design

Low Fat Design Diet

Grant Rodiek | May 28, 2014

Design peer John DuBois supplied me with a prompt for this post, and what a great prompt! I love this idea and it's been something I've thought about a great deal lately with many of my projects. Antoine de Saint-Exupery noted that "Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

An Interview for Flick Wars

Grant Rodiek | April 27, 2014

Andrew Tullsen is a great guy whom I finally met in person during GenCon 2013. There, I played an earlier prototype of Flick Wars with 5 other friends. It was a blast! When the project went up on Kickstarter I knew I had to interview him.

Analysis Paralysis

Grant Rodiek | March 28, 2014

A few pals were fretting over game group peers with analysis paralysis this morning. I wanted to write about the behavior as well as how you as a designer can work to limit it in your designs. I don't tolerate much analysis paralysis in my game groups.

Find your Smeech

Grant Rodiek | January 06, 2014

I've had a very creative few months and in them, I think I've done some of my best creative work. By creative, I specifically mean idea generation and the more conceptual side of design. This is the aspect of design with which I struggle the most, as I'm a stronger developer by nature.

Coming to America

Grant Rodiek | December 03, 2013

A scene from the movie 'Coming to America' I have returned! For those who didn't know, or didn't care, I left the states on November 14 to visit Chiangmai and Phuket, Thailand, as well as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Haolong Bay, Vietnam.

The Lifestyle

Grant Rodiek | November 01, 2013

Today is November 1, 2013, which means people are beginning National Novel Writing Month, National Game Design Month, and prepping for turkey festivities (in the states, at least). The premise for these is that you'll write a novel or design a game in the month of November.

Looking Back on '13, a Primer

Grant Rodiek | October 21, 2013

Throughout the year, as is warranted, I like to host community group posts. Today, I was thinking back on my 2013, what's left of it, and what's in my near future. I was curious how others' year went.

Interview with Cardboard Edison

Grant Rodiek | August 30, 2013

I've been friends with AJ Porfirio, the guy behind Van Ryder Games, for a few years now. He's one of my longest running friends in the board game space and also my perennial GenCon roommate. I was delighted when he picked up Tessen by Cardboard Edison for publication.

The Task(s) at Hand(s)

Grant Rodiek | August 26, 2013

I have so much on my plate right now and it's really an exciting time for my designs. I like being busy as it focuses me. GenCon 2013 was a really good refresher. I have two games being considered by really great publishers and I think a few years worth of networking is really starting to pay off.

The Tempest

Grant Rodiek | June 28, 2013

Let's discuss failure. Creative failure. You know, that common, constant back-pressure that seems to peek out from the shadows at every twist and turn. The creative process is an absolute tempest of failure, mistakes, improvement upon this failure, and from time to time, success.