Hidden Role: The Brains Behind Your Favorite Games

Educational Insights has graciously offered to give 1 copy of Blurt! to one of our viewers! Listen to the episode for when Tim reads a special Blurt! question for the audience. COMMENT the answer to question on the YouTube video and we will randomly pick one correct commenter after New Year's Day! Only one comment per person will be considered. --- Fellow content creator and inventor Tim Walsh ret...

Returning guest Brent Bushnell talks bringing STEAM to kids through Two Bit Circus, using creative stunts to stand out in a crowd, and bringing ideas to life through rapid iteration.  --- Learn Brent's Story (Part 1): https://youtu.be/Ap14V5MrBz0 --- Check out DIYArtcade: https://strangeoutfit.com/diyartcade --- Follow Brent: https://www.instagram.com/brentbushnell https://brentbushnell.com/about...

In this special two part interview, creative powerhouse Brent Bushnell dives deep into Two Bit Circus, educating through hands-on play & STEAM-based programs, creating some of the first virtual reality attractions since the 90's, and much more. Stay tuned for Part 2!  --- Follow Brent: https://www.instagram.com/brentbushnell https://brentbushnell.com/about https://twitter.com/brentbushnell --- Hid...

Dan Klitsner, renowned inventor of Bop It, is launching a Kickstarter for a new yard game... Sling It! Is it medieval cornhole with a sausage-slinging twist? Find out in this special episode, where Dan discusses the storied history of sausage tossing and the secret to inventing a fun and satisfying game! --- Get notified when the Sling It Kickstarter launches on June 4th!  http://slingitgame.com/...

Connie Vogelmann is lightning in a bottle! Apiary & Wyrmspan were both among the top 20 hottest games on Board Game Geek... and they are her first games! In today's episode she shares her game design process, shines a light on the magic of bee waggle dances, and gives some excellent advice for new game designers. --- Hidden Role Podcast is also available on most major podcast networks! https://lin...

Teacher of the Year, Paul Andersen, taught science for 20 years and has been an educational consultant for a decade. In today's episode, he discusses running a successful Kickstarter for his product, Switch-Its; turning his classroom into a video game to excite kids about learning; and the secrets to teaching through play. --- Paul Andersen's YouTube Channel, Bozeman Science: https://www.youtube.c...

JM Duparc, Chief Creation at Identity Games, gives us insights into collaborative design, creative ways to pass the time, the story behind Who's the Dude , and much, much more! --- Check out Identity Games: https://identitygames.nl/international/ --- Hidden Role Podcast is also available on most major podcast networks! https://linktr.ee/hiddenrole --- Visit our website and sign up for our newslett...

In this episode, we dive into the world of game design with Scott Rogers, award winning video game and board game designer behind games like Pantone the Game and Alien: Fate of the Nostromo . Scott unveils the secrets of crafting engaging video and board games, gives us a behind-the-scenes glimpse of being an Imagineer, guides us through the art of writing a game design book, and dishes out game-c...

In this episode, we speak with Kim Vandenbroucke, Game Designer of the Year winner and inventor of games like Pigs on Trampolines, Split, Scattergories Categories, and countless more. She shares her story, insights into the industry, and the secrets to becoming a successful serial inventor. --- Check out Brainy Chick, Inc. https://www.kimvandenbroucke.com/ --- Hidden Role Podcast is also available...

Once again we visit with Robert "Bob" Fuhrer, who dives into the story of the international puzzle sensation, KenKen... and you'll never expect where this one goes! --- Learn more about Bob: https://youtu.be/sGBPH_n-z_c --- Check out Nextoy:  https://www.nextoy.com/ --- Hidden Role Podcast is also available on most major podcast networks! https://linktr.ee/hiddenrole --- Visit our website and sign...

Robert "Bob" Fuhrer is for the toy industry what a producer is for the film industry; a mastermind who brings together creatives, engineers, and business minds to put out incredible toy products. In today's episode, he shares stories from his incredible career and advice for anyone who wants to succeed in the industry. --- Check out Nextoy: https://www.nextoy.com/ --- Hidden Role Podcast is also a...

Adam Hocherman, AKA "Hock," shares his journey from tech, to business owner, to the toy and game industry. Hock has done it all, from invention, to product development, to manufacturing, to inventor relations. He's got his finger on the pulse of toys and games and gives us expert insights into how the industry has changed... and where it might be heading. --- Adam can be reached at his LinkedIn pr...

