Friday, September 30, 2016

GJJG Game Reviews - Monkey - by Birdlight Games

Monkey
Designer: Rob Gosselin
Publisher: Birdlight Games
(via The Game Crafter)
GJJG Game Reviews - Monkey - by Birdlight Games
Disclaimer

I play a lot of games with my family. I have two sons, seven and almost ten, that love playing games.  They play everything from Catan to Caverna, Dominion to Pokémon, Splendor to Takenoko, Ticket to Ride to Terra Mystica.  They especially like fast, funny, casual games though.  So I'm always on the lookout for good family style casual games.  When I was asked to review Monkey I thought it looked like a game my sons would enjoy, so I said sure!

Monkey is a very light card game for one to four players where you are a no key doing what monkeys do best: climb trees!  But watch out while you are climbing because the evil wizard, Kurgill, is going to do his best to make sure you don't climb the the by casting spells to hinder your progress.

Monkey will be available from The Game Crafter for $29 CAD (about $22.75 USD) in November, and there are currently no other plans to produce the game through any other means, nor to Kickstarter a non-print on demand version.  You can preorder a copy of Monkey from monkeythecardgame.com

Game Overview:
Monkey is a very simple card game where the object is to be the first monkey to climb all the way to the top of the tree.  Along the way though, you'll encounter spells cast by the evil wizard, Kurgill.  He'll be sending all sorts of things your way, from bananas to anvils, boxing gloves to slides, fairies to gnomes!  Some will help you out, and some will slow your progress.  The first to climb the tree, complete the treetop challenge, and bypass Kurgill's traps will be the winner.

There are three main types of cards in the game (plus a few others used in variants).  Each player will have their own monkey card.  Then there are Spell Cards and Tree Cards.  To set up the game each player is given a monkey and the Spell and Tree cards are shuffled into separate decks.  Four Tree cards are laid out, face down, in a vertical line to form the Tree Trunk and then three more are placed horizontally along the top to form the Tree Top.  Then each player is dealt three Tree Cards and the game is ready to begin.
All set up for a two player game.  Three and four player games are set up exactly
the same way, but with more monkeys trying to climb the tree.
Each player starts with their monkey card at the lowest level of the tree.  On your turn you can do a few things.  The first thing you always do is draw a Tree card and add it to your hand.  Next you'll draw a Spell card and resolve it.  Finally, assuming the Spell didn't end your turn, you'll have an opportunity to take two actions: place a monkey trap, place a tree trap, attempt to climb the tree, or attempt the treetop challenge.
Eight different Spell cards can help you out or wreak havoc.  Usually they'll wreak havoc.
Tree cards are simply colored numbers (red, green, blue, yellow, black, and rainbow), ranging in value from 1-10, 15, and 20.  Only the 20s are rainbow colored and they act as a kind of wild color when matching colors.  There are eight different Spell cards that have different effects, ranging from giving you an extra card, to letting you 'axe' a card from the tree and replace it with another card, to causing a battle between all the monkeys, to knocking monkeys down a level.  There is also the Gnome, which knocks you down a level and causes you to skip the rest of your turn and receive two traps (more on traps in a bit).

The main action you'll be taking is to attempt to climb the tree.  To do that you'll flip over the Tree card at the level your monkey is at.  Then you'll have to reveal cards from your hand that sum up to a value greater than the Tree card you are trying to climb.  But there's a catch.  If the Tree card is colored you have to use cards that are a different color.  But if the Tree card is black you must use black cards.  If you can beat the Tree card you discard the cards you used and advance to the next level.  If you can't beat the Tree card you just fall one level on the tree.  Then the Tree card is flipped face down again and everyone can try to remember what it was so they have a better chance at climbing it.  There is one more catch though.  If the Tree or Monkey have one or more Traps attached to them, they must be able to beat the trap as well in order to advance up the tree (although they don't fall if they can climb the tree, but fail at the traps).
These are the Tree Cards that I'll be able to use to climb the tree.
Traps can be added to either a specific location on the tree, or to a particular Monkey either when they encounter the Gnome, or when another player places Traps as one of their actions.  A Trap is a face-down Tree card that has been added to either the Tree or a Monkey.  To resolve a Trap, after a successful attempt to climb a level of the tree, Trap cards are revealed one at a time.  If the number on the Trap card matches any of the numbers used to climb the tree the trap is sprung and the Monkey does not advance (and no more Traps are revealed).  If all the Traps are avoided the climb is successful.  Regardless, all revealed Traps are discarded.
Watch out for that gnome.  He'll knock you down a level, cause you to miss your turn, and drop two traps on you!
Once a Monkey reaches the Treetop, on that player's turn they can use both of their actions to attempt the Treetop Challenge.  To complete the Treetop Challenge the player must be able to beat all three of the Treetop cards in a single turn.  A failure means the Monkey falls one level, and a success means the player has to avoid two random Wizard Traps (drawn from the top of the Tree Card deck).  If the player is able to complete that, they win!

