Tuesday, October 31, 2017

People Behind the Meeples - Episode 93: Jeffrey Chin

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. Support me on Patreon!


Jeffery Chin on the right, with design partner Andrew Nerger on the left.
Name:Jeffrey Chin
Email:roadtoinfamy@gmail.com
Location:Chicago
Day Job:I used to direct pre-production for commercials, but since being laid off earlier this year I've been focusing on game design.
Designing:Two to five years.
Webpage:roadtoinfamy.com
Blog:
BGG:Road to Infamy
Facebook:Road to Infamy
Twitter:@roadtoinfamy
YouTube:Road to Infamy
Find my games at:roadtoinfamy.com
Today's Interview is with:

Jeffrey Chin
Interviewed on: 8/1/2017

Today's interview is with another Chicago area designer! Together with his design partner, Jeffrey Chin has designed several games, including Road to Infamy, which successfully funded on Kickstarter in 2015 and Cosmocracy last year. They have a slew of other games that they're working on, so keep an eye out for them on Kickstarter again. In the meantime, if you're in the Chicagoland area you can probably help playtest their games at any of the [Toggle Gaming] events.

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?
To entertain my small group of friends.

What game or games are you currently working on?
Our latest project at Road To Infamy Games is called Crypt, a negotiation game about thieves looting an ancient burial ground. Players try to get the most treasure, however the player with the most curses loses, regardless of how much treasure they have collected.

Have you designed any games that have been published?
Yes, Cosmocracy was published this year (2017).

What is your day job?
I used to direct pre-production for commercials, but since being laid off earlier this year I've been focusing on game design.

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

Where do you prefer to play games?
Durty Nellie's in Palatine, IL has an excellent gaming community called Toggle Gaming. Every Tuesday they gather 50+ people and it's a very open and accepting group. They've helped me a lot with playtesting my own games as well.

Who do you normally game with?
Some of the regulars in my gaming group are my co-designer, Andrew Nerger and Don Eskridge (designer of The Resistance).

If you were to invite a few friends together for game night tonight, what games would you play?
Some of my favorites right now are Scythe, Pandemic Legacy, Captain Sonar, Spyfall, Betabotz, Splendor, Karmaka, and Avalon.

And what snacks would you eat?
I just got a huge tub of cookies and cream ice cream that I forgot to serve at a big party, so that will be our snack for the next few game nights.

Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
I usually search YouTube for a playlist of music that fits the theme of the game. Last time we were playing my prototype for Ma No Umi so we listened to sea shanties all night.

What is your current favorite game? Least favorite that you still enjoy? Worst game you ever played?
Scythe is my favorite if I'm playing with other experienced players. With new players it's too slow and almost unenjoyable. Sushi Go is tolerable, but it'll still hit my table once in awhile because it's my fiance's favorite. The worst game I've ever tried is Wizard School. The rules are so inconsistent that it's impossible to finish a game.

What is your favorite game mechanic? How about your least favorite?
I love bidding -- it's fascinating how players create their own economy of supply and demand, deciding their own values for things. I usually dislike when games use "event decks" with extensive text that interrupt the regular pace of the game.

What’s your favorite game that you just can’t ever seem to get to the table?
It's always hard to get the right number of players to play Captain Sonar.

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

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

OK, here's a pretty polarizing game. Do you like and play Cards Against Humanity?
Hate the game, but they are an incredible marketing company

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?
Theme comes first and last. I find that starting with a theme helps me brainstorm mechanics. But in the end, the game is so different from its initial concept that it needs a new theme.

Do you have a current favorite game designer or idol?
I look up to Jamey Stegmaier. He's not only my role model for game design, but for running a business and creating a community as well.

Where or when or how do you get your inspiration or come up with your best ideas?
Lately, I've been inspired by old video games from my childhood. I often start by trying to replicate an experience from a video game, and it usually doesn't work, but in the process I will discover some mechanic that intrigues me and I build off of that.

How do you go about playtesting your games?
First I playtest by myself until it's playable, meaning it may be broken but at least you can get through the game start to finish. Then I'll have close friends try it during my Wednesday game nights. When the game starts being fun, I'll bring it to gaming events and have blind playtesters try it.

