Happy Mitten Podcast: Board games, business, and...

In this episode… We are joined by Ray Wehrs, co-founder of Calliope Games and board game industry extraordinaire! Between Ray and his two business partners, there is 70 years of experience in the board game industry. We were delighted to get a chance to talk with Ray about Tsuro, Roll for It!, and his time in our industry. We hope you enjoy the multitude of stories he was kind enough to share. Feature: Ray Wehrs Interview Ray founded Calliope Games along with Jordan, and Dawne Weisman. How does the trio make it work? How did Calliope Games come to publish Tsuro? Tsuro is a game about creating your own journey or “path.” Taking this theme to heart, was there any point in Ray’s personal or professional life where he felt a choice he made impacted the direction his life took? Did the success of Tsuro and/or Roll For It! surprise Ray? Roll for It! is going to be on Wil Wheaton’s Tabletop. What does this mean for Ray? Will he prepare for increased demand? What does Calliope Games do different that other game publishers? There is an online version of Tsuro. What does an online version of a board game do for a game publishing company? There was a special, Gen Con edition of Roll for it!. Ray explains how this came about and why the product made sense to create. Calliope Games focuses on “filler” type games. Is Ray ever tempted to publish a heavier, Euro style game? When Ray hears the word “success,” what game(s), publishers, or designers come to mind? There are ten, different games that are all brilliantly designed. What qualities would make one game stand out among the others to board game consumers? Ray has been in the business for many moons. Does he think it’s possible for young publishers who are entering the industry now, like Happy Mitten, to make a career out of publishing board games? @CalliopeGames @happymitten Calliope has games that appeal outside the regular gamer market - what do you do to reach that wider audience? — Scott Almes (@Scott_Almes) October 9, 2014 Is Ray openly accepting game submissions now? How does he like to be pitched to? Helpful Tips Think about the business before the hobby. While it’s important to create an environment to have fun, it’s important to keep the business in mind to stay relevant.

In this episode… Jeff, Lee, and Kyle discuss what it’s been like running Happy Mitten thus far and comment on the wonderful world that is the board game industry. This episode came about unexpectedly, as our guest was unable to make it on at the last minute. The lack of guest lead us to do a bit of improvising because THE SHOW MUST GO ON! We seized this opportunity to discuss our business-y thoughts and general concerns. Feel free to let us know what you thought of our discussion or share your own experiences in the comment section below! Introduction Jeff, Lee, and Kyle welcome you to the podcast and spend a bit more time than usual discussing the games they've been playing lately. Have you played any of these same games? If not, what other games are the three of them not aware of that they should be playing? Feature: The impromptu podcast! Discussions ranged from Sheriff of Nottingham and King of New York, to what we feel Happy Mitten does differently as a publisher. All questions and responses we’re unplanned, but honest. Due to the format this episode took, we’d love to have our listeners join the discussion in the comment section below. Company Updates Please join us on our mailing list to be entered into future giveaways and get the inside scoop on what Happy Mitten’s been up to, including the release date of our debut game, Aether Magic!

In this episode… We are joined by Chris Kirkman, Darrell Louder, Nat Levan, and plenty of other special guests in this combined, The State of "Happy Mitten" Games Podcast! This recording was Happy Mittens first ever LIVE podcast and took place at Grand Con 2014. We had a blast at the event and with all of our powers combined, we managed to record something special for Happy Mittens in your face forty second episode. Introduction The Justice League of board game podcasters welcome you to the episode! Playful banter ensues before we take it back to real town with a discussion on risk and what it takes to follow a business passion. Feature: The State of “Happy Mitten” Games Podcast Doing this episode in front of an audience created a bit of extra anxiety, but was so much fun! The group of us were able to have a great discussion on our current favorite games (Chris’s favorite may surprise you) and sneak in a couple serious questions on how difficult it can often be to start a business. Getting to share the stage with people whose work we respect was an amazing experience, and we hope you are able to have a few laughs while learning a little about how they do it. With surprise appearances from Jason Kotarski and Richard Launius, this episode has the goods. Helpful Tips We we’re able to get more play tests of Aether Magic in at Grand Con, even more so than GenCon! While this may well be an outlier, I do feel it's easier to get a game play tested in the intimate setting a small to medium sized game convention creates. Company Updates Aether Magic's illustration is currently scheduled to be completed at the end of October (sneak peaks to come), and our Kickstarter will launch as soon as we’re able to coordinate worldwide shipping to save you guys on pesky shipping costs. Plan to see Aether Magic on Kickstarter before the end of Q1 2015 (although we’re shooting for much earlier than that) and be sure to sign up for our mailing list to be the first to receive Happy Mitten's special updates. Joining our mailing list also earns you a chance to win a copy of Sheriff of Nottingham in our end of September mailing list give away.

