Tuesday, October 27, 2020

People Behind the Meeples - Episode 250: Arne Kaehler

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:Arne Kaehler
Email:zurubang@gmail.com
Location:Malta
Day Job:I am a blogger for the biggest chess software company in the world.
Designing:Two to five years.
Webpage:zurubang.com
Facebook:Zurubang
YouTube:Zurubang
Instagram:@zurubang
Find my games at:on the tabletop simulator and soon for real.
Today's Interview is with:

Arne Kaehler
Interviewed on: 7/18/2020

Wow, interview number 250! It's been an amazing run and wonderful experience to interview over 250 designers (I also have a few quick interviews that I've done, so check them out). This week's interview is with Arne Kaehler, who has been designing games since he was a small child, but has been focusing the last few years on Zurubang. Keep an eye out for it coming to Kickstarter some time next year and read on to learn more about Arne and his projects.

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?
At the age of 5 to 6 years, I figured out that designing games is even more fun than playing them. This never changed.

What game or games are you currently working on?
Since 2016 I am working on nothing else than one game, called Zurubang.

Have you designed any games that have been published?
No, Zurubang will be my first one.

What is your day job?
I am a blogger for the biggest chess software company in the world.

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

Where do you prefer to play games?
Due to the coronavirus, the tabletop simulator meanwhile has more than 816 hours of play time. I am part of a board game club in Malta, called W.A.R.S and we meet up at home or in a cafe.

Who do you normally game with?
Members of the Maltese board game club, since all of them love to play games. Besides that, anybody who wants to play and I can also get people to play with me, who normally don't like board games.

If you were to invite a few friends together for game night tonight, what games would you play?
That completely depends on the friends. I played with a group of friends Axis & Allies for 5 nights in a row. Then again with 20-30 people some party games. In the last 4 years I try to play Zurubang with anybody crossing my path.

And what snacks would you eat?
A cappuccino with oat milk goes hand in hand with meeting at a coffee place. Snacks are surprisingly little while playing. I guess I don't like to smear fat, salt or spices on the games while playing?

Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
Chill Hop it is. I use it mostly for working, but since every audience likes it, I play it all the time.

What’s your favorite FLGS?
I like allgames4you from Germany. There are a few board game stores in Malta only, which don't always have the games I would like to play.

What is your current favorite game? Least favorite that you still enjoy? Worst game you ever played?
It sounds a bit cheesy, but besides the best board game in the world "chess" I really love to play my own game Zurubang as often as possible, which is a very, very good sign. I enjoy so many games and the variety of different topics, that it is hard to choose a favourite. For some reason I stuck to Quadropolis a lot recently.

What is your favorite game mechanic? How about your least favorite?
I love strategy, turn-based, tactics, bluffing and building games.

What’s your favorite game that you just can’t ever seem to get to the table?
Kings & Things is not considered the best game ever made, but I love it to bits and after 15 years of not being able to play it, I bought two copies and managed to play it last year!

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, RPG Games, Other 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?
Vice Versa. I luckily have this gift of never ending ideas. It is also a curse, because once you start a new game idea, another one comes across and takes over. It required all my power to stick with ONE game at last.

Have you ever entered or won a game design competition?
Not yet

Do you have a current favorite game designer or idol?
I really like Gabe Barrett and his podcast "The Board Game Design lab".

Where or when or how do you get your inspiration or come up with your best ideas?
I love this question. It is a complete chaos and no structure or ritual on how to get inspiration. Sometimes I just start dreaming. Other times it happens out of nowhere. Often while playing a game. It is completely random.

How do you go about playtesting your games?
I think I have done a bad job with the playtesting and would like to work on it in the future. I played my game with hundreds of different people, mostly friends but also sometimes completely random strangers who I barely know. The Bad part is, that I was part of the game 95% of the times, which is very counterproductive. How will I ever know if the game can stand on its own feet, if I ain't there? Just in the last year I changed this a bit with good results, but I should have started this many years earlier.

Do you like to work alone or as part of a team? Co-designers, artists, etc.?
I like to work alone for now, because it is very enjoyable.

What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a game designer?
Stopping. I have worked on my card game for more than 4 years. I always wanted to make it better and better. I was unhappy with some mechanics and the balance and adjusted the game around 16-20 times! I playtested it over 1000 times. That is probably pretty unique and cool in one way, but I could have made 50 games in this time already, which is a pity. You might just have to stop adjusting at one point.