Components & Packaging:
Monkey is produced by The Game Crafter.  Now, I love The Game Crafter.  They do a really great job of producing a wide variety of decent quality components... for prototypes.  The Game Crafter primarily does Print on Demand games, which means they have standardized sets of components and do digital printing at lower quality than a dedicated print manufacturing facility.  Everything that comes from The Game Crafter is playable and the print quality is much better than most people can do on their own, but everything is definitely a lower quality than a mass manufactured game.  Cards, tokens, the box, even the rules are of lower quality than what you would get from an actual manufacturer.
The Game Crafter components look nice, but they're much lower quality
than you'd expect from a published game.
The other downside to using The Game Crafter is the cost.  Since their services are used primarily for low number print runs of mostly prototypes, the costs are much higher.  Generally the manufacturing cost of a game produced by The Game Crafter is many times the manufacturing cost of a mass produced game.  But the benefit is the ability to create games at very low print runs (as few as one game at a time in some cases).

So there are definitely trade-offs to using The Game Crafter to produce a game - high unit cost and lower quality components for lower print runs and faster turnaround time (you can get a game from The Game Crafter in a couple of weeks, as opposed to several months from a game manufacturer).

That said, while I love The Game Crafter for prototypes, it just doesn't cut it for a retail game.  And unfortunately The Game Crafter is the retail route that Birdlight Games has chosen to release Monkey through.  So, while functional, the quality of the components and packaging feels like a nice prototype rather than a finished game.
The component quality is functional, but it definitely won't 'wow' you.  The artwork is nice though!
The artwork, on the other hand, is quite nice, and functional for the game.  The Tree cards are very simple, just colored numbers, but the characters and objects on the Spell Cards, Monkey, and Wizard cards (which are used in variants) is very family friendly and nice.  The artwork won't be winning any awards, but it looks good and fits well with the style of game.  Only one thing would be nice, and that would be to have a short bit of text on the Spell cards to remind players what each Spell does.

Score: 4/10 x1

Rules & Setup:
The rules are very well laid out and setup is a snap.  The game is pretty simple, so it doesn't take long to explain how to play at all.  The game can be setup in about two minutes and then explained in about five.  Even the included variants are pretty simple.  The only small issue with the rules is that they are the only place the Spell cards are explained.  The section of the rules that explains them is fine, but it would be nice if the effects were on the cards themselves, or on reference cards.

There are also a few variants, including solo play, a version where each player has their own tree, and a version where Kurgill plays as an AI opponent against everyone.  Each of these adds just a little more to the game and is clearly explained and easy to learn.
These cards are used in the Krazy Kurgz variant.
Score: 9/10 x2

Gameplay:
Monkey is a very simple game.  And it relies very heavily on luck.  There is a memory aspect to the game, but it's not a big challenge to remember what the previously revealed cards are.  There is a tiny bit of strategy in deciding whether to climb the tree or trap opponents, but I found that trying to plan ahead is mostly a waste of time.  There are too many random effects (spells, traps, wizard traps) that can completely destroy even the best laid plans.  The only real strategy is trying to build up a big enough hand with higher numbers so that you can easily conquer the Treetop Challenge.

That said, my sons absolutely loved the game.  They didn't mind the randomness at all and, in fact, loved the chaos that ensued.  They also liked that the monkey cards weren't critical to the game because it game them the opportunity to use Star Wars trading cards instead of monkeys.
Apparently Stormtroopers can climb trees, too!

So, while the very simple, random gameplay isn't really my cup of tea, this could make for a fun family game.