In this episode… We are joined by game designer Philip DuBarry, who is currently Kickstarting his most recent game, Skyway Robbery! While Jeff nor I have played Skyway Robbery, we are impressed with Philip’s Kickstarter campaign. Notably, Skyway Robbery will ship US copies from the US, Europe copies from Europe, and Canada copies from Canada. This level of fulfillment coordination dramatically reduces customer shipping costs, thus lowering the barrier-to-entry for those interested in owning Skyway Robbery. We are excited to have Philip on the podcast to discuss this and more on Happy Mittens steampunk-filled, forty first episode. Introduction Welcome to the Happy Mitten Podcast! We are proud members of the Dice Tower Network and with us today is Philip DuBarry, designer of Courtier from the Tempest series, Kingdom of Solomon, and most recently, Skyway Robbery! Feature: Philip DuBarry Interview What is Skyway Robbery all about? Philip has had a great deal of success simply designing games. So why did Philip decide to partner with GameSalute and become more involved with Skyway Robbery? Philip re-themed Skyway Robbery. What was the original version like and why did he re-theme the game? Would Philip recommend re-theming games to other publishers?Philip DuBarry Quote Philip controversially decided to have absolutely no stretch goals in Skyway Robbery. Does Philip feel not having any stretch goals has benefited his project and his backers? The art is Skyway Robbery looks terrific, but why did Philip decide to have eight artists? To save backers on shipping, Skyway Robbery will ship to backers from USA, Canada, and Europe. Philip talks about what he went through (if anything) to get this set up. Philip’s Kickstarter says that Skyway Robbery is for ages 12 and up. We were under the understanding that putting any age under 13 on the box requires additional certification and testing. What did Philip do to get that label? (If anyone can add to this in the comments, please do!) On the “risks and challenges” section of Philip’s Kickstarter, he mentions that if his product doesn’t fund, he will sell the art for use in other games. Does Philip feel it is important for backers to prepare for worst-case scenarios? What is Philip's favorite part of Skyway Robbery and what does he feel players will enjoy most? Are there any easter eggs? Twitter Questions @HappyMitten What challenges are different when co-designing a game versus being the only designer? — Nick Baker (@Nyobari) September 11, 2014 @HappyMitten Does he use a specific brainstorming technique, like the SCAMPERR method to keep creating such creative games? — Kevin Emmons (@KevEmmons) September 11, 2014 Philip's Helpful Tip Do a lot of play testing. It’s not simply doing the play testing, but listening to the play testers. When you listen to enough of them, you begin to notice the issues that are getting repeated. Maybe there are questions that seem self explanatory to you, but play testers keep bringing it up so you know you now need to make it more clear.

In this episode… We are joined by Matt and Stephanie from Shark and Shark Games! Matt and Stephanie recently launched their strategic game of survival and migration, Flocks and Flyways on Kickstarter. Being introduced to Matt and Stephanie through our mutual friend Dan Hsu, we discovered we share a love of board games, cheese, and had plenty we could pick their brains about in regards to how elements of the video game space could translate into the board game space. Behold, the fortieth episode of the Happy Mitten Podcast! Introduction Welcome to the Happy Mitten Podcast! We are proud members of the Dice Tower Network and today we welcome the lovely people at Shark and Shark Games and find out what they've been up to lately. Feature: Shark and Shark Games Interview When not doing work for Shark and Shark Games, Matt works as a video game developer and Stephanie works in Capcom PR. We ask the pair to talk a little about themselves and the work they do. How does Stephanie and Matt spend time with friends? What board games do they play? Matt and Stephanie’s company is called Shark & Shark Games. How did they come up with this name? Before anyone can get to work on some of the more exciting aspects of running a company, they have to make sure the proper paperwork is filed with the state. Did Matt and Stephanie hit any roadblocks during the formation of Shark and Shark Games? Going back to Stephanie’s work experience in Capcom PR, how has her experience there translated into the board game space? How are video game consumers and board game consumers both similar and different? Flocks & Flyways allows players to build up flocks of birds, navigate crowded flyways and migrate south for the winter. What about this theme grabbed their attention for a game design? Helpful Tips Don’t get discouraged about the amount of Kickstarters and board games out there. People will “flock” to your passion and if you keep building things, people will sense that passion and be drawn to that.