Do you like to work alone or as part of a team? Co-designers, artists, etc.?
I work with my co-designer Andrew Nerger. It's great to have someone you can bounce ideas off of, and great to have someone that understands the financial side of running a business.

What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a game designer?
It's hard to let go of ideas or mechanics that you've been working on for a long time. But if they're not working, it's important to be able to scrap your work and try something new.

If you could design a game within any IP, what would it be?
Scott Pilgrim

What do you wish someone had told you a long time ago about designing games?
If you have an idea for a game, you can just do it. You don't need to have a big publisher. Whether it's just for yourself or if you want to sell it, you can make it on your own.

What advice would you like to share about designing games?
Don't get attached to your prototypes or invest in fancy, expensive prototypes too soon. The first 10 versions should be made out of computer paper so that you can throw them away after a couple tests.

Would you like to tell my readers what games you're working on and how far along they are?
Published games, I have: Cosmocracy was published this year. We ran a successful Kickstarter campaign for Galactic Debate in 2016 and Redshift Games picked it up and changed the name.
Currently looking for a publisher I have: Bowties: The Dapper Drinking Game. It's a game where each player has a drinking rule, but you don't know what your own rule is.
Games that I'm playtesting are: Ma No Umi is a game about escaping a mysterious ocean by completing your star chart. I'm working on a single player puzzle mode where you set up the board with a given loadout and have to solve it within x turns.

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 (but I also like Star Trek), Coke Zero, VHS

What hobbies do you have besides tabletop games?
Fantasy football, homebrewing, animation, illustration

Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
Ska, Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, Lord of the Rings

What was the last book you read?
Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy

Do you play any musical instruments?
I play bass for a band called Bertram

Tell us something about yourself that you think might surprise people.
I directed a super bowl commercial

Tell us about something crazy that you once did.
In college we had a fight club (it's ok, we're allowed to talk about it)

Who is your idol?
Michael Jordan. I get teary eyed when I watch his highlights.

Are you an extrovert or introvert?
Extroverted introvert


Thanks for answering all my crazy questions!




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?  Pleasse show your support: Support me on Patreon! Or click the heart at Board Game Links , like GJJ Games on Facebook , or follow on Twitter .  And be sure to check out my games on  Tabletop Generation.

Friday, October 27, 2017

Eye on Kickstarter #31

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 2017 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 October, 2017:



HIGHLIGHTED CAMPAIGN
Best Treehouse Ever: Forest of Fun
  • A couple of years ago my family got me Best Treehouse Ever for Father's Day. I think it's a great, simple drafting game that's a wonderful filler or game to teach non-gamers. It's not very deep at all, but is super fun and I love the whimsical rooms that you can add to your treehouse. Now I'm super excited to see a stand-alone expansion for the game that can be combined with the original to play up to 8 players! Drafting games are great for big groups because there's no downtime, and since my family game night groups are getting bigger as the kids want to play more games, this would be a great addition to the collection.


It’s time to build another treehouse!

In the new stand-alone sequel to the Golden Geek Nominated Best Treehouse Ever (Best Card Game, Best Family Game, 2015), Best Treehouse Ever: Forest of Fun, players compete to build their best treehouse, outfitting their treehouse with cool rooms, and creating fun habitats for their favorite furry and feathered friends, while also making sure that their tree doesn't tip over and that their rooms are more impressive than all of their friends' rooms at the end of the game.

In addition, our treehouse builders have leveled up their experience by visiting new locations in the forest that provide special abilities to help them in their new build. Building takes place over three weeks/rounds, and in each round, players use card drafting and spatial reasoning to add five new rooms to their treehouse. Players must pay attention to the other treehouses being built since they take turns determining which types of rooms score for everyone at the end of each round. At the end of the third week, the winner is the player with the best treehouse ever!

But the best part? Best Treehouse Ever: Forest of Fun can be combined with Best Treehouse Ever to play up to 8 players!





The Valley of Alchemists
  • Gorgeous components, fun artwork, and an easy, yet deep set collection mechanic make this look like a great family, light strategy, gateway game. I expect big things from this one!


Sarah's Singularity
  • Sarah's Singularity looks like a very fun time-travel game with asymmetric player powers that can change over the course of the game. Everyone plays as the same character, just from different time streams with different abilities. But as you choose locations and times to visit, if you encounter another player's version of yourself you'll cause a paradox and both of you will become a different version of Sarah. This sounds pretty unique, and potentially a lot of fun!