Score: 5/10 x3

Replayability:
Replayability really depends on the audience.  My sons would gladly play this several times in a row.  I, on the other hand, found it a bit tedious after the third game with them.  There are a few variants included in the rules, including solo play, to those allow for some slightly different feels for the game, which increases replayability somewhat.  Honestly, this isn't a game that I would pull out on my own., but if my sons or someone else wanted to play I also wouldn't say no.
There are enough choices each turn to keep the kids entertained, but the inability
to form any meaningful strategy because of the randomness inherent in the game will
limit the replayability for any serious gamers.
Score: 5/10 x1

General Fun:
The chaotic randomness of the game was fun, if a bit frustrating at times.  I usually like games where there is some strategy and planning involved and there's almost none of that in Monkey.  Monkey is totally about experiencing the game as it happens to you, allowing for very few critical decisions in the game.  But, like I said earlier, my sons loved playing the game, and I think anyone looking for a super casual family game will find something to enjoy here.
It's fun for families!
Score: 5/10 x2

Overall Value:
Monkey will be available through The Game Crafter (or through the Birdlight Games website) for $29.99 CAD (that's about $22.75 USD).  You can also get a cheaper version in a tuck box for just $19.99 CAD (a bit over $15 USD).  Monkey isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea, but if you're looking for a casual, fast, family game, this will fit the bill for a fairly reasonable price.  You're not going to break the bank on this, but you're also not going to get a ton of game out of it either.

Score: 7/10 x1

Final Thoughts:
Monkey is one of those games that you really need the right players for.  It's not going to appeal to hard core gamers, but it will entertain very casual gamers and families.  Personally I prefer meatier games than this, and I really love games that hit the sweet spot between being simple enough for casual and non-gamers (and families) yet deep enough to provide a wealth of strategic choice for the more experienced gamer.  Unfortunately Monkey doesn't walk that line, but it is solidly in the casual game category.  The mechanics are solid, the rules are simple, gameplay was fun (especially for my kids), and the artwork is entertaining.  So the game hits on every key aspect of a good family game.
Two monkeys in the treetop!  Who will complete the Treetop Challenge and avoid Kurgill's traps first?
So, if this sounds like something your family would enjoy, be sure to check out Monkey at the Birdlight Games webpage and pre-order your game today!

Overall Score: 59/100


Did you like this review?  Show your support by clicking the heart at Board Game Links , liking GJJ Games on Facebook , or following on Twitter .  And be sure to check out my games on  Tabletop Generation.


 


GJJG Game Reviews are independent, unpaid reviews of games I, George Jaros, have played with my family and friends.  Some of these games I own, some are owned by friends, some are borrowed, and some are print and play versions of games.  Where applicable I will indicate if games have been played with kids or adults or a mix (Family Play).  I won't go into extensive detail about how to play the game (there are plenty of other sources for that information and I'll occasionally link to those other sources), but I will give my impressions of the game and how my friends and family reacted to the game.  A score of 1-10 (low-high) is given to each game in six categories: Components & Packaging, Rules & Setup, Gameplay, Replayability, Overall Value, and General Fun.  Rules & Setup and General Fun are weighted double and Gameplay is weighted triple.  Educational games have an extra category and Gameplay is only weighted double. Then the game is given a total score of x/100.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

People Behind the Meeples - Episode 10: Craig Stern

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:Craig Stern
Location:Chicago, United States
Day Job:I'm an attorney; I work for a personal injury and workers' compensation firm.
Designing:Over ten years!
Webpage:http://sinisterdesign.net/
Blog:http://sinisterdesign.net/
BGG:Craig Stern - Designer Page
Facebook:Sinister Design
Twitter:@sinisterdesign
Find my games at:http://sinisterdesign.net/products/
Today's Interview is with:

Craig Stern
Interviewed on: 08/24/16

Craig Stern is a game designer that is somewhat local to me. He's from Chicago and I grew up in the Chicago suburbs and live about 65 miles west of Chicago now. I had the fortune to meet him back in January at a game design meetup and got to play his game, True Messiah, which is now on Kickstarter. Craig also attends the Protospiel events that I go to, so we cross paths every so often. Be sure to check out the Kickstarter for True Messiah and learn more about Craig below!

Some Basics
Tell me a bit about yourself.

How long have you been designing tabletop games?
Over ten years!

Why did you start designing tabletop games?
I started doing it when I was a child, largely to amuse myself. My family grew up poor, and since we spent a lot of time moving around, I had a hard time keeping onto friends. Reading books, writing stories, and inventing games were the cheapest, most reliable sources of entertainment I had, so that's what I did.