In this episode… We are joined by Chris, Donald, and Nikki from Board With Life. Board With Life is a comedy web series following a group of board game geeks during their weekly game nights. What makes this group incredible is not the mere fact that they are using board games as the focal point for the series, but the phenomenal quality of the show itself. Board With Life is wonderfully shot and the writing is consistently funny and top notch. These guys are expanding the board game industry, introducing people to new board games, and are achieving immortality through their work that people are sure to reference and watch for years to come. Introduction We welcome Chris, Donald, and Nikki to the podcast and hear about the games they’ve been playing lately. Feature: Board With Life Interview Season Two of Board with Life is on Kickstarter now! What are the plans for this season? What board games have a lot of potential for a funny BwL episode? Speed Round! We rapid fire questions to them and they have to answer as soon as fast as possible! Sneak Peak An owl bear fights a megalodon, who wins? Board Game recommendation for Liam Neeson? Which member of the Board With Life crew would be most likely to adopt a ten year old dog? Is there any specific movie, tv show, or other web series that Board With Life has drawn inspiration from when creating the tone and feel of their episodes? Who’s responsible for the writing in the videos? How much is unscripted? Board with Life KickstarterSince BwL does a comedy web series about board games AND they all play board games, does that make them all method actors? How much are the characters on Board With Life like the actors in real life? Chris, Donald, and Nikki help a young married couple rediscover their love for one another during a turbulent time in their relationship. Magic Card or Not! In this segment, we provide BwL with a ridiculous name for a Magic the Gathering Card, and they tell us if that card is a real Magic Card or Not! Does BwL feel that it’s difficult to get the necessary funding for what they do? Board With Life has plenty of awesome pledge levels for their backers. One in particular is a Board With Life microgame! How does it feel to get played by their fans? Helpful Tips Check out Rob Daviau, designer of Risk Legacy speaking at New York University. Video content is important for the hobby of board games, people learn in different ways and it’s smart to diversify your methods of getting yourself out there. Failing continuously is normal. Make sure you give yourself enough time to refine what you are trying to do. Give yourself a clear picture of whether it could work out or not.

In this episode… We are joined by Michael Mindes, founder of TMG. In late 2011, Michael launched his company's first ever Kickstarter campaign, Kings of Air and Stream from designer Scott Almes. Since that time, Michael has put together one of the most impressive Kickstarter runs in the board game industry, with no signs of slowing down. Launching fourteen successful Kickstarter projects and using that momentum to release other successful, non-Kickstarter games (including Belfort and Village), Michael has proven he can publish a board game like a boss. Michael joins us in our twenty fifth episode to discuss his innovative models for success, including how he made the Radiohead esque “Pay What You Want” pricing model work for Kickstarter projects. Introduction Michael explains a little bit about his history on this earth. Who exactly is this Michael Mindes guy and what is he up to anyway? What games does Mr. Mindes play? Feature -Michael converted the entire TMG website to a tumblr based website. What motivated him to make this switch and has this website model proven to be successful? -TMG has amassed seventeen projects on Kickstarter. Is there anything Michael may have discovered throughout these experiences that he would never change as he creates more Kickstarter projects? -TMG launched a Kickstarter Campaign while they had another campaign active! Does Michael feel that he achieved any kind of mutual momentum in doing this? Would launching two projects at once be something Michael would explore again? -TMG explored a "pay what you want" format in several of their Kickstarters, including Dungeon Roll and Coin Age. What was the inspiration behind this format and how does Michael make it work? -Village is a great game. What were the challenges with publishing a game without using Kickstarter? You would expect there to be more financial risk involved, but was that the case? -TMG publishes all sorts of games, both in terms of theme and gameplay. Is this diversification of style intentional? -Michael had a few Kickstarters that he decided to cancel. What kind of an impact did this have on TMG and are there any preventative measures he now takes to avoid or better handle a potential project cancellation? -As Michael publishes more games, does that increase storage costs and lower his inventory turnover ratio? If not, how has he avoided this? Helpful Tips -Long term success is dependent on the products you make. So make good stuff! -Start with some sort of audience, if you start with zero and try to Kickstart something, it’s not going to work out.