If you could design a game within any IP, what would it be?
I would make a card game, consisting of over 100 thousand cards from all computer game characters ever made. It would be set up as a quartet style trading card game. Only problem would be the time making it.

What do you wish someone had told you a long time ago about designing games?
Sticking to ONE game was finally having me start Zurubang in the first place. I made hundreds of different game designs prior, and they are all unfinished, most of them 1%, trying to find a cool name.

What advice would you like to share about designing games?
I think one of the important lessons is to stick to your own stuff and be open to every advice. Like this, you make plenty of mistakes and can adjust them, leading to a better outcome. Once that step has been taken, you don't need to listen to every advice and can be more specific. Basically how the world works.

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: Zurubang
Currently looking for a publisher I have: No, I want this baby to be my own, no matter what.
I'm planning to crowdfund: Maybe next year
Games I feel are in the final development and tweaking stage are: The game is ready to 99.4% and needs the very last tweaks.

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

What hobbies do you have besides tabletop games?
Chess, Beach volleyball, self-development, YouTube, meeting friends, audiobooks, watching movies

What is something you learned in the last week?
Go to the gym more often, to get a better core, to not bruise your ribs playing beach volleyball...it hurts

Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
Jazzy sad chords combined with rolling beats, Mark Manson & Seth Godin, an endless list of movies

What was the last book you read?
Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done by Charlie Gilkey

Do you play any musical instruments?
None sadly, but I like to sing

Tell us something about yourself that you think might surprise people.
I am Vegan, German, live in Malta, was in the pick-up artist business, have 3 cats, a perfect wife, worked in an Online Casino for 6 years, started my career as an actor and consider myself very blessed, being one of the happiest people on this planet.

Tell us about something crazy that you once did.
I don't personally think it is crazy, but people in general say it is, when I tell them. I left my beautiful apartment in Hamburg Germany, my fantastic job and beautiful girlfriend to move to Malta, a tiny European Island below Sicily. I wanted this, so it was a natural process for me. I guess it is considered crazy, because I had it all and went for the change? In the end, it was probably the best decision I ever made in my life.

Biggest accident that turned out awesome?
After 6 years in the online casino business, which I morally wasn't aligned with, the company told me, this January it might be a good idea to leave. I was in a little shock for a couple of hours, but relieved and happy right after. They were very fair to me and in the end, they gave me a little slap on the butt to get back to my own path again, which happened.

Who is your idol?
Mark Manson and Seth Godin are my heroes.

What would you do if you had a time machine?
I would probably use it. I mean...this can become a beautiful hobby. Time-travelling!

Are you an extrovert or introvert?
both, as everybody else.

If you could be any superhero, which one would you be?
I think I would pass. superheroes rarely design board games, which I would prefer to spend my time.

Have any pets?
3 cats, part of the family. We are obsessed with them, and they give us joy and love every single day.

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?
Chess will survive, which is good enough. If the asteroid could destroy really terrible music? Is that possible?

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):
Thank you to everybody who played Zurubang with me, and helped me with the game. Thank you to my wife who always believes in anything I do, thank you for my lovely parents, which are amazing! Thank you to all my friends, they are great. Thank you for the world, humans, animals and life, because I have this weird condition, that I really appreciate all of this and love it. And thank you, George Jaros, for having this beautiful project of yours here, helping people to be seen and heard! This takes a lot of effort and you are doing something great. Cheers

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

Thank you

EXTRA ---




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?  Please 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 20, 2020

People Behind the Meeples - Episode 249: Mike Nudd

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:Mike Nudd
Location:UK
Day Job:Solutions Consultant for a telecommunications company.
Designing:Over ten years!
BGG:Mike Nudd
Twitter:@mikelosaurus
Other:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-nudd-2804385
Find my games at:In game stores, on ebay
Today's Interview is with:

Mike Nudd
Interviewed on: 7/17/2020

This week I'm happy to introduce you to designer Mike Nudd. Mike has several published games to his name, including Waggle Dance and Dice Hospital (with Stan Kordonskiy). Read on to learn more about Mike and his designs!

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?
For fun. For the intellectual challenge.

What game or games are you currently working on?
Dice Theme Park. Lindisfarne Monastery. Dice Dungeon Keeper.

Have you designed any games that have been published?
Yes

What is your day job?
Solutions Consultant for a telecommunications company.