Board Game Creative Kit
  • For my son's 8th birthday we decided to get him components so he could design his own games (until then he had just used cast-offs from my designs to spur his creative juices). So we pieced together a collection of dice, pawns, meeples, coins, cards, tokens, boards, and more from stuff I was able to scrounge, components I had sitting around, and stuff from Amazon and The Game Crafter. He ended up loving everything, but it was a huge hassle for us to piece everything together. Well, now there's the Board Game Creative Kit on Kickstarter, which is a great collection of the most essential components needed to build prototypes of your own games. The kit doesn't cover everything, and chances are you'll still end up hitting a craft store or The Game Crafter if your design has any unusual components, but this kit has all the core components you'll need. It's a great set to get to start a collection of game design components, and the price is very reasonable, too!


Perdition's Mouth - Revised Edition
  • Ive heard a lot of good things about this game and the combination of theme, minis, and mechanics are super intriguing. I missed out on the first campaign, and on the expansion campaign. I'm seriously considering jumping in on this one, if only my budget allowed it...


Ancient Aliens: Creators of Civilization
  • I think the name here is probably turning people off to this game. Those mockumentaries about how all ancient history is the result of aliens visiting the Earth thousands of years ago are incredibly preposterous, silly, and bizarre. Yet they're presented as fact, which is both sad and hilarious. Unfortunately I think there's a stigma against this theme just from that. However underneath the theme, this looks like a fascinating 4x style card driven game that could be pretty fantastic. The premise and theme of the game is a bit far fetched, but is it really any more far fetched than a 1920s filled with diesel powered mechs? Or a near future populated with zombies? Not really, so I hope people look past the association with meme-worthy cable tv shows and see the interesting game that's presented here.


Pigment
  • At first glance this looks very similar to Starving Artists, but upon closer inspection it's a very different game with a similar theme. Pigment is a worker placement style game about renaissance painters trying to get the pigments they need to complete their paintings. It plays in about 20 minutes, and looks like a great, lightweight worker placement game that would be great to introduce non-gamers to the genre or as a fun filler.

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

People Behind the Meeples - Episode 92: Petter Schanke Olsen

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. Support me on Patreon!


Name:Petter Schanke Olsen
Email:post@tompetgames.no
Location:Norway
Day Job:A producer at a video production company
Designing:One to two years.
Webpage:tompetgames.no
Blog:https://tompetgames.wordpress.com
BGG:Donning the Purple
Facebook:Tompet Games/
Twitter:@Tompetgames
Instagram:@Tompetgames/
Find my games at:http://killtheking.no/
Today's Interview is with:

Petter Schanke Olsen
Interviewed on: 8/1/2017

Last year Petter successfully Kickstarted his first published game, Kill the King. Next year he has his second game coming out on Kickstarter, Donning the Purple. In addition to designing games, Petter manages a blog where he interviews creators and others involved in Kickstarter campaigns. Be sure to check out the Tompet Games blog for some more awesome interviews with movers and shakers in the board game industry!

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?
One day I got an idea for a game mechanic. I tested it out and it was quite cool. From that moment on I was hooked.

What game or games are you currently working on?
I am currently working on several games but the game that has come the longest is Donning the Purple. Donning the Purple will be on Kickstarter in early 2018

Have you designed any games that have been published?
Kill the King was my first game. The Kickstarter campaign was in september 2016 and the games were delivered in february 2017

What is your day job?
A producer at a video production company

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

Where do you prefer to play games?
At home, the office or with friends.

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 the friends but maybe Axis & Allies, Lords of Waterdeep or Lewis & Clark.

And what snacks would you eat?
Pizza. If you can call it snacks.

Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
Some kind of soundtrack that matches the theme of the game.

What’s your favorite FLGS?
Outland.

What is your current favorite game? Least favorite that you still enjoy? Worst game you ever played?
My current favorite games at the moment are perhaps Scythe and Blood Rage.

What is your favorite game mechanic? How about your least favorite?
I love deckbuilding and worker placement. I don’t like party games like CAH.

What’s your favorite game that you just can’t ever seem to get to the table?
Axis & Allies. It takes 6-8 hours so it is quite difficult to find the time to play.