In this episode… Happy Mitten is joined by Michael Lee and Chris Matthew of Panda Game Manufacturing. We have all thought about pursuing a dream in an industry we are passionate about. For the board game industry, this desire for personal achievement often takes the form of becoming a game designer, or perhaps a publisher. More of a rarity, are those people with a passion for board game manufacturing. What does it take, and who are these people that take our game and give it life? Happy Mitten is pleased to be joined by two of those people for the twenty fourth episode of our podcast. Learn about who Michael Lee and Chris Mathew are as they share the story of how Panda Game Manufacturing was created and what everyone at Panda Game Manufacturing does to keep the company thriving. Introduction We introduce Michael and Chris and talk about the board game industry. What have we been loving about our industry as of late, and what awesome games have the five of us been playing? Feature: Panda Game Manufacturing Interview Michael and Chris look at how the past couple years have gone and predict what the future looks like for Panda Game Manufacturing. Panda Game Manufacturing has production facilities based in Shenzhen, China. What makes that city so awesome and why is that location ideal? What components have grown in popularity and what components do Michael and Chris not see very often that they would like to explore? Our two guests share their insights on the board game industry as a whole. Michael travels all over the world, and Panda Game Manufacturing attends many conventions, including Spiel (Essen), Origins, Gencon, and GAMA. Is the tabletop “culture” different in other areas around the world? What does America value? Canada Value? China Value? Europe Value? Helpful Tips Michael and Chris discuss a critical part of bringing your game design to life. Components and physical aspects. Keep it in mind from early on the process.

We are joined by the man, the myth, the legend, Brett 2D Bean! Brett is an incredible artist whose previous work includes projects for Disney, Nickelodeon, Wizards of the Coast, Leap Frog, and many more. We first discovered Brett Bean’s work through Grant Rodiek’s game, “Farmageddon.” The three of us are a huge fan of that game and were particularly drawn to the cards terrific illustrations. We we’re thrilled that Brett took time to discuss what he does for a living with us. We feel this turned into a tremendous episode we hope you all enjoy. Introduction Who is Brett Bean as a person? Where did he grow up, where does he live now, and what makes him who he is? And of course, we all discuss some of our favorite board games. Feature: Brett Bean Interview -How long did it take Brett to discover his distinct style? (If ever) -Advice for those that struggle to find their own style. How does it develop? -What piece/ project is Brett most proud of? -When did Brett decide to pursue art as a career? What is everyones reaction when he tells people what he does for a living? -How important is education in an artists career? -Collaboration in art: When is it appropriate? -Has Brett ever received blind feedback on his art? Is that even valuable to an artist? -Working for Disney: what does Disney expect from Brett and what is the relationship with them like? -Brett lives in Pasadena California. What role does an artists environment have on their work? What does California do for Brett’s art? -Amateur artists are inexperienced, naive, and perhaps don’t know what works and does not work. Is there power in that? -What did Brett do as a young artist that he wouldn’t try to do today? Helpful Tips Hard work: Hear what Brett had to say about how his abilities have improved over the years and how realistic following your passion can be if you put your time and effort in. (This was articulated wonderfully by Brett in this episode.)