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

Where do you prefer to play games?
Anywhere!

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?
Right now: Root, Dinogenics, Darwin's Choice

And what snacks would you eat?
Popcorn

Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
Depends on the game. For example, when playing War of the Ring I always put on the Howard Shore 3-film score.

What’s your favorite FLGS?
Leisure Games

What is your current favorite game? Least favorite that you still enjoy? Worst game you ever played?
It's very difficult to pick out a single favourite - Trickerion, Eclipse and Battlestar Galactica are all up there. I would still play Settlers of Catan if you put it in front of me but I'd never seek it out. Worst: Coaster Park.

What is your favorite game mechanic? How about your least favorite?
I like all kinds of mechanics. The use of the app in Chronicles of Crime really impressed me. Using dice in innovative ways is my particular oeuvre in my own games right now. Least favourite: anything based on roll and move, or that has a similar level of randomness

What’s your favorite game that you just can’t ever seem to get to the table?
Trickerion

What styles of games do you play?
I like to play Board Games, Card Games, Miniatures 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, Miniatures Games, RPG Games, Other 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?
It starts with theme, but the synergy of theme and mechanics is really important to me.

Have you ever entered or won a game design competition?
No but I did win an award one year at the Salute war games show in London for most innovative game at the show.

Do you have a current favorite game designer or idol?
It changes quite a bit. The versatility of Vlaada Chvatil impresses me.

Where or when or how do you get your inspiration or come up with your best ideas?
It could be anytime or anywhere. There's a part of my brain that never stops thinking about games!

How do you go about playtesting your games?
Usually I take a physical prototype to meetups and conventions. During the Covid crisis though I've been relying luch more on Tabletop Simulator.

Do you like to work alone or as part of a team? Co-designers, artists, etc.?
Primarily alone. I'm open to the possibility of collaboration though.

What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a game designer?
Finding novel combinations of theme and mechanics which are good enough and novel enough to stand out in today's crowded marketplace. Also just finding time to work on games!

If you could design a game within any IP, what would it be?
Oh so many! Star Trek, Doctor Who, TRON, Supernatural TV series, Travelers TV series, Westworld TV series, Pierce Brown's Red Rising novel series

What do you wish someone had told you a long time ago about designing games?
I'm not sure. If I could go back I would tell myself to take it seriously a lot sooner!

What advice would you like to share about designing games?
Do your research. Check to see what's already out there. Ask yourself why your game is different and why people should buy it.

Would you like to tell my readers what games you're working on and how far along they are?
Published games, I have: Vampire: Prince of the City. Waggle Dance. Dice Hospital. Vampire:The Eternal Struggle. The Fall of London supplement for the Vampire:The Masquerade 5th Edition RPG.
Games that will soon be published are: Captain Scarlet. Dice Theme Park.
Currently looking for a publisher I have: Waggle Dance (reprint). Termite Towers. Supervillainous. Savage Land, Daylight Robbery, Lava Run, TRON: Lightcycle, Battle Dohm
Games I feel are in the final development and tweaking stage are: Dice Theme Park
Games that I'm playtesting are: Lindisfarne Monastery
And games that are still in the very early idea phase are: Dice Dungeon Keeper

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?
Babylon 5 trumps SW and ST but I love them all. I don't drink any kind of cola. Tapes are dead - these days it's all about Blu Ray, and will probably upgrade to 4K soon!

What hobbies do you have besides tabletop games?
Reading fiction and comics. Watching films and TV. One day I will write a screenplay or a novel.

What is something you learned in the last week?
The Carnevale miniatures game is definitely not scaled to 28mm like they claim, the figures are way bigger (40mm?)

Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
All kinds of music, but my soft spot is still for rock/metal. I dig quality science fiction, and interesting history non-fiction. There are so many good and inspirational films to choose from, I could be here all day!

What was the last book you read?
Children of Ruin by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Do you play any musical instruments?
Yes

Tell us something about yourself that you think might surprise people.
20 years ago I won a free holiday to Australia through a radio competition.

Tell us about something crazy that you once did.
Pitched my first game to White Wolf Publishing when I had no idea what I was doing!

Biggest accident that turned out awesome?
Meeting people who became lifelong friends at my university's gaming society

Who is your idol?
I'm not sure I have one, although there are plenty of people I respect and admire.