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

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

OK, here's a pretty polarizing game. Do you like and play Cards Against Humanity?
No

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?
On Kill the King I came up with the mechanics first. On Donning the Purple I listened to a podcast about the Roman Empire. That podcast inspired me to make a game about being an emperor over a large empire with nothing but problems. Why did anyone want to have that job?

Have you ever entered or won a game design competition?
no

Do you have a current favorite game designer or idol?
Jamey Stegmaier!

Where or when or how do you get your inspiration or come up with your best ideas?
That can happen everywhere. The inspiration for Kill the King came when I took a shower and Donning the Purple from a podcast.

How do you go about playtesting your games?
1. I playtest it by myself.
2. I test it on some close friends.
3. I test it on strangers.
4. I blind playtest it with some strangers.
5. I send a PnP to all my mail list subscribers.
6. repeat 2-5

Do you like to work alone or as part of a team? Co-designers, artists, etc.?
I work best alone but have a sparring partner/co-designer that I playtest and share ideas with.

What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a game designer?
Playtesting your game enough times

What do you wish someone had told you a long time ago about designing games?
How fun it is!

What advice would you like to share about designing games?
Play a lot of games and playtest the hell out of your game before you publish it.

Would you like to tell my readers what games you're working on and how far along they are?
Published games, I have: Kill the King
I'm planning to crowdfund: Donning the Purple
Games I feel are in the final development and tweaking stage are: Donning the Purple

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

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 and VHS!

What hobbies do you have besides tabletop games?
Reading history, video games and watching movies.

Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
AC/DC and Lord of the Rings

What was the last book you read?
50 Strategies that Changed the World

Tell us something about yourself that you think might surprise people.
I served in the Royal Guard when I was in the military

Who is your idol?
Aragorn

Have any pets?
A golden retriever called Puffen.

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):
Everybody that backed Kill the King on Kickstarter!

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

Donning the Purple will be on Kickstarter in jan/feb 2018. Sign up to our mailing list at tompetgames.no if you want to be notified of our launch.




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?  Pleasse show your support: Support me on Patreon! Or click the heart at Board Game Links , like GJJ Games on Facebook , or follow on Twitter .  And be sure to check out my games on  Tabletop Generation.

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

People Behind the Meeples - Episode 91: Alfred Vesligaj


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. Support me on Patreon!

Alfred on the left, Matt Leacock on the right.

Name:Alfred Vesligaj
Location:Slovenia and Philippines.
Day Job:Product manager / Business consultant
Designing:Over ten years!
Webpage:www.alfredv.com
Find my games at:Tabletopia
Today's Interview is with:

Alfred Vesligaj
Interviewed on: 10/13/2017

Alfred V. is a game designer and game development lecturer from Slovenia, currently living in the Philippines. Over the years he's worked on several different games, a few of which have been published. From educational games to strategic games, his designs incorporate mathematical models, simple rules, and high variability. Read on to learn more about Alfred and the projects he's working on.

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?
Improving classical games (Monopoly, Risk ...) we had as kids.
What game or games are you currently working on?
Pumpkings, an innovative Halloween deck builder and Firefighters, cooperative game
Have you designed any games that have been published?
Yes.
What is your day job?
Product manager / Business consultant