In this episode… The Happy Mitten crew is joined by Brian Lenz. In addition to being one of the GrandCon founders, Brian is the founder of one of the most successful gaming groups in Michigan, West Michigan Tabletop Gamers. Getting consistent attendance at each meeting and having a total group membership of more than 400, WMTG has meetups all over West Michigan. Not only has this driven traffic to small businesses that host them, it has given members a way to meet like-minded individuals, establish friendships, and learn all kinds of games. Brian discusses what it takes to build a group like West Michigan TableTop Gamers, so you can too! Introduction We welcome Brian Lenz to the podcast and spend some time talking about our favorite games the four of us have been playing lately. Feature: Brian Lenz Interview -We take some time to allow Brian to explain what West Michigan Tabletop Games is and what makes the group special? -When and why did Brian start the group in the first place? -Brian explains the size of West Michigan Tabletop Games and how he nourishes its growth. -What has Brian done to inform others that this group is out there? -Where do the majority of the WMTG meetups take place? -What would motivate a business to become interested in hosting a group like WMTG? -What qualities does a person need to start a group like West Michigan Tabletop Games? -What should they expect to get out of it? -Hear some funny memories of what goes on at the meet ups. -Does West Michigan Tabletop Gamers help publishers with the playtesting of their prototypes? -What mistakes has Brian made that are important to look out for? Helpful Tips Brian shares a helpful tip on the simple thing every group organizer should do.

In this episode… Jeff, Lee, and Kyle are joined by Dan “Shoe” Hsu. Shoe is the editor-in-chief of Games Beat, the gaming division of VentureBeat, who you may also know from Electronic Gaming Monthly, 1UP, and Bitmob. A man with an incredible amount of talent, and experience in video game journalism, Shoe had plenty of useful information on how to make your writing great, what readers respond to, and what the board game industry can learn from the video game industry. Introduction We welcome Shoe to the show and learn a little about him as a journalist, and a fan of all types of games. Feature: Dan Hsu Interview -Why do people get into writing or blogging about games? Can people get into writing and blogging for the wrong reasons? -What is Shoe’s writing process like? -What does Shoe do to prepare for an article he will write? -What produces a good story? -Can a game journalist accept swag or any other incentive and maintain journalistic integrity? -The continued growth and success of any industry is largely fueled by the media coverage it receives. Is there any kind of board game media that Shoe has naturally found and gone to? -What is the video game industry doing well? -What can the board game industry learn from that? -Are there any mistakes the video game industry has made, or is currently making, that the board game industry can learn from? -At Games Beat, Show has been writing a recurring feature titled “Great Tabletop Games for Video Gamers.” What do video gamers look for in a tabletop game? -Shoe’s thoughts on using a ten point, or other numbered system when reviewing games. (video game and/or board games) -Hear about Shoe’s board game he is developing with his friend, SeanBaby. -Cyber Bunny of King of Tokyo and Cloud Strife of Final Fantasy VII battle! Who wins? Helpful Tips Figure out what you would like to do, and DO IT. Shoe embodies this goal perfectly as a successful video game journalist. Doing what you love shines through in your work, hear why Shoe chose this tip, and what he had to say about following a passion.

In this episode… Jeff, Leandra, and Kyle take a look back at 2013 and discuss memorable moments, and the gradual development of Happy Mitten as a whole. Why was Happy Mitten started, and what has been our strategy for success? The trio share what they feel has been working, and some of their concerns they’ve had along the way. Introduction We welcome you to the podcast and discuss the games we got for Christmas! (What did you get for Christmas?) Feature: -What are each of our favorite parts of Happy Mitten? What do we see that can be improved? -Kyle and Leandra went to Origins this year. Origins happened to be the very first board game convention that the two of us have ever gone to. How was our first time at the convention and what was it like teaching games with the pros of the Grand Gaming Academy? -What were some of our favorite podcast interviews and why? -This year we’ve met so many extraordinary people that have gone out of their way to help us out. We took some time to thank those people and acknowledge their awesomeness. -The three of us discuss some crucial moments in our company’s first year. -Signing our first game with Matt Worden and our plans for the game. -Meeting Tom Vasel and joining the Dice Tower Network.