What would you do if you had a time machine?
Go back and see how the Pyramids were really built.

Are you an extrovert or introvert?
Mostly introvert.

If you could be any superhero, which one would you be?
Iron Man

Have any pets?
Cat

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?
If you look at the corruption, nepotism and greed displayed by many of those in power right now, it's tempting to wish for a hard reset, but it may be optimistic to assume that the aftermath would be any better. In any post-apocalypse scenario I would expect storytelling, music and simple games to survive.

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):
A big thanks to Caezar al-Jassar at Alley Cat Games for trusting me and taking my design career to the next level!

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

Thanks for the 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?  Please 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 13, 2020

People Behind the Meeples - Episode 248: Carl Dean Cox

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:Carl Dean Cox
Email:carl.dean.cox@gmail.com
Location:Mexico City
Day Job:Game designer
Designing:Two to five years.
Webpage:seeforevergames.com
Blog:seeforevergames.com/blog
BGG:Carl Dean Cox
Facebook:Carl Dean Cox
Twitter:@seeforevergames
YouTube:Carl Cox
Instagram:@seeforevergames
Other:https://open.spotify.com/artist/093vSL01pxClwuqBDkb9u0
Today's Interview is with:

Carl Dean Cox
Interviewed on: 7/15/2020

This week's interview is with Carl Dean Cox, game designer and musician from Mexico. Together with his brother, Carl is designing a game called Cybermancy, which he plans to fund on Kickstarter through his company, See Forever Games. Read on to learn more about Carl and how he designs games.

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 create the games that I want to play but that don't exist yet.

What game or games are you currently working on?
Alchemy (a deck-building game)

What is your day job?
Game designer

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

Where do you prefer to play games?
At home

Who do you normally game with?
Family and friends.

If you were to invite a few friends together for game night tonight, what games would you play?
Scythe.

And what snacks would you eat?
Tacos al pastor.

Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
Progressive rock.

What’s your favorite FLGS?
I don't have one.

What is your current favorite game? Least favorite that you still enjoy? Worst game you ever played?
Favorite: Scythe; Least Favorite that still enjoy: Don't have one; Worst: Crocodile Pool Party

What is your favorite game mechanic? How about your least favorite?
Favorite: Engine building; Least Favorite: Area control

What’s your favorite game that you just can’t ever seem to get to the table?
Dungeon Petz

What styles of games do you play?
I like to play Board Games, Card Games, RPG 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?
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?
The theme drives the mechanics.

Have you ever entered or won a game design competition?
No.

Do you have a current favorite game designer or idol?
Emerson Matsuuchi.

Where or when or how do you get your inspiration or come up with your best ideas?
Taking walks.

How do you go about playtesting your games?
Computer simulation, then live testing with humans.

Do you like to work alone or as part of a team? Co-designers, artists, etc.?
With a team.

What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a game designer?
Being as creative as possible.

If you could design a game within any IP, what would it be?
The Reckoners.

What do you wish someone had told you a long time ago about designing games?
Be yourself; don't try to imitate others.

What advice would you like to share about designing games?
Just do it!

Would you like to tell my readers what games you're working on and how far along they are?
I'm planning to crowdfund: Cybermancy.

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?
Songwriting, singing, fiction writing

What is something you learned in the last week?
That H.P. Lovecraft was married.

Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
Progressive rock, fantasy, horror.

What was the last book you read?
If It Bleeds, Stephen King

Do you play any musical instruments?
guitar, piano, bassoon, flute, saxophone

Tell us something about yourself that you think might surprise people.
I'm six foot six and suck at basketball.

Tell us about something crazy that you once did.
Moved to Mexico 32 years ago and never left.

Biggest accident that turned out awesome?
Found out that my best friend was in love with me, married her.

Who is your idol?
Ian Anderson.

What would you do if you had a time machine?
Go back to investigate unsolved crimes.

Are you an extrovert or introvert?
Introvert (INFP)

If you could be any superhero, which one would you be?
Dr. Strange

Have any pets?
2 dogs: Olivia and Coco.

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?
Survive: Board games; Wiped out: racism

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):
Stephen King: thanks for all the books!