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

Where do you prefer to play games?
Public gaming events.
Who do you normally game with?
Who ever wants to play.
If you were to invite a few friends together for game night tonight, what games would you play?
Cooperative games.
And what snacks would you eat?
Healthy.
Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
Just something for the background, not too loud so we can talk. I guess it would be classical rock.
What’s your favorite FLGS?
We don't have one where I live.
What is your current favorite game? Least favorite that you still enjoy? Worst game you ever played?
Dominion, Bang!, Monopoly.
What is your favorite game mechanic? How about your least favorite?
Worker placement. Hidden roles.
What’s your favorite game that you just can’t ever seem to get to the table?
Pandemic Legacy.
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, Video 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?
I start from the general mechanics and theme idea and then develop both to match as much as possible.
Have you ever entered or won a game design competition?
Hippo Dice, Gencant. But no cigar.
Do you have a current favorite game designer or idol?
Matt Leacock
Where or when or how do you get your inspiration or come up with your best ideas?
It is just random.
How do you go about playtesting your games?
Gaming Events, fairs, Tabletopia.
Do you like to work alone or as part of a team? Co-designers, artists, etc.?
I usually work alone, but I don't mind teaming up.
What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a game designer?
Writing compelling, complete and easy to understand rules.
If you could design a game within any IP, what would it be?
Game of Thrones - it just allows for so much of otherwise prohibited content.
What do you wish someone had told you a long time ago about designing games?
How to make prototypes fast and simple.
What advice would you like to share about designing games?
Make the simplest possible prototype and test as much as you can.
Would you like to tell my readers what games you're working on and how far along they are?
Published games, I have: Talking Angela: Shopping (branded Talking Angela, family game), IQ (branded Talking Tom, card game), Five Elements (card game), Walk to Jesus (religious family game), Black Diamond (adventuring family game)
Currently looking for a publisher I have: Pumpkings (innovative deck builder), Firefighters (cooperative)
Are you a member of any Facebook or other design groups? (Game Maker’s Lab, Card and Board Game Developers Guild, etc.)
Mostly all of James Mathe’s groups.

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. I don't drink bubbles. To young.
What hobbies do you have besides tabletop games?
Outdoors, farming
What is something you learned in the last week?
Riding bus is cheaper and usually faster in the city.
Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
Rock, Classical. Fantasy, biography, history. Drama, biopic, war.
What was the last book you read?
Permaculture.
Do you play any musical instruments?
Some guittar.
Tell us something about yourself that you think might surprise people.
With my wife we have a coconut plantation in the Philippines.
Tell us about something crazy that you once did.
I have circum-walked Slovenia in 1999. It was first local reality show in Slovenia.
Biggest accident that turned out awesome?
I find nothing awesome about the accidents.
Who is your idol?
Leonard Cohen.
What would you do if you had a time machine?
Travel in time ;)
Are you an extrovert or introvert?
Introvert.
If you could be any superhero, which one would you be?
Super Pumpkin.
Have any pets?
Two dogs in the Philippines.
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 sure hope my games will survive :). Greed and corruption.


Thanks for answering all my crazy questions!




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?  Pleasse show your support: Support me on Patreon! Or click the heart at Board Game Links , like GJJ Games on Facebook , or follow on Twitter .  And be sure to check out my games on  Tabletop Generation.

Friday, October 13, 2017

Eye on Kickstarter #30

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 2017 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 second Friday of October, 2017:

Live Campaigns from Past Eyes:
Dice of Pirates


HIGHLIGHTED CAMPAIGN
Neon Knights
  • If you like car racing games that have some unique, interesting mechanics, then definitely take a look at the games that Board to Death is putting out. Their previous success, Street Kings, brought the world of custom cars, street racing, and car shows to a Euro styled strategy game with some incredible artwork. Their second effort, Neon Knights is just as gorgeous and takes us to a cyberpunk future (with some fun, retro style), complete with high tech racing, driver training, financial management, and upgradable cars with shields and weapons! Neon Knights is great eye candy with some interesting strategy and a bit of luck, perfect for a futuristic racing game!


A Cyberpunk Battle Racing Board game. Upgrade your custom car... Drive the modular track... Destroy your opponents! You ready?

In the dystopian future of 2086, the city is split in two. The upper class lives in the upper half of the city while the lower class live in the slums. Cash is illegal in the lower part of the city, and the people there now use casino chips from the old world as currency. The upper class business men have created the Extreme Racing League as an automotive racing sport for entertainment. Anyone with a car who lives in the slums can enter. The prize? You guessed it: A pass to enter the city above, crowned as a Neon Knight (Drivers for V.I.P). What you do when you get there is up to you...and another story in itself.

You've spent all your chips on building the car and entering the league. Now it's time to prove your worth in a racing tournament that can only be won by taking risks, and pushing it to the limit. Do you have what it takes to join the Neon Knights?

Neon Knights: 2086 is a career-driven racing game for 2 to 6 players. You can play single races or in campaign mode which allows you to level up your car and skills as you play. You will advance in your career by buying upgrades and installing weapons and shields on your car. You will also gain fans and sponsorships who will train you in getting the skills you need to become a better driver. During the race you will need to pass over certain street areas to Activate weapons and shield you have on your car, which you can then use on other drivers.

