Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication

GDU 068 - Mission Control: Critical Orbit

In episode 68 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Corey Andalora and Donnie Coleman about their asymmetric space themed co-op game Mission Control: Critical Orbit. What started as a game design challenge inspired by the initial parts of COVID grew into this unique real-time puzzle game you can play with your friends. Listen to how they decided what puzzles to make and how the publishers have marketed the game at Cons. 

 

Featuring: 

Corey Andalora - Guest 

Donnie Coleman - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 067 - BarBEARian Battlegrounds

In episode 67 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we kick off season 4 with Julie Ahern the designer of BarBEARian Battlegrounds: Tales of BarBEARia. The reason she chose this design in particular is because it was a sequel to a game designed by Walter Barber and Ian VanNest. These designers were tasked with creating a sequel to the game but weren’t able to make it happen so Julie had to approach the sensitive subject of her working on the game and receiving design credits for it. Learn from her how to approach subjects like credits in a game and working off another designer’s original IP in this episode. 

 

Featuring: 

Julie Ahern - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 066 - Season 3 Finale

In episode 66 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we recap the third season with guest host Beneeta Kaur. We talk about some fun games from the past season, heartfelt inspirations, interesting systems designed for RPGs and catch up on what’s been going on with Danielle’s career in the gaming industry outside the podcast. We also discuss what’s coming up for season 4 airing on Tuesday, July 11th! 

 

Featuring: 

Danielle Reynolds - Guest 

Beneeta Kaur - Host

GDU 065 - It’s Kind of a Fun Story

In episode 65 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Pophouse Collective's Josh Kemper and Robert Smith about their getting to know you party game It's Kind of a Fun Story. They talk about how the game was inspired by a Halloween Party game night with salaciously probing questions that they wanted to turn into an experience you could find in a brightly colored box. Through playtesting they moved to make the questions more mass market friendly while keeping to an adult audience. They also worked to create scoring mechanisms as well as different ways to interact with questions beyond just telling a story. Hear about their success as a first time publisher making their way to Target and about their Pride tour in the Month of June to celebrate being a Queer run company!

 

Featuring: 

Josh Kemper - Guest 

Robert Smith - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 064 - Stonewall Uprising

In episode 64 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Taylor Shuss about his asymmetric deck building game Stonewall Uprising inspired by LGBTQ+ History. The mechanics of the game came quickly to him. It was researching events and figureheads from our past that was more difficult. He found it a fun challenge to create a game where people are not only learning but have a visceral feeling from playing the role of “the Man”. Learn about this historically important game as we enter Pride Month!

 

Featuring: 

Taylor Shuss - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 063 - Star Realms

In episode 63 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with two Magic: The Gathering Hall of Famers Robert Dougherty and Darwin Kastle, the designers of Star Realms. They speak about how their love of trading card games and wanting to help Darwin find a job brought the deckbuilder known as Star Realms into reality. Their development process was fueled by wanting to beat each other until they balanced out the cards. Thanks to a friend they created an app for the game that has increased the game’s fan base over the years. Plus, they talk about their approach to expansions and spin-offs. Check out the special announcement at the end of the episode that you don’t want to miss!

 

Featuring: 

Robert Dougherty - Guest 

Darwin Kastle - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 062 - Deadly Dowagers

In episode 62 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Sarah Shipp the designer of Deadly Dowagers. This game started with a theme of generations of people trying to improve their positions in life that quickly became a theme about you playing as a middle-class Victorian woman who would kill to be a duchess. In Sarah’s card-drafting game you will marry, collect money, and murder to improve your status in life. The game beyond being very thematic also includes fun easter eggs! Listen to how Sarah’s first design changed through the development process.

 

Featuring: 

Sarah Shipp - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 061 - Lanterns: The Harvest Festival

In episode 61 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Chris Chung the designer of Lanterns: The Harvest Festival. What started out as a game jam design quickly became an evergreen game. With its simplistic rules, unique theme and beautiful artwork. Plus, a fun easter egg that Chris’s grandma was excited to spot in the artwork. Listen to how Chris grew as a designer and turned a nature themed game into Lanterns.

 

Featuring: 

Chris Chung - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 060 - Word Wipeout

In episode 60 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Joe Barron from Gray Matters Games about how he teamed up with graphic design students at the College of DuPage to create a word game during the Wordle craze. Through playtesting they not only improved the graphics of the game but realized that their electronic timer could be improved to help the hearing impaired by adding flashing lights. Check out this fun spelling game with a Scattergories twist! 

 

Featuring: 

Joe Barron - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 059 - Paint the Roses

In episode 59 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Ben Goldman the designer of Paint the Roses published by Northstar Games. He talks about designing co-op games and how adding the Alice and Wonderland theme to a previous quilting theme added to the design of the game. From the stacking of roses to grow the Queen’s height and speed to adding the white rabbit to help people understand how the Queen’s movement works. There were a lot of minor changes to the design to make this a challenging, yet fun co-op puzzle game with a nice rubber band effect. And for those of you who want some tips on how to beat this game check out this blog. 

 

Featuring: 

Ben Goldman - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host