What game or games are you currently working on?
True Messiah, a strategy board game and deck-builder of surreal religious horror! Think Dominion meets Dune by way of Zdzisław Beksiński--there's more info--and some really gorgeous art--here: http://truemessiahgame.com/

Have you designed any games that have been published?
I've self-published 8 video games or so over the past decade; but this will be my first published board game.

What is your day job?
I'm an attorney; I work for a personal injury and workers' compensation firm.

Your Gaming Tastes
My readers would like to know more about you as a gamer.

Where do you prefer to play games?
For board games, I prefer my apartment (or a friend's apartment).

Who do you normally game with?
Friends.

If you were to invite a few friends together for game night tonight, what games would you play?
It depends on my mood. I enjoy party games, deck-builders, and strategy games (with the proviso that I typically consider games that rely on dice to resolve the outcome of player actions an outright waste of my time).

And what snacks would you eat?
Cookies are good; chips and dip is risky when board games are involved. (Beer is also risky, but the reward outweighs the risk in that case.)

Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
Nah; my friends' banter is all the soundtrack I really need!

What’s your favorite FLGS?
My friends manage G-Mart Comics in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood, so I may have to pick that one (or else risk getting shanked when I'm not looking).

What is your current favorite game? Least favorite that you still enjoy? Worst game you ever played?
Dominion remains my favorite game to this day; it's lightweight, easy to teach, infinitely adaptable, and it lends itself pretty well to storytelling while you play. (E.G. "I'm visiting the village, and hey--what do you know--the market's open! I sell some used books and buy myself a golem, which goes rampaging through town on my behalf and comes back carrying an entire militia, which then swears fealty to me...")

I'm not sure about "least favorite that I still enjoy". That might be The Dr. Laura Game, in that I sometimes play it ironically with friends as a sort of unintentional "can you get inside the head of a right-wing radio personality and figure out what horrible life advice she'd give to people in different scenarios" game. Either that, or Trivial Pursuit.

Candy Land is an easy choice for worst game; it features all the gripping, tense decision-making and interactivity of watching a screen saver. With results determined entirely at random, you could save yourself the trouble and pick a winner using a random number generator--and in a fraction of the time!

What is your favorite game mechanic? How about your least favorite?
I don't think I have a single favorite mechanic; a mechanic is only as good as its context, ultimately, and what works beautifully in one game can outright ruin another one.

I do have a least-favorite mechanic, though: randomized results. I define randomized results as "interpos[ing] chance between a player’s chosen action and the results of that action"; anything of the "roll a die to see if you hit," or "roll a die to see how much damage you do," or "roll a die to determine if you just wasted your turn through no fault of your own and must now wait another 10 minutes while everyone else goes" oeuvre. I wrote a whole, long article on why that mechanic is bad, which you are welcome to read here: http://sinisterdesign.net/unpredictability-and-control-in-turn-based-combat-an-examination/

Even with randomized results, though, context matters. This mechanic, too, can be used well--I just find that it almost never is.

What’s your favorite game that you just can’t ever seem to get to the table?
Magic: The Gathering.

...I know, I know: I need better friends, obviously.

What styles of games do you play?
I like to play Board Games, Card Games, RPG Games, Video Games, Other Games?

Do you design different styles of games than what you play?
I like to design Board Games, Card Games, Video Games

OK, here's a pretty polarizing game. Do you like and play Cards Against Humanity?
I enjoy it, but you need the right crowd for it. I'm open to playing as long as it's not going to make anyone uncomfortable.

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?
It varies by game; it just depends on which idea strikes me first. In the case of True Messiah, mechanics arose first, then theme--but the theme then influenced the development of the mechanics, so it ended up developing a pretty tight fit.

Have you ever entered or won a game design competition?
Not for a board game. My first-ever video game won honorable mention in an online competition, though, which helped to convince me that I should keep on making those.

Do you have a current favorite game designer or idol?
I admire many different designers; Sid Meier, Julian Gollop. They're mostly video game designers, if I'm being honest. I don't have a single favorite.

Where or when or how do you get your inspiration or come up with your best ideas?
Using THE POWER OF MY BRAIIIIN!

Seriously, I have no idea. Things just come to me, and I run with them. Then from there, it's just the long, hard process of testing and iterating based on personal observation and feedback.

How do you go about playtesting your games?
I'll start off playing against myself to make sure I have something solid enough that I'm comfortable inflicting it on other people.

Then, when the time comes, I'll start to organize playtest parties on Facebook. The idea behind a playtest party is simple: I lure in a group of friends with beer and pizza, then sit nearby with a legal pad and a pen and take notes as they play.