You can go as fast as you want to but some areas of the slums are harder to drive through and will damage your car if you're going too fast. Will you take those risks?





Guardian's Call
  • The latest game from Druid City Games uses some of the bluffing mechanics from Barnyard Roundup and brings them into a much larger game, complete with heroes that you can upgrade and more. The artwork looks awesome, too! CHECK THIS OUT NOW - THE 10 DAY CAMPAIGN ENDS TODAY!


Re-Chord
  • People Behind the Meeples Interview
  • My son has been playing guitar now for a bit over two years, so when I found a game all about playing the guitar I was super intrigued. Re-Chord even uses guitar picks as components in the game!


Stellar Leap
  • People Behind the Meeples Interview
  • Stellar Leap looks like a very fun space exploration game. I love worker placement and this looks like it combines that with some really interesting dice mechanics.


INTELLE: Hack or Be Hacked
  • People Behind the Meeples Interview
  • I quite enjoy a good abstract strategy game, and INTELLE looks like an interesting blend of tic-tac-toe, chess, and Quarto with some unique mechanics that I think will make it better than all three (surely better than tic-tac-toe, but that doesn't take much). On your turn you place a control cube in your sector, but that then defines the sector that your opponent must play in. It's a super clever mechanic that is simple, but adds layers to the game.


Near and Far: Amber Mines
  • GJJ Games Backed
  • Yes, I backed Near and Far, but haven't yet gotten it to the table (yes, shame on me), but that didn't stop me from backing the first expansion, Amber Mines. I'm confident that pretty much anything put out by Ryan Laukat is going to be awesome.


Sunset Over Water


Trench
  • This was on my last list, however that campaign was cancelled and reworked. You can now get Trench for a bit less, and less confusing pledge tiers. Plus it's already funded!


The 7th Continent: What Goes Up Must Come Down
  • The 7th Continent does some really amazing things that are rarely seen in tabletop games that aren't RPGs, and never to this extent. The game gives you an entire continent to explore and live in for hours on end. I'd love to add this to my collection, but really don't know when I'd ever have that amount of time to devote to the game, regardless of how much I'd want to.


Haunt the House
  • I really love spooky themes, and Haunt the House definitely fits the bill. In the game you play ghosts trying to scare away paranormal investigators to steal their equipment. The whole game looks fun and spooky!


Coma Ward
  • Where Haunt the House, above, is fun and cute spooky, Coma Ward is terrifyingly spooky. You and the other players wake up in a mostly abandoned hospital with no memory of who you are, what happened, or why the hospital is abandoned. Depending on the "phenomenon" selected for the game, you may have totally different goals. Maybe you're playing competitively, maybe cooperatively, you won't know until the game's story starts to unfold.


Time of Legends: Joan of Arc
  • This just looks awesome. Fight in the Hundred Years War and battle enemy troops, dragons, or demons!


Tiny Epic Defenders 2nd Edition & Tiny Epic Defenders: The Dark War
  • GJJ Games Review (1st Edition PnP)
  • GJJ Games Backed
  • I've been all in for the deluxe Tiny Epic games since the first edition of Tiny Epic Defenders (and I picked up standard TEK in the TED pledge manager). I absolutely love the series! Unfortunately though, the new Dark War expansion isn't compatible with the 1st edition of TED. The new artwork and rules tweaks in TED2 look great, but to get it and the expansion means I'll be spending a total of $73 to get TED:tDW (with $8 shipping). That's a lot of money. Even at $49 for just the new game/content, that's the same as a big box game. Unfortunately, I just can't afford to have spent $73 on a Tiny Epic game. Even if I managed to sell off my copy of TED1 I doubt I could get more than $5 for it, and $68 for a TE game is definitely not cheap. So, unfortunately this will be the first Tiny Epic Kickstarter that I don't back (well, just for $1 so I can get the updates). That makes me so sad. =(

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

People Behind the Meeples - Episode 90: David Abelson

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. Support me on Patreon!


