Part 1 – The Power of a Cube: How to Create Meaning in Games

When making a board game, how do you turn meaningless objects into things that inspire laughter, cooperation, backstabbing, or even table flips? That’s the subject of my talk “The Power of a Cube: How to Create Meaning in Games,” from last night’s International Game Developers Association Twin Cities meeting. I also talked about what I learned in designing and art directing my game Four Humours.

Part 2 – How to Create Intuitive Games

The second part of my talk was about how to make “light” rules that provide fun and strategy through emergent complexity. Poorly conceived rules of a board game can be a barrier to entry, but great rules are what create the fun and tension, while making players feel clever.

Thanks to Martin Grider and IGDATC for inviting me to talk! They have regular meetings like this every second Wednesday of the month.