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?  Please 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 6, 2020

People Behind the Meeples - Episode 247: Scott Brady

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:Scott Brady
Email:scott@sahmreviews.com
Location:Iowa
Day Job:Retired
Designing:One to two years.
Webpage:SahmReviews.com
Blog:SahmReviews.com
BGG:ia2ca
Facebook:Scott Brady
Twitter:@sahm_reviews
YouTube:SAHM Reviews
Instagram:@meeplemom
Find my games at:FLGS, Amazon, Target, Barnes & Noble, BGG
Today's Interview is with:

Scott Brady
Interviewed on: 7/15/2020

You may know Scott Brady from such websites as SAHM Reviews and games like Cues & Hues. Scott has been a major contributor to board game reviews and media along with his family over at SAHM Reviews for many years. Recently, instead of playing and reviewing games, Scott decided to start designing games. His first published game is the hit party game from The Op, Hues & Cues, and he has plenty more in the works. Read on to learn more about Scott and his projects!

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?
A personal challenge

What game or games are you currently working on?
Chicken -n- Waffles, Backseat Draw'r, Sonoma

Have you designed any games that have been published?
Hues and Cues, Gekitai (web-published), Brain Train (signed, not out yet)

What is your day job?
Retired

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

Where do you prefer to play games?
Home with a group of friends

If you were to invite a few friends together for game night tonight, what games would you play?
Anything Feld or Lacerda

And what snacks would you eat?
Beef Jerkey, Veggie Straws

Do you like to have music playing while you play games? If so, what kind?
Nope

What is your current favorite game? Least favorite that you still enjoy? Worst game you ever played?
Current - The Crew, Least fav but enjoy - 7 Wonders, Worst - no comment

What is your favorite game mechanic? How about your least favorite?
Fav - Worker Placement, Least - roll and move

What’s your favorite game that you just can’t ever seem to get to the table?
Lorenzo il Magnifico

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, 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.

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?
Typically a mechanic first. I try to go for something that hasn't been done before and then marry it to an appropriate theme.

Have you ever entered or won a game design competition?
Neither

Do you have a current favorite game designer or idol?
Feld

Where or when or how do you get your inspiration or come up with your best ideas?
During twilight sleep.

How do you go about playtesting your games?
First with family, then with close friends when ready to present. After about 10 plays, I move on to other friends and strangers.

Do you like to work alone or as part of a team? Co-designers, artists, etc.?
Typically alone. No one close by to partner with.

What do you feel is your biggest challenge as a game designer?
Overcoming personal criticism.

If you could design a game within any IP, what would it be?
Anything from the late 70's or early 80's. My youth.

What do you wish someone had told you a long time ago about designing games?
Listen to yourself. Ultimately you know what is best for your game.

What advice would you like to share about designing games?
Design for the experience first. Even a poorly put together game can bring people to the table if they have fun playing it.

Would you like to tell my readers what games you're working on and how far along they are?
Published games, I have: Hues and Cues
Games that will soon be published are: Brain Train, Gekitai
Currently looking for a publisher I have: Gekitai, Chicken -n- Waffles, Backseat Draw'r
Games I feel are in the final development and tweaking stage are: Chicken -n- Waffles, Backseat Draw'r
Games that I'm playtesting are: Sonoma, From the Rubble, Petris
Games that are in the early stages of development and beta testing are: Too many to list. Most of which will probably be burned before they hit the next stage.

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

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?
Trek, Coke, VHS

What hobbies do you have besides tabletop games?
Various collections, particularly Dodge Viper 1:64 scale.

What is something you learned in the last week?
My kids have no idea what they want to study in college.

Favorite type of music? Books? Movies?
80's Rap, biographies, SciFi

What was the last book you read?
Building Blocks of Tabletop Game Design

Do you play any musical instruments?
I can play all of them. No one would want to hear it though.

Tell us something about yourself that you think might surprise people.
Supposedly my lineage has been traced back to Joseph of Arimathea (the man who removed Jesus from the cross). I don't receive any royalties from that...

Tell us about something crazy that you once did.
Scraped off the material from a full box of sparklers and burnt a hole THROUGH the road in front of my house (teenager).

Biggest accident that turned out awesome?
Mayonnaise and peanut butter

Who is your idol?
Billy

What would you do if you had a time machine?
Buy a sports almanac and head back in time.

Are you an extrovert or introvert?
introvert

If you could be any superhero, which one would you be?
Thanos

Have any pets?
Dog (chihuahua pom mix)

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?
Ice Fishing. Under the asteroid - prejudices.

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 dad! R.I.P.!


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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