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: | Herb Stanway |
|---|---|
| Email: | zubonzo@hotmail.com |
| Location: | Montreal, Quebec CANADA |
| Day Job: | Commercial sign manufacturer |
| Designing: | Two to five years. |
| Webpage: | www.crashfactor.ca |
| Facebook: | Crash Factor Boardgame |
| YouTube: | Crash Factor in Hyperspace |
| Instagram: | @crashfactorgame |
| Find my games at: | Randolph's Pub and La Recreation in Montreal. |
Herb Stanway
Interviewed on: 2/7/2018
Herb Stanway has designed an interesting game using weights and balancing called Crash Factor. This is his first designed game and it looks pretty interesting. To learn more about Herb and his Crash Factor project, read on!
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?
Started off as a party activity.
What game or games are you currently working on?
Crash Factor
Have you designed any games that have been published?
No
What is your day job?
Commercial sign manufacturer
Your Gaming Tastes
My readers would like to know more about you as a gamer.
Where do you prefer to play games?
Home or boardgame bistros
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?
My game, Crash Factor of course!
And what snacks would you eat?
Munchies and beer
Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
Classic and Alternative Rock
What’s your favorite FLGS?
Randolph's
What is your current favorite game? Least favorite that you still enjoy? Worst game you ever played?
Crash Factor. Crazy 8's. Concentration.
What is your favorite game mechanic? How about your least favorite?
Dexterity. Acting.
What’s your favorite game that you just can’t ever seem to get to the table?
Risk
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
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?
Mechanics first.
Have you ever entered or won a game design competition?
Yes. Finalist.
Do you have a current favorite game designer or idol?
No
Where or when or how do you get your inspiration or come up with your best ideas?
Daily life.
How do you go about playtesting your games?
Go to prototype events.
Do you like to work alone or as part of a team? Co-designers, artists, etc.?
Alone mostly.
What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a game designer?
Keeping all players focused and interested throughout the whole game.
If you could design a game within any IP, what would it be?
Artificial Intelligence
What do you wish someone had told you a long time ago about designing games?
There's more to a game than trying to win.
What advice would you like to share about designing games?
Never think you've got it all figured out perfectly.
Would you like to tell my readers what games you're working on and how far along they are?
Currently looking for a publisher I have:
Crash Factor
Are you a member of any Facebook or other design groups? (Game Maker’s Lab, Card and Board Game Developers Guild, etc.)
Card & Boardgame Designers Guild.
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. Coke. VHS.
What hobbies do you have besides tabletop games?
3D printing. Backwoods skiing.
What is something you learned in the last week?
How to build an IKEA kitchen.
Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
Alt. Rock. Non-Fiction. Sci Fi.
What was the last book you read?
Worlds in Collision
Do you play any musical instruments?
No
Tell us something about yourself that you think might surprise people.
I like to skateboard.
Tell us about something crazy that you once did.
Drove down Ridgewood St. with no brakes.
Who is your idol?
Tesla
What would you do if you had a time machine?
Go back to Expo 67
Are you an extrovert or introvert?
Introvert
If you could be any superhero, which one would you be?
Superman
Have any pets?
No
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?
Powder skiing, surfing, Chess. Betrayal.
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):
Roger Federer
Just a Bit More
Thanks for answering all my crazy questions! Is there anything else you'd like to tell my readers?
The current boardgame world needs a good Dexterity game that isn't just child’s play.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment