Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication

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

GDU 075 - Wingspan

In episode 76 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Elizabeth Hargrave about all things birds with her game Wingspan! What started as a game suggestion from her husband turned into a game that has inspired so many women and nature enthusiasts to enter the industry! Hear about how her game evolved through signing it with Stonemaier Games and their development process. Listen as she talks through the different expansions and what issues came up when translating the game over to different languages. Also, get advice on how to design a nature themed game!

Featuring:
Elizabeth Hargrave - Guest
Danielle Reynolds - Host

 

Launch Tabletop is offering 20% off your first order by going to launchtabletop.com and using the promo code GDU20 when checking out. This special discount is valid through 2023.

GDU 074 - Curmudgeon

In episode 74 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Grant Lyon  about his party game co-design Curmudgeon. The game lets players come up with their own witty disses and comebacks to hilarious prompts. Grant talks about how his background in comedy and writing has helped him not only design party games but get hired to write card prompts for games like Verses, Would You Rather and Ghosted.

 

Featuring: 

Grant Lyon - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

 

And please vote Danielle Reynolds for the TAGIE Rising Star Innovator award at https://peopleofplay.com/toy-game-innovation-awards/2023. Voting is open until October 20th!

Launch Tabletop is offering 20% off your first order by going to launchtabletop.com and using the promo code GDU20 when checking out. This special discount is valid through 2023.

GDU 073 - Exploring Galapagos

In episode 73 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with M & Corinne Yeager on their 18-card game Exploring Galapagos published by Button Shy. Listen to them discuss their initial inspiration from the game SET and how issues came up in the initial printing of the game and how they were able to fix it with only the use of the rulebook! Enjoy this episode all about designing with constraints. 

 

And please vote Danielle Reynolds for the TAGIE Rising Star Innovator award at https://peopleofplay.com/toy-game-innovation-awards/2023. Voting is open until October 20th!

 

Launch Tabletop is offering 20% off your first order by going to launchtabletop.com and using the promo code GDU20 when checking out. This special discount is valid through 2023.

 

Featuring: 

M Yeager - Guest 

Corinne Yeager - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 072 - Disney Sorcerer’s Arena: Epic Alliances

In episode 72 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Sean Fletcher the designer behind Disney Sorcerer’s Arena: Epic Alliances as well as so many other IP based games. He talks about how he took his love of Magic the Gathering and applied it to creating this Disney Battle game. From turning classic Disney characters into different archetypes to balancing their deck abilities and powers while keeping them thematic. Hear about how he turned one of the world’s favorite IPs into a board game.

Featuring:
Sean Fletcher - Guest
Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 071 - Not So Neighborly

In episode 71 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with sisters Alice and Jessica Hong of FamBam Games about their co-design Not So Neighborly. A light-weight card game of building and destroying a neighborhood. This project started with a need to have another game while stuck in their Covid bubble that turned into a family run company. Learn about things like UNPUB, the Horizon Fellowship and other things that helped them jump head first into this industry! 

 

Featuring: 

Alice Hong - Guest 

Jessica Hong - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 070 - Fossilis

In episode 70 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with David Diaz about his game Fossilis published by KTBG (Kids Table Board Games). The game was initially designed with his son in mind mixed with a personal love of dinosaurs. It quickly developed into a 3-D tile pushing archeology game with set-collecting different dinos and bones. The game started as a lighter kids game then once signed, it was developed into the game you see today at conventions!

 

Featuring: 

David Diaz - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 069 - Smug Owls

In episode 69 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Mike Belsole and Grace Kendall about their co-design Smug Owls published by Runaway Games. What started as a game made for a convention Christmas gift exchange turned into an owl themed game about generating riddles for players to solve. The last player to think of an answer will become the smug owl and judge the round’s answers. Listen to us play a round of the game! Also, hear about what you can add to your contract to make sure you get paid if a publisher gives you the rights to your game back!

 

Featuring: 

Mike Belsole - Guest 

Grace Kendall - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host