Name:David Abelson
Email:david@fisherheatongames.com
Location:Charlotte, NC
Day Job:I am a Marketing Teacher in a high school in Charlotte. My family and I moved to Charlotte in 2013. Before that I was a graphic designer and the owner/operator of an advertising specialty business in New Jersey.
Designing:Two to five years.
Webpage:www.fisherheatongames.com
BGG:fisherheaton
Facebook:Fisher Heaton Games
Twitter:@fisherheaton
Instagram:@fisherheaton
Other:Unpub.net and Indie Game Alliance
Find my games at:Kickstarter October 10 - for starters.
Today's Interview is with:

David Abelson
Interviewed on: 9/27/2017

David Abelson has a game that is launching on Kickstarter today! INTELLE is a 2 player abstract strategy game about two hackers battling each other with code. If successfully funded it'll be David's first published game. He also has another game that was on Kickstarter last year, but he's been reworking it to prepare for a second campaign next year. David also has a bunch of other ideas in the works, so be sure to read on to learn more about him and his projects. And be sure to check out INTELLE on Kickstarter right now!

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?
I started playing tabletop games with my teenage step-son and then with some friends and, being a creative person, I kept thinking of possibilities and wondering if designing games was something I could do. Then, my brother came to me with a concept and we started working on our first design.

What game or games are you currently working on?
I am currently in various stages of design for a few games. Yutera is a dice driven race through space in a distant galaxy with a strong take-that and an interesting movement storage mechanism. We put it on Kickstarter in 2016 as Moonshot: Lunar Solace but after having trouble funding, I went back to the drawing board to tighten it all up and get it ready for another go next year. INTELLE is my 2 player abstract strategy game. In Intelle each player represents a hacker (black hat/white hat) and they are battling using blocks of code in order to either protect or take down the corporate mainframe in about 15 minutes. I am really proud of this game, with easy to learn rules and simple mechanics but surprising depth of strategy. It has been called the love child of tic-tac-toe and chess. I have more designs that are in the "not ready to discuss" stage as well.

Have you designed any games that have been published?
Intelle will be my first published game, and it is expected to be available for retail in early December, as the manufacturing process was actually started before the Kickstarter launches.

What is your day job?
I am a Marketing Teacher in a high school in Charlotte. My family and I moved to Charlotte in 2013. Before that I was a graphic designer and the owner/operator of an advertising specialty business in New Jersey.

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

Where do you prefer to play games?
I regularly play games at my local game store, as well as a few local meetups and we have a semi-regular group that meets at my house to play.

Who do you normally game with?
I have been lucky to play games with a number of great people all over Charlotte and I hope to continue, but primarily I play with friends whom I have met along the way.

If you were to invite a few friends together for game night tonight, what games would you play?
Last night we played Dice Forge, Stop Thief and Pit Crew. What we play varies from week to week. I really enjoy playing worker placement games and deck builders. Normally we play games that can be finished in less than an hour and a half but I like the occasional marathon game too.

And what snacks would you eat?
We have been known to have beer and chips but usually we all arrive full, so we don't have to get up as often.

Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
I tried playing Smooth Jazz during a game night once, but it didn't fly. I have been to game nights where Star Wars music was playing or some other awesome John WiIliams tune. I like it, but not everyone else does.

What’s your favorite FLGS?
We have three great ones in Charlotte. Lately I have been playing often at "The Mighty Meeple", but we also have "Your Local Game Store" and "Carolina Tabletop Games" where they serve beer

What is your current favorite game? Least favorite that you still enjoy? Worst game you ever played?
My current favorite game is Dice Forge. It is easy to teach, and continuously engaging. It isn't the deepest experience but it is a lot of fun and I am in awe at how much thought went into putting the game away in the box. I don't want to name the worst game I ever played because I wouldn't want that said of mine...but I will say that I backed it on Kickstarter and I wasn't even to get through the rule book to try it before throwing up my hands in disgust. I gave it to two different friends - who are both more patient than me - to try to learn and they gave up as well.

What is your favorite game mechanic? How about your least favorite?
My favorite game mechanic is engine building. I'm not the best at it but I love the challenge of figuring out the best way, or a different way. My least favorite is social deduction. I know it is a really popular thing right now, but I haven't been able to get into it.

What’s your favorite game that you just can’t ever seem to get to the table?
I like to think I do a pretty good job of rotating the games we play, though I still have games on the shelf that have never been played. I like Rune Wars, and have only gotten it to the table 2 times in the 4 years I have owned it - primarily because of the time commitment.

