnaire here: http://gjjgames.blogspot.com/p/game-designer-interview-questionnaire.html
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