In this episode… Jeff, Leandra, and Kyle are joined by Frank Dilorenzo, game designer, founder and head of R&R Games. We were able to spend some time asking a wide variety of questions relating to the creation and day to day management of R&R Games. Learn how Frank got a game on Regis and Kathie Lee, and what Frank does to ensure you guys get a whole bunch of Hanabi’s to his customers before the holidays. Introduction We introduce our special guest, Frank Dilorenzo and hear about some of the games he’s recently been playing when he’s not satisfying customer demand and killing it left and right. Feature: -Frank first opened R&R Games in late 1996. What was the world of tabletop gaming like then? -Is it better to be the owner of R&R games in 2013 or 2003? -Did the popularity of R&R games grow slowly, or did Frank see large spikes in interest at specific events or time periods? -Is consumer interest in board games consistent or hot and cold? -What were one or two moments when R&R Games had to overcome a challenge or risk? -What are Franks thoughts on using Kickstarter and how did R&R games get the start up capital it needed? -What was crucial in making sure Frank’s company was able to be profitable and survive those first few years? -Has anyone guessed what R&R stands for correctly yet? Helpful Tips As a game designer looking to get your game published, make sure you have the rules perfect. Frank shares why this is so important, and a couple instances where he was shown a game with incomplete or unclear rules.

In this episode… Happy Mitten welcomes the man, the legend, Matt Leacock to the show. Matt is the creator of such games as Pandemic, Roll Through the Ages, and Forbidden Desert. When he is not developing and licensing board games for the international market, Matt serves as Chief designer at Sococo. Introduction We welcome Matt to the Happy Mitten Podcast and let him discuss some of the things currently going on in his life. Feature: Matt Leacock Interview Pandemic is a unique game in that it is a cooperative game. As a game designer, what did Matt feel was the most crucial element in a cooperative board game? For any of you that may have played Pandemic before, it appears to be a very well balanced game. What efforts did Matt exert in order to get the balance of Pandemic to the state it’s currently at? How many times does Matt playtest a game before he is comfortable with it? What does he specifically look for? What inspired the theme of Forbidden Island and Forbidden Desert? What does Matt feel the difference between a great game, and a game that really goes one step further than that and reaches that must play level? The second print run of Pandemic features new box cover art. Matt discusses the story and reasons behind that change. Over the past year, Matt’s games have started to show up in a wide variety of stores. What makes a game appealing to a large retail store? Matt discusses the iOS version of Pandemic. Matt did a seminar for Google tech talks. How did that seminar come about? Helpful Tips When you are starting out on a design, do not spend too much time on the visual design. Company Updates Jeff and Kyle had a great time at UConn and made some significant progress on playtesting. We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.

In this episode… Five is the lucky number for podcast number seventeen as the three of us are joined by Marc Spector and Brian Lenz. Marc and Brian are the founders of Grand Con, Grand Rapids Michigan’s first ever board game and comic book convention. Grand Con brought in around fifteen hundred people and had vendors that included, Plaid Hat Games, Arcane Wonders, and R & R Games. As first time convention founders, Marc and Brian provide many helpful tips and what it takes to start a successful convention of your own in your city! Introduction We welcome you to the Happy Mitten Podcast, proud member of the Dice Tower Network and introduce our guests Marc, and Brian. Feature: -Starting Grand Rapids Michigan’s first ever board game and comic convention is a daunting task. What gave Marc and Brian the confidence necessary to tackle this task? -What does a convention founders stand to gain by starting a board game convention or any other type of convention? How should you goal set? -What sort of research needed to be done when planning out Grand Con? What resources would Marc and Brian recommend to somebody who was looking to start a convention of their own? -Where does Brian and Marc find inspiration? Are they inspired by looking at the success of other cons? -What was anticipated to be the most exciting part of developing a board game convention and what ended up being the most exciting part? -What didn’t go and planned and what would they do different next year? -How do Marc and Brian see the convention evolving over the years? Helpful Tips Don’t be afraid to reach out to people. Show them that you are passionate about what you are doing and display through your words that you are legitimate and are putting forth your effort to accomplish what you are setting out to do. Creating a convention is not something that can be done alone, you need a fantastic group of people to surround yourself with as well. Hear about how Marc and Brian accomplished this task perfectly. Company Updates Marc and Brian share some updates on Grand Con 2014 and West Michigan Tabletop Jeff, Lee, and I have been playtesting the crap out of our signed game and are still looking at a few other game prototypes. Look for Jeff at UConn! Say hello and join him for great times and playtesting!