Interview with a designer: Boss Monster’s Chris and Johnny O’Neal

I love playing games, but I also love hearing from the minds behind them – how did you come up with the idea? What inspires you? What games do you play?

I’m in awe of people who can take an idea and develop it into a functioning, exciting, clever game with strategy.

On that note, I’m delighted to unveil an interview with Chris and Johnny O’Neal, founders of Brotherwise Games and creators of Boss Monster and recently its sequel.

I’ve made no secret of the fact that Boss Monster is one of my favourite games, and it was a real privilege to hear how Boss Monster came about, and what plans the pair have for their growing business.

So sit back and read up on selling out a first print run, funding a game through Kickstarter, and what’s next for Boss Monster.

I hope you find it interesting.

Get Bit & Dobble – a quick look

What are Get Bit! and Dobble?

Both are very quick games ideally suited as gateway games for children – or adults who are young at heart.

Get Bit! (in its current version at least) began as a Kickstarter project and plays with up to six players racing to help their robot figures escape the clutches of a hungry shark. As the shark catches players, their robots literally lose limbs until Chomp, they’re out of the game.

Dobble (also known as Spot It! depending on the territory it’s bought) is a very simple game of matching symbols on cards, until there are no more left to match.

I tried these out on a recent visit to friends, playing with a mixed group of adults and children.

How I learned to stop worrying about Kickstarter delays

I recently received a delivery – Boss Monster 2: The Next Level, a Kickstarter project I backed a couple of months ago.

So I thought I’d talk a little more about what I’ve learned from Kickstarter thanks to this project and others like it – some good, some bad, but hopefully all useful.