Once I have the game *really* solid, I'll then start taking it to conventions and such.

Do you like to work alone or as part of a team? Co-designers, artists, etc.?
I've never worked with a co-designer; I've gotten into the habit of hiring artists and musicians, though. Division of labor is a beautiful thing.

What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a game designer?
Ensuring that my games are accessible and not overly long to play; I really enjoy utilizing emergent complexity, but I can sometimes become too enamored of the "complexity" part.

If you could design a game within any IP, what would it be?
One of my own, obviously--why would I want to waste my time enriching someone else's IP?

That's probably not the answer you're looking for here, though, so I'll give you this as an alternative answer: Redwall or The Wheel of Time. I *loved* those books when I was younger, and I bet I could do something cool with them.

What do you wish someone had told you a long time ago about designing games?
"Save up your money and hire a good artist to do the art for you." I figured that one out eventually, but it took me too long.

Would you like to tell my readers what games you're working on and how far along they are?
Published games, I have: All of my work is self-published: http://sinisterdesign.net/products/
Games that will soon be published are: True Messiah will be self-published: http://sinisterdesign.net/products/true-messiah/

This is what I have currently crowdfunding: True Messiah is up on Kickstarter right now!
Currently looking for a publisher I have: None. I have never been willing to surrender creative control over my work, and I don't intend to start now.
Games I feel are in the final development and tweaking stage are: True Messiah.
And games that are still in the very early idea phase are: A game that I do not care to announce just yet; I've learned to let things bake a little longer before I show them to the world.

Are you a member of any Facebook or other design groups? (Game Maker’s Lab, Card and Board Game Developers Guild, etc.)
Yup.

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 Trek and Star Wars are both great in their own ways--Star Trek for its thoughtfulness and intelligence, and Star Wars for dumb swashbuckling fun. I like a little of both in my life.

Coke and Pepsi are both gross; if I'm going to drink something carbonated and bad for me, I expect it to at least get me drunk for my trouble.

I'm pretty sure Betamax ceased to be a thing before I was actually born, so VHS wins that one by default.

What hobbies do you have besides tabletop games?
Swing dancing; rock climbing; sword fighting; reading; writing; playing video games; cooking. I also run the website IndieRPGs.com, and organize the Chicago indie developer meetup Indie City Games (I'm not sure that those count as hobbies, exactly, but I'm including them anyway).

What is something you learned in the last week?
That the executives of the pharmaceutical company Mylan are basically total monsters.

Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
I have broad, genre-spanning tastes in music and movies. In books, I tend to enjoy non-fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, and sci-fi.

What was the last book you read?
I'm currently working my way through the 13th century Chinese novel The Three Kingdoms.

Do you play any musical instruments?
My dad tried to teach me to play the guitar when I was young, but I foolishly refused to learn it, instead wanting to learn the clarinet. (I didn't end up learning to play that one, either.)

Tell us something about yourself that you think might surprise people.
I'm secretly a serial killer!

(To be fair, you didn't say that it had to be TRUE.)

Tell us about something crazy that you once did.
I participated in a polar plunge in Lake Michigan on New Year's Day 2016 with some friends. It was 24 degrees out. To my shock and delight, I escaped the experience with my extremities all intact!

Biggest accident that turned out awesome?
My birth, probably? :D

Who is your idol?
Billy.

What would you do if you had a time machine?
Oh, I don't know; I guess that depends upon how time travel works. I'd be tempted to go advise Past Me--anonymously, if need be--on how to handle various things in my life. (Girls, for example.)

The effects of that could be unpredictable, though, and I certainly wouldn't want to return to the present timeline to find things too dramatically altered--although if they were altered for the better, and my memories automatically updated to reflect what had happened in this new-and-improved timeline, would it even matter? Hm...

...maybe I'd just go visit the future and bring back a Playstation 11.

Are you an extrovert or introvert?
I'm actually a pretty even mix; it depends on my mood and the particular selection of people I'm with, mainly.

If you could be any superhero, which one would you be?
I've always been partial to the notion of being able to selectively freeze or rewind time at will, so I'd probably select Sway from the X-Men. (Minus the "being dead" part.)

Have any pets?
Nah.

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?
All of 'em; variety is the spice of life! (Except for dogfighting. Or cockfighting.)

