Matt Leacock (Pandemic, Forbidden Island/Desert) and Antoine Bauza (Ghost Stories, Hanabi, Samurai Spirit) discuss their passion for cooperative play and the challenges and differences in designing cooperative games.
Representatives from 3 of the largest manufacturers of board and card games, discuss the challenges they face when trying to make games for clients all over the world. Frank Jager (Ludo Fact) Shari Spiro (AdMagic) Michael Lee & Chris Matthew (Panda Mfg)
This panel explores the impact of the Spiel des Jahres awards - on the game industry, on the organization itself, on the designers and the publishers who win the awards. Tom Felber (SdJ Jury) Andreas Pelikan (designer/winner) Wittenstein (Eggertspiele)
A discussion exploring how publishers try to reach the world with their games. Nate Scheidler (Gigamic), Agnieszka Kopera (NSKN, Strawberry Studio), Konstantinos Kokkinis (Artipia Games), Nobuake Takerube (Japon Brand), Brandan Parsons (Brain Games)
Team Play is game that draws deep from the well of classic card games. With hints of Rummy, Pinochle and even a little Euchre, anyone familiar with these classics will feel like you already know how to play. Tune in to learn why Team Play is Major Fun!
A review of 3 Wishes written by Stephen Conway. 3 Wishes is a game of bluffing and deduction you can play in 5 minutes. Gain the genie's favor by collecting a wish for a superpower, a wish for world harmony and a wish for a gift to win the game.
In Among Nobles, you are the timeless overseer for an aristocratic European family. You guide them through marriages, warfare, commerce and influence across the continent. Most prestige wins the game. Tune in to see why it earns a Spiel of Approval Award!
A review of Mmm! written by Stephen Conway. Mmm! is a cooperative game where players work together to cover every food item displayed in the pantry with a mouse token before the mean black cat reaches the door.
Oh My Goods is a small game that packs a huge punch. Using 110 cards, you build factories to create production chains, turing basic resources into more valuable goods. Each round offers a press your luck decision that makes the game challenging and fun.
Chronicler is a small game with large aspirations. Tell the story of your civilization through the tools and structures you choose to build in 20 minutes or less. Tune in to learn what we love about Chronicler and why it deserves the Major Fun Award.
A review of Ice Cool written by Stephen Conway. Ice Cool is a dexterity game where players will take turns flicking their penguins through a 3 dimensional school trying to either catch fish or catch the students skipping class.
My Village is a game where players tell the story of an entire medieval community. Will your village focus on commerce, a magnificent church or a town council? Your decisions wind the clock forward; your decisions ultimately decide who lives and who dies.
We explore the importance of narrative in game design with a panel of some of the best storytellers in the world of gaming. Ignacy Trzewiczek (Portal), Richard Launius, Christopher Badell (Greater Than Games), Scott Hill (Flying Frog Productions).
There have been waves of consolidation within the board game industry over the past 3 yrs. Is this a sign of a healthy industry or the start of a cycle that leads to less competition? Eric Summerer (Dice Tower) Lance Myxter (Undead Viking) Doug Richardson
Matt Leacock, Rob Daviau, Bruno Faidutti and Bruno Cathala explore the process of co-designing games. Why work together? How do they divide up the work? How do they playtest? How do they deal with conflict? How do they know when the game is done?
From the artwork on and in the box to the components to the layout and logo, we examine the effort that goes into making a game visually engaging. Panelists include: Stephen Buonocore (Stronghold Games) Stephan Brissaud (Iello) Kevin Brusky (APE Games).
Our panel gives advice they wish they had received when first starting out. What pitfalls can new publishers avoid? Ted Alspach (Bezier Games), Paul Bender (Greater Than Games), Tim Fowers (Fowers Games), Travis Worthington (Indie Boards and Cards).
A round table discussion exploring the different ways the game world is evolving as more women work and play in the world of games. Panelists: Lea Culliton (HABA USA), Brittanie Boe (Game Wire), Tanya Thompson (Marbles), Donna Jaffe (Peaceable Kingdom).
A round table discussion on the challenge of designing games for kids. Our panel features Markus Nikisch (HABA), Brandan Parsons (Blue Orange), Josh West (ThinkFun) and Bernie DeKoven (Major Fun).
Karuba is an island with hidden treasures. Your goal is to lead a team through the jungle along the smartest route to riches. Deceptively simple, Karuba uses a bingo-like system to offer players a wonderful strategic puzzle for players young and old.