Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication

GDU 085 - Mission to Planet Hexx

In episode 85 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Jim Fitzpatrick about his game Mission to Planet Hexx. Inspired by a love of SyFy he designed a hex tile game about exploring space with different abilities triggered by moving your ship around the tiles. He learned through playtesting how to create thematic ties between the flavor text and mechanics of the tiles as well as how to refine his design.

 

Featuring: 

Jim Fitzpatrick - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 084 - Mischief (Previously "Fickle")

In episode 84 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Glenn Cotter about his design Mischief, formerly Fickle. Learn how he got the game signed and printed first with Bard Games. Then what happened when he received the rights back and got the game re-signed with Smirk & Dagger as Mischief. Listen as he talks through the design changes made in between printings. How the initial bones of the game stayed the same while player count, fairy cards, illustrations and other pieces were tweaked through development. 

 

Featuring: 

Glenn Cotter - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 083 - Home

In episode 83 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Doug Levandowski and Yeonsoo Julian Kim about their co-design Home. Home is an RPG that focuses more on storytelling than dice rolling thanks to Tarot cards that help every player take turns as the “Director” of their scary story. With different modules in the RPG no game will be the same. The game started as Doug's attempt to make a game about his childhood home but with Julie’s help the game grew into what it is today. 

 

Featuring: 

Doug Levandowski - Guest 

Yeonsoo Julian Kim - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 082 - Mansplaining

In episode 82 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Fertessa Allyse and Mondo Davis about their party game Mansplaining. Learn not only what the term “mansplaining” means but also, learn how they designed a game made not to offend but allow players to feel what it is to have someone over-explain a subject in a humorous way. Learn how they dealt with assumptions made due to the title of the game and how they marketed to help with that problem.

 

Featuring: 

Fertessa Allyse - Guest 

Mondo Davis - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 081 - Pirate Tails

In episode 81 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Whitney Loraine the designer of Skybound’s Pirate Tails game. Her inspiration came from the push-you-luck set collection mechanics of Biblios. She took what she liked most from that game and created her own game. Listen to her start as a new designer. How going to a convention allowed her to network and meet publishers nice enough to introduce her to Skybound where she now has two signed games!

 

Featuring: 

Whitney Loraine - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

 

GDU 080 - Misconceptions

In episode 80 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with George Li about his game Misconceptions. His publishing company Rabble was approached by Bud Light Seltzer to create Misconceptions, a game based on debunking other common, but wrong, beliefs. Learn how they worked with Bud Light’s marketing team to design and publish a game in record time using a non-gaming manufacturer in the United States in order to meet the deadlines set by Bud Light.

 

Featuring: 

George Li - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 079 - Mantis

In episode 79 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Jeremy Posner and Ken Gruhl about their co-design Mantis published by Exploding Kittens. They talk about how they found each other as co-designers and the many games that have spawned from the partnership. How a failed design of Ken’s inspired Jeremy to adapt the idea into what became Mantis. Listen to how this design team took an old idea and gave it life in a new form! Plus, how they adapted the game into a kid’s version called Best Worst Ice Cream for Exploding Kittens’ new line of Kitten Games.

 

Featuring: 

Jeremy Posner - Guest 

Ken Gruhl - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 078 - Diced Veggies

In episode 78 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Josh, Jory and Rowan Cappel about their co-design Diced Veggies published by KTBG. This design started as a father/son activity that quickly added a niece/cousin to the mix. Starting from a catchy name they quickly created a dice drafting cooking game with a fun chopping component and thematically linked recipe cards. Thought was put into what veggies the dice would represent as well as finding recipes that had those vegetables diced in order to make it! If you’re looking to work with kids on a design then check out this episode!

 

Featuring: 

Josh Cappe - Guest 

Jory Cappel - Guest 

Rowan Cappel - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 077 - Holiday Hijinks

In episode 77 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Jonathan Chaffer, the mastermind behind the 18-card escape room game line Holiday Hijinks published by Grand Gamers Guild. Jonathan discusses how his holiday gift idea has now turned into a line of creatively crafted escape room games that only requires internet and 18 cards. Listen to how he crafts an answer list of words then works backwards to create the puzzles in each of his games. He even illustrates the cards and codes for the electronic parts of this escape room! Learn how to build an escape room game with tight restraints thanks to Jonathan!

Featuring:
Jonathan Chaffer - Guest
Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 076 - Dark Domains

In episode 76 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Jeff Horger about the second edition of Dark Domains! Learn what changes to the rulebook, components and gameplay occurred in the second printing. Listen to where the proposed initial design to make a game that included “skulls and tarot cards” came from. And how a multiple year RPG campaign helped build the lore of the game and characters. 

 

Featuring: 

Jeff Horger - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host