I don't think an asteroid could do the job, but I'd dearly love for the human brain to somehow rid itself of all the myriad cognitive biases and other shortcomings that hamper our ability to reason and perceive the world accurately.

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):
Hi Mom!

Just a Bit More
Thanks for answering all my crazy questions! Is there anything else you'd like to tell my readers?

Another thing? After all that? Okay, fine--I will share this link, which you should visit: http://truemessiahgame.com




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

Did you like this interview?  Show your support by clicking the heart at Board Game Links , liking GJJ Games on Facebook , or following on Twitter .  And be sure to check out my games on  Tabletop Generation.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

People Behind the Meeples - Episode 9: Lucas Weese

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:Lucas Weese
Email:info@cohio.co
Location:Columbus, OH
Day Job:Coordinator at a Help Desk for online school testing.
Designing:One to two years.
Webpage:http://cohiogames.com
Blog:http://cohiogames.com/blog
BGG:weesel99
Facebook:http://facebook.com/battleblakes/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/BattleBlakes
Find my games at:cohiogames.com, Tabletopia
Today's Interview is with:

Lucas Weese
Interviewed on: 08/25/16

Lucas Weese is the founder of Cohio Games, a group of game players and designers from Columbus, Ohio. His first game design is on Kickstarter right now. Battle Blakes looks like a fun, casual game, so check it out and be sure to keep reading to learn a bit more about Lucas!

Some Basics
Tell me a bit about yourself.

How long have you been designing tabletop games?
One to two years.

Why did you start designing tabletop games?
I've always loved playing and wanted to design, but finally had a muse/idea spark in April of 2015.

What game or games are you currently working on?
Battle Blakes - Just launched on Kickstarter. Panda Dice, Mine Camp, Spyscape - Early Beta development.

Have you designed any games that have been published?
Not yet, hopefully soon.

What is your day job?
Coordinator at a Help Desk for online school testing.

Your Gaming Tastes
My readers would like to know more about you as a gamer.

Where do you prefer to play games?
Usually a friend's house, but recently been going to a weekly group meet up at a local restaurant and meeting a lot of new people which is awesome.

Who do you normally game with?
My group of 4-10 depending on the day/time.

If you were to invite a few friends together for game night tonight, what games would you play?
Always rotating to new and old. Bloodborne, Orleans, Suburbia, Power Grid, Clockwork Wars, Arcadia Quest, Telestrations, Codenames, dozens upon dozens of fillers.

And what snacks would you eat?
We generally order some pizzas.

Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
Generally no, but will have the TV on a low volume in the other room. Unless it's on a Saturday or Sunday during football season where the volume tends to get louder.

What’s your favorite FLGS?
The Soldiery in Columbus.

What is your current favorite game? Least favorite that you still enjoy? Worst game you ever played?
Favorite - Dragon & Flagon if we have at least 6 players, probably Orleans if we have 4. Least Favorite - Marco Polo, I understand the mechanics, but for some reason I can't figure out how to win. Worst - Backseat Drawing, getting non-artistic players (including myself) to draw something is very frustrating.

What is your favorite game mechanic? How about your least favorite?
Favorite - Probably area control. Least Favorite - Co-op, it's more fun to mess with other players. Although my group is enjoying T.I.M.E. Stories.

What’s your favorite game that you just can’t ever seem to get to the table?
Arcadia Quest. We've only made it through a campaign once.

What styles of games do you play?
I like to play Board Games, Card Games, Video Games

Do you design different styles of games than what you play?
I like to design Board Games, Card Games

OK, here's a pretty polarizing game. Do you like and play Cards Against Humanity?
Party situations it's okay, but it became a go-to and lost a lot of it's allure and in your face shock value.

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?
I've actually done both. Battle Blakes was a theme and then mechanics around it. Spyscape was an idea with a skin or theme attached after the fact.

Have you ever entered or won a game design competition?
Nope.

Do you have a current favorite game designer or idol?
Not sure if I'd say idol, but Jamey Stegmaier's blog about Kickstarter and the process has been very beneficial. It also helps that his games are pretty good.

Where or when or how do you get your inspiration or come up with your best ideas?
The first game (Battle Blakes) was because some suggested that we make funny trading cards and that spiraled me into the creative process to go a step further. Once that flew out of me it was like a switch went off in my head. I can never really say though when inspiration hits. I could be in my car driving, sitting at home watching TV, or something that I see when I'm out and about and my brain just starts churning.