Dougal Grimes, the President of Inventor Relations and Innovation at Spin Master, has a vast knowledge of the toy and game space. Keith Grimes, Digital Health & Innovation Consultant, is an expert panelist on Artificial Intelligence. United, they are the "Brothers Grimes!" Though they're experts in different fields, they've come together to discuss their lifelong bonding over play and competition,...

Karri Bean, Senior Manager, LEGO at Disney Consumer Products, shares the secret of leading with empathy, hilarious stories from her travels to Denmark,  and how she oversees all the Disney franchises to transform them into iconic LEGO sets. --- Check out People of Play! https://peopleofplay.com/ --- Hidden Role Podcast is also available on most major podcast networks! https://linktr.ee/hiddenrole...

In today's episode, Elizabeth Hargrave, the award-winning game designer behind Wingspan (the international sensation!), shares her game design philosophy, the story of the game's development, as well as the science behind her upcoming game, Undergrove. --- The Kickstarter for Undergrove launches in early November. Learn more and follow the launch: https://www.alderac.com/undergrove/ https://www.el...

When Tom Dusenberry was the CEO of Hasbro Interactive, he negotiated the purchases of some of the today's biggest toy and game brands, from companies like Atari, Wizards of the Coast and Avalon HIll, to video games like Rollercoaster Tycoon. In today's episode, Tom gives us his insight from decades in the industry, including the secret of what makes a successful toy or game.... --- Dusenberry Ente...

Dive into the world of print on demand board game publishing with JT Smith,  the wizard behind The Game Crafter. From prototyping to playtesting to publishing, JT gives us insights into the creator economy and how The Game Crafter is a powerful tool for both new and veteran game designers. --- Check out The Game Crafter: https://www.thegamecrafter.com/ --- Design game assets using automation with...

After many years in the toy and game industry, Scott Brown and Tim Swindle have teamed up to bring a brand new sport into the world... PaddleSmash! In this episode, we gain some fantastic insight into the challenges and thrills of launching a brand new product from inception to launch. --- Check out PaddleSmash: https://paddlesmash.com/ https://youtu.be/azMf1g6Th9U Follow PaddleSmash: https://www....

Daryl is well known for traveling to most Toy and Game conventions every year, and in today's episode he tells us why attending conventions has been integral to his career as a board game designer. He breaks down why both inventors and companies benefit from attending conventions and gives advice on traversing the convention circuit to pitch your toy and game idea. Keep up with Daryl: https://twit...

Ed Gartin is an expert in inventor relations, bringing together Toy & Game companies and the creatives want to bring their inventions to the world. In today's episode, he shares what he looks for in a pitch as well as crazy stories from his twenty years in the industry. Check out Paper Bag Creative: https://paperbagcreative.fun/ --- Visit our website and sign up for our newsletter to get a sneak p...

Nicholas Cravotta and Rebecca Bleau are the creative minds behind over a hundred games and puzzles. From cooperative Escape Rooms to party games like Pickwits, these two tell us how to work together to create a really good game! Check out BlueMatter Games: https://www.bluemattergames.com/ --- Visit our website and sign up for our newsletter to get a sneak peak at our upcoming guests: https://www.h...

Tanya Thompson, Senior Director of Design Innovation and Inventor Relations at Hasbro, gives incredible insights on how to pitch your toy or game and stand out in a sea of ideas. Anyone can pitch an idea to Hasbro! Check out Spark: https://spark.hasbro.com/ --- Visit our website and sign up for our newsletter to get a sneak peak at our upcoming guests: https://www.hiddenrolepodcast.com/ Have an id...

In this episode, Matt Nuccio shares stories from his many years as a toy designer, from joining the "family business" as a kid, to Pogs, to Texas Hold'em, to researching his family's history with the New York mafia.... Check out Design Edge: https://www.designedge.net/ --- Visit our website and sign up for our newsletter to get a sneak peak at our upcoming guests: https://www.hiddenrolepodcast.com...

What goes into a great game? There's no easy answer, but Matt Leacock, creator of Pandemic and master game designer, might just know the answer! Join us as he dives into game theory, good feedback, crafting the play experience, and much more! Learn when Daybreak launches: https://www.daybreakgame.org/ Keep up with Matt Leacock: https://www.leacock.com/ https://twitter.com/mattleacock https://www.f...

When master game designer Matt Leacock started out, it wasn't about the money, it was about making the best game possible! In part one of this two parter, we go deep into the creation of the hit boardgame, Pandemic. Learn Matt's design philosophy and get a glimpse at how a big success can grow from a really solid game. In Part 2, we'll be discussing best practices in game design and much, much mor...