Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication

In episode 44 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we recap the second season with guest host and game enthusiast Natasha “Nat” Iris. Nat interviews Danielle to get her thoughts on the season’s highlights and lessons learned. From designing games based on components to feeling to culture we learned there are many ways to design a game. Plus, take a look at what Danielle has been doin...

In episode 43 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Chrissy Fagerholt, one of the designers of FRIEND or FAUX and founder of EAP Toy & Games. Chrissy and her friends took the experience and fun of a girl’s night and created a questions game. They designed levels of questions from tame to spicy in order to help players learn about each other as they grow more comfortable p...

In episode 42 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Sydney Engelstein, one of the designers to take on the challenge of continuing on the Aeon’s End game line! Listen to Sydney discuss the original game, her involvement with the past and current expansions as well as her favorite one she’s worked on, Legacy of Gravehold! We talk about dreams inspiring pieces of the games...

In episode 41 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Banana Chan a designer on the culturally inspired game Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall . Listen to learn more about how a culture can inspire different design choices from how dice work in the system to adding spirit paper as a component. This game aimed to capture the immigrant experience of the time with a horror t...

In episode 40 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Jeff Chin and Andrew Nerger about their game Canvas which was a component first design. Inspired by translucent cards Jeff and Andrew worked to get creative prototyping this beautiful entry-level game that is now being distributed globally. Even the game box being designed to look like a hanging painting was considered w...

In episode 39 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Chris Rio the designer of Cheer Up! published by Cheer Up Games. He talks about designing a creative way to make a word game that removes the flaws of the games he saw already on the shelf. Also, how he’s made his branding pop out compared to its competitors. He touches on culling the words on the cards as times change a...

In episode 38 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Josh Kaplan a youtube reviewer and abstract game designer. Josh discusses having a game in print and selling out in a month and what happens to your game when a publisher’s company hits hard times. Plus, tips on how to pitch to publishers you already have a relationship with on the media-side of the industry.   Featuring...

In episode 37 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Christopher Ryan Chan, one of the co-designers and the illustrator of the Night Cage published by Smirk & Dagger Games. We discuss creating a narrative when designing a horror themed board game using mechanics and art to create a feel that adds to the gameplay. Also, knowing who your demographic is can help shape your ga...

In episode 36 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Randy Flynn about his design Cascadia published by Flatout Games. This tile-laying puzzle  game of building habitats and expanding your wildlife has become so popular that it has been printed in various languages. Randy talks about his experience developing the game with Flatout’s Collab program and growing as a designer...

In episode 35 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Mary Flanagan about her co-design Phantom Ink published by her company Resynom Games. She speaks about her experience starting on the video game side during the “.com boom” in the early 90s to transitioning to tabletop games. Mary is an artist, designer, business owner and so many more things. She designs based on feel w...

In episode 34 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Amelie Le-Roche a co-designer and artist of Synchronized published by her company Zerua Games. Amelie talks about how they took a suggested theme and turned it into a game. How the “fun” was there from the initial playtest which motivated them to continue working on the game and using Kickstarter to make it a reality. Le...

In episode 33 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Emerson Matsuuchi the designer of Century: Spice Road, Century: Eastern Wonders, Century: A New World and the Golem Editions published by Plan B Games. Emerson talks about one lighting in a bottle game Century: Spice Road, plus designing two follow up games that were both standalones as well as could be combined into a h...

In episode 32 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Ryan Courtney the designer of Pipeline published by Capstone Games. Ryan created an amazing business simulation about the refinement of oil and how it has been a part of the government-controlled energy sector. He talks about making his design incredibly thematic but needing to refine the design to get the time and diffi...

In episode 31 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Move38's Founder & CEO Jon Bobrow about the Blinks System. His system was created as a mash-up between a toy, video game and board game using electronic hexagon tiles that each hold a single game. Each tile will train the others in the system to learn that specific game. Jon has worked with outside designers and his inte...

In episode 30 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Conor McGoey, the founder of Inside Up Games as well as the designer behind Summit, Vault Assault, Gorus Maximus, and more! Summit was not only his first published game but it had a competitive, cooperative and solo mode attached to it. Learn how he turned the success of this game into a company.    Featuring:  Conor McG...

In episode 29 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Graham Gentz, a writer and designer on " Savage Sisters ." He also performs with 9th Level Games as "Fomo" the kobold puppet. Savage Sisters was designed by Adriel Wilson and uses the Polymorph RPG system designed by Chris O'Neill. Learn more about the Polymorph system and what makes Savage Sisters unique in the RPG worl...

In episode 28 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Austin Foss (Pops) and Jenna Radtke (Bejou) otherwise known as part of the Pops & Bejou team and the designers of CULTivate. Pops & Bejou started as a friendship formed in college that turned into a publisher at the beginning of COVID-19. CULTivate was the first of the games this company is looking to put out as a gatewa...

In episode 27 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Gwen Ruelle, one of the designers of Fire Tower and co-owner of Runaway Parade Games. Gwen talks about taking her love of cooperative game elements and using it to make a fire tower burning game of winds changing and friends working to outlast each other. She speaks about the inspirations for various expansions including...

In episode 26 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Glenn Drover, owner of Forbidden Games and designer of Raccoon Tycoon. A game that has players buying and selling goods from a marketplace, doing quick actions, and set collecting adorable animals and their railroads. Glenn was inspired by Catan and Monopoly wanting to create a gateway game that could eventually make its...

In episode 25 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Danielle Deley and Nathan Thornton about their game Medium, an improv-inspired party game that helps players sync minds and search for words that link together to score points. It’s a game that’s as fun to lose as it is to win. Listen to Danielle and Nathan’s interesting marketing idea and how playing games at work turne...

Episode 24: Sleeping Gods   In episode 24 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Ryan Laukat, the designer and illustrator of Sleeping Gods, Above and Below, Near and Far, and more. Ryan is the co-owner of Red Raven Games as well as a triple threat of game designer, artist, and storyteller. In this episode, he discusses how art and media play a huge role in his game design...

In episode 23 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we kick off season 2 talking with Kathleen Mercury, an educator, and board game designer. Her first published design Greece Lightning started with her decision to co-design with Mark Sellmeyer on his space-themed game about black holes. This game developed into a push-your-luck, roll-and-move race in an Ancient Greek regatta. She ref...

In episode 22 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication Danielle and Denice talk about some favorite moments and lessons learned thanks to season 1’s guest designers. As well as where they are in their current game design journeys. We say farewell to Denice from the show and about the show coming back in late Fall with a refresh for season 2!    Featuring:    Danielle Reynolds - Host Deni...

In episode 21 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we speak with Vanessa Hoskins, our first RPG designer. The Know Direction Network’s own Vanessa talks about RPGs, Pathfinder, and writing part 2 of the Abomination Vaults. Her extensive credits and knowledge on RPGs will help listeners dip their toes into RPG design and gameplay! As well as learn how to get into the business.    Feat...

Episode 20: Dinosaur Island   In episode 20 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Jonathan Gilmour, the designer behind Dead of Winter, Mental Blocks, Wasteland Express Delivery Service, Kids on Bikes, Dinosaur Island and so many other games and expansions! Jonathan is known for his ability to predict what themes or mechanics are going to be popular and become evergreens....