How do you go about playtesting your games?
I start with close friends and my personal gaming group. Once we get the bugs we see out, then going to conventions. The First Exposure Playtest Hall at Gencon, Metatopia, and then just other conventions to not only have people give feedback, but to also get people interested in the game.

What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a game designer?
The main thing is getting the word out and instilling confidence in potential buyers. I love doing it and have invested a lot of my own money. I feel we've come up with a solid game, but now to get people to support a brand new company with no track record.

If you could design a game within any IP, what would it be?
The Tick. I've loved this character for over 2 decades.

What do you wish someone had told you a long time ago about designing games?
How to market your game and get it out there.

What advice would you like to share about designing games?
It's a lot of fun, but don't think that all you need is to have a good product. There is a lot of footwork and networking needed. You're going to spend a lot of your own money and free time to get the game off the ground. Surround yourself with good people and friends that will not only encourage you, but also call you out on things.

Would you like to tell my readers what games you're working on and how far along they are?

This is what I have currently crowdfunding: Battle Blakes: First Bash (Launch date is September 8th)
Games that are in the early stages of development and beta testing are: Panda Dice, Mine Camp, SpyScape, Battle Blakes: Part Deux
And games that are still in the very early idea phase are: An American Band, Superzeroes, Battle Blakes: Inner Demons

Are you a member of any Facebook or other design groups? (Game Maker’s Lab, Card and Board Game Developers Guild, etc.)
Nope, but now I feel I need to be.

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.

What hobbies do you have besides tabletop games?
Karaoke (actually own a karaoke company), gambling, comics.

What is something you learned in the last week?
That 2 Crown Royal bags filled with change (even mostly quarters) does not amount to as much money as you would think.

Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
Alternative. Fantasy. Epic.

What was the last book you read?
Messenger - Lois Lowry. I read The Giver when I was younger and my girlfriend told me there were actually more books to the series.

Do you play any musical instruments?
Nope, my tiny bear paws kind of limit that.

Tell us something about yourself that you think might surprise people.
I run a successful karaoke company that has been voted best in Columbus for the last 6 years.

Tell us about something crazy that you once did.
Friends and I stole a gumball machine from a grocery store in high school...we were caught.

Biggest accident that turned out awesome?
I'm not sure, I don't have kids, so I don't have the go-to answer for that one.

Who is your idol?
I don't have anyone in particular. I tend not to idolize people. I do have respect for anyone that chooses to follow their hearts/dreams and do things to works towards that goal.

What would you do if you had a time machine?
Check out the future and how far technology had advanced.

Are you an extrovert or introvert?
I'm a social introvert if that makes sense. I like time to myself and close friends, but I also am on stage and making sure everyone's having a good time when I'm hosting karaoke.

If you could be any superhero, which one would you be?
The Tick, as stated before favorite for over 2 decades.

Have any pets?
Yes, 1 cat. He came with my girlfriend and she's upset because she feels he loves me more now.

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?
This a lot tougher of a question than expected. Survive: I hope at least one copy of every game survives because that would be a terrible loss of creativity. Wiped Out: Boy bands.

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):
All the other people that make up Cohio Games. Any an everyone that has playtested Battle Blakes and given feedback and opinions to help evolve the game. James Hudson for his insight and great Kickstarter Spotlight karaoke group.

Just a Bit More
Thanks for answering all my crazy questions! Is there anything else you'd like to tell my readers?

Designing games has been an incredible adventure and I hope to be able to design and share games for years to come.

Hopefully by the time this is released to the public our Kickstarter for Battle Blakes is in full swing and we've been funded.




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

Did you like this interview?  Show your support by clicking the heart at Board Game Links , liking GJJ Games on Facebook , or following on Twitter .  And be sure to check out my games on  Tabletop Generation.

Friday, September 23, 2016

Eye on Kickstarter #5

Eye on Kickstarter #5

Welcome to my Eye on Kickstarter series!  This series will highlight Kickstarter campaigns I am following that have recently launched (or I've recently discovered) because they have caught my interest.  Usually they'll catch my interest because they look like great games that I have either backed or would like to back (unfortunately budget doesn't allow me to back everything I'd like to).  But occasionally the campaigns caught my attention for other reasons.  Twice a month, on the 2nd and 4th Fridays, I'll make a new post in this series, highlighting the campaigns that have caught my attention since the last post.  In each post I'll highlight one campaign that has really grabbed my attention, followed by other campaigns I've backed or am interested in.  I'll also include links to any reviews I've done.  Comments are welcome, as are suggestions for new campaigns to check out!