What styles of games do you play?
I like to play Board Games, Card Games, Miniatures 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?
No

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.

Do you have a current favorite game designer or idol?
I still consider myself a baby in game design. I look to every designer as a silent mentor, offering something I can learn. I can't say that I have one favorite though.

Where or when or how do you get your inspiration or come up with your best ideas?
Driving in my car. I listen to gaming podcasts in my car, and I often have to replay half of a podcast because my brain moved on to an idea or concept. I need to get better about writing those down, but that is where I get the best inspiration.

How do you go about playtesting your games?
I start by play-testing myself, then I have a small group of painfully honest friends who are nice enough to play through early designs with me. As soon as I have a working prototype - and until it's perfected - the local players are my other play-testers. I am beginning to develop a larger group of dependable play-testers who will give honest feedback, and I like to ask a lot of questions.

Do you like to work alone or as part of a team? Co-designers, artists, etc.?
I have not co-designed anything with someone who is not family. Yutera was co-designed with my brother Micah. I don't believe that game design should be a solitary event. Games - for me - are about community, and I want a community involved in creating them - so I ask people's opinions and I have discussions at the game store, and I read and ask questions on the Facebook forums and I am learning and the game design is improving as a result. I like to work with artists. I can graphic design but I cannot illustrate. The cover art for Intelle was illustrated by Rebecca McConnell, and most of the art for Yutera was illustrated by Leonardo Sa Guinard.

What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a game designer?
Time. I want to spend so much time designing, and creating, and building prototypes, and learning, and designing, and designing...but I also have a job and a family, and church obligations, and students who look up to me, and unfortunately when time is at a premium, game design gets less of it.

If you could design a game within any IP, what would it be?
I would love to create a game for Atlas Shrugged, the book by Ayn Rand.

What do you wish someone had told you a long time ago about designing games?
I wish someone had told me a long time ago that game design is something I can learn and do.

What advice would you like to share about designing games?
The biggest lesson I have learned so far - both in game design and outside of it, and the one I would like to share is this: Success is not a destination, it is a journey. And failure is the fuel that powers it.

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: Intelle
This is what I have currently crowdfunding: Intelle
I'm planning to crowdfund: Yutera
Games that are in the early stages of development and beta testing are: Sub-Contractors, Unnamed Deck Building/Combat game, Disc Golf Masters
And games that are still in the very early idea phase are: The cat is still in the bag...

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

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?
Both - though I am a zealot for neither. Coke, though I prefer tea. VHS.

What hobbies do you have besides tabletop games?
I play racquetball, disc golf, bowling. I enjoy musical theater - both to do and to watch, though I haven't performed in years.

What is something you learned in the last week?
I learned that Google is 19 years old.

Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
I prefer show tunes, classic rock, christian contemporary, country - not necessarily in that order. I read non-fiction (a mistake I know) and I lean toward movies about things that couldn't happen in my real life - like sci fi.

What was the last book you read?
I haven't finished a book in a while but the last book I picked up was "Engaging Students with Poverty in Mind". I am also midway through an exciting biography of Cornelius Vanderbuilt.

Do you play any musical instruments?
I can sing. Despite all efforts, no other instruments.

Tell us something about yourself that you think might surprise people.
In 1996 I had the honor of singing a solo rendition of "Proud to be an American" for 300+ soldiers at the Army Ball in Monterey California, while also serving as a soldier myself.

Tell us about something crazy that you once did.
Two months after we started dating, I asked my wife to marry me. 10 months later we got married. 3 children, 5 homes, 3 businesses, countless disagreements and 17 years later, we're still together.

Biggest accident that turned out awesome?
See my previous answer

Who is your idol?
Frank Lloyd Wright. He wasn't the best husband necessarily, but he was a genius at design. He had great vision and tenacity.

What would you do if you had a time machine?
I would sell it on ebay.

Are you an extrovert or introvert?
I used to be an extrovert, but I think I am heading the other direction. I have found that there are moments where both work.

If you could be any superhero, which one would you be?
Mr. Fantastic

Have any pets?
I have a Dog and a Cat, which we got on the same day. They are George and Gracie.

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 think Catan and hearts will survive into the next era. I hope that underneath the asteroid is hate.


Thanks for answering all my crazy questions!




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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