Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication

GDU 058 - Hues and Cues

In episode 58 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Scott Brady the designer of Hues and Cues published by the Op Games. Scott was able to use his connections as a reviewer to get in touch with publishers once his color swatch themed party game was ready to pitch. The game was inspired by his printing background that only got better through playtesting. Hear him talk about his unique scoring mechanic and how the game actually works for color blind folks in this episode.

 

Featuring: 

Scott Brady - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 057 - Mazes Fantasy Roleplaying

In episode 57 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Chris O'Neill about both his game Mazes and the RPG system he designed for the game called Polymorph. Chris spent years creating a new system based around each player playing as a specific single die. Each character will come with a die and an amount of stars. In the system stars allow players to forgo rolling to achieve what they want to do. The system was heavily inspired by the old days of D&D where most things were possible as long as it made sense. Chris worked to create a very accessible system that could be adapted into any storyline. He also talks about how 9th Level Games licensing the system works so other creatives can choose to expand on the RPGs 9th Level Games has already published. 

 

Featuring: 

Chris O'Neill - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 056 - Meeple Party

In episode 56 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Heather O'Neill about her first solo design Meeple Party. What started out as a logic puzzle for your brain quickly got themed around hosting a party with your fellow roommates. Meeples were given colors and stereotypes that tied into how they moved other party-goers around the modular board. In order to win you had to set up different scenarios and take pictures while avoiding adding stress to you and your roommates. As Heather’s first co-op game she learned a lot about coming up with a win condition that worked and a way to scale the difficulty of the game. Also, how adding the right art and humor added an extra level to the game’s design.

 

Featuring: 

Heather O'Neill - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 055 - Lost for Words

In episode 55 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Ami Baio about her first co-design Lost for Words that she worked on with her son. The initial inspiration for the game came from her love of languages and how different words carry different meanings that can invoke memories that are worth sharing. Learn some new words as well as the feelings that can be expressed through this unique party game. 

 

Featuring: 

Ami Baio - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 054 - Relics of Rajavihara

Episode 54: Relics of Rajavihara

 

In episode 54 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Joe Slack about his solo puzzle game Relics of Rajavihara. Starting from an enjoyment of puzzle video games of moving blocks Joe worked to create his almost legacy game themed in an Indiana Jones like world that was suggested by the Solo Board Game Facebook Groups. Joe learned through self-publishing how to develop the game to its best state with cutting down on components and thinking outside the box. 

 

Featuring: 

Joe Slack - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 053 - Batman: The Animated Series – Gotham City Under Siege

In episode 53 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Michael Guigliano about Batman: The Animated Series – Gotham City Under Siege. We speak about how he got into the gaming hobby through playing Twilight Imperium then met the designer Richard Launius who’d become his co-designer on the Batman game. The design started as a way to help kids learn simple math equations playing as the Avengers attempting to stop Ultron bots that warped into signing the game with IDW and adjusting all the characters to the Batman Universe.

 

Featuring: 

Michael Guigliano - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 052 - The Wolves

In episode 52 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Ashwin Kamath and Clarence Simpson about their game The Wolves, published by Pandasuarous Games. These designers met through the Tabletop Mentorship Program and created this game design in a matter of months during the worst of the pandemic. Utilizing online playtests they were able to iterate quickly even while living in different parts of the United States. Thanks to their unique action selection mechanic of double-sided tiles this game allows players to control and grow packs of wolves! Flip to certain terrains to move, populate and howl with your pack! Check out this unique area control game.

 

Featuring: 

Ashwin Kamath & Clarence Simpson - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 051 - Pirate Party: Women of the High Seas

In episode 51 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Marge Rosen about her card game Pirate Party: Women of the High Seas. A card game loosely based on the mechanics of Rummy that took on it’s own character by theming it after historical women pirates! The game offers different gameplays, historical facts in the rulebook and diverse artwork. Plus, if you collect all three mermaids you can sing your siren song into victory!

 

Featuring: 

Marge Rosen - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 050 - London Necropolis Railway

In episode 50 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Daniel Newman about his co-published game London Necropolis Railway. He talks about how a Wikipedia link on a historic event in London inspired this morbidly themed game. Also, how he and his company New Mill Industries work to take interestingly themed games that might have a hard time finding a home and turning them into a reality. Even if it’s an in-house operation with less then a thousand copies of the game. Check out his unique perspectives as a designer and publisher working with other designers in my 50th episode of Game Design Unboxed! 

Featuring: 

Daniel Newman - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host

GDU 049 - Creature Comforts

In episode 49 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Roberta Taylor about her game Creature Comforts published by KTGB. This game was initially inspired by the changing of the seasons in Canada. The worker placement with the interesting dice mechanics came shortly after. Roberta talks about her design process, having Helaina Cappel look at her design then sign it after the Gathering of Friends. From the cute woodland creatures to the concept of cozy game design described in video games she was playing, Roberta designed a game that sold out immediately after it was delivered to backers. Both a good and bad problem to have! 

 

Featuring: 

Roberta Taylor - Guest 

Danielle Reynolds - Host