You can also see my full Kickstarter Profile to see what I've backed or my old Eye on Kickstarter page that was too unwieldy to maintain.  Also, check out the 2016 Kickstarter Boardgame Projects geeklist over on Board Game Geek for a list of all the tabletop games of the year.

So, without further ado, here are the projects I'm currently watching as of the fourth Friday of September, 2016:


HIGHLIGHTED CAMPAIGN
PWNs - A Game of Strategic Mayhem
  • GJJ Games Review
  • GJJ Games Backed
  • PWNs might not look like a serious game, and you're right, it's not serious. It's hilarious! It's a chaotic game that's full of laughs and mayhem filled fun. The artwork isn't masterpiece quality, but it fits the theme and gameplay perfectly. I couldn't imagine the game with serious artwork. I had a chance to review this when it was getting ready for its first campaign and I loved it. My friends loved it. My kids loved it. Their friends loved it. Everyone had an absolute blast playing PWNs and the game has only gotten better! Definitely check it out!


The ultimate, easy-to-learn strategy game you will never play the same way twice!

PWNs is a unique game where you command your team of pawns to traverse a board filled with potentially-dangerous terrain to battle your way to victory. Your team will use a combination of cards, abilities, and terrain to knock out enemy PWNs. The object is to knock out just one team from the game. Then whichever team has the most remaining players with the most health points wins! With so many possible combinations and variations randomly assigned at the beginning of the game, you'll never play the same game twice.





ORIGINZ - The Superpowered Card Game
  • People Behind the Meeples Interview
  • If you are a fan of comic books and super hero games, be sure to check this one out. There are a bunch of different characters and you can play them with either hero or villain abilities! The artwork looks great, and the gameplay looks fun. Plus I had a chance to interview the designer, Evan Hunt!


Ember: From the Ashes
  • People Behind the Meeples Interview
  • Ember: From the Ashes is the first expansion to the successfully Kickstarted Ember: The Magical Card Game. This expansion adds a bunch of new cards, a few new mechanics, and some incredible artwork. It's from designer and publisher Stuart Garside (call him Stewie though, it makes him laugh).


Stellar Armada
  • GJJ Games Review
  • There seem to be more and more of these $1 games popping up on Kickstarter. Stellar Armada is one of the latest, and it looks quite interesting. Space combat for just $1!


Mars 4:45
  • I'm a sucker for anything Mars. I've loved the red planet ever since I was a kid (heck, I just love astronomy, so the same could be said about Jupiter, Saturn, extrasolar planets, etc.). I really love the simple, clean, yet striking artwork from Mars 4:45 and the gameplay looks very interesting, too!


Z.O.R.P. (Zombie Oblivion Response Pack)
  • ZORP was actually on my list of games to review. I did manage to play the game and found it quite a bit lacking. The version on Kickstarter has a few changes and I will be getting a review out next week for the game that talks aobut some of these changes.

Thursday, September 22, 2016

People Behind the Meeples - Episode 8: Evan Hunt

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
Today's Interview is with:

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.
Why did you start designing tabletop games?
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)
Have you designed any games that have been published?
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.

Your Gaming Tastes
My readers would like to know more about you as a gamer.

Where do you prefer to play games?
Home
Who do you normally game with?
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
And what snacks would you eat?
Pizza!
Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
Yes- acoustic versions of popular music.
What’s your favorite FLGS?
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!
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.
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!
What styles of games do you play?
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
OK, here's a pretty polarizing game. Do you like and play Cards Against Humanity?
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!
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
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!
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.
How do you go about playtesting your games?
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.
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.)
If you could design a game within any IP, what would it be?
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.
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.
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

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.

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!
What hobbies do you have besides tabletop games?
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.
Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
Love almost all music. Sci-fi / Fantasy / Superheroes are my favorite.
What was the last book you read?
Ex-Communication by Peter Clines.
Do you play any musical instruments?
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
Tell us about something crazy that you once did.
Scuba Dove by myself - almost died because of it!
Biggest accident that turned out awesome?
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.).
What would you do if you had a time machine?
Nothing - never mess with the space-time continuum!
Are you an extrovert or introvert?
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!
Have any pets?
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!
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!

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

Did you like this interview?  Show your support by clicking the heart at Board Game Links , liking GJJ Games on Facebook , or following on Twitter .  And be sure to check out my games on  Tabletop Generation.