Foundations of a Game Developer: Where My Journey Began
Hey there, gamers! My name is Brandan Parsons, and I'm excited to kick off this blog series about my journey through the world of tabletop board games. Over the coming weeks, I'll be sharing my experiences and tips from over a decade in the industry. We'll cover everything from my overall industry insight to the nitty-gritty of playtesting. But let's start at the beginning – the experiences that shaped my love for board games.
Chess, Stratego, and Hand-Drawn Mazes
My passion for games began with my grandfather, a retired architect with a sharp mind for strategy. Our chess matches were more than just games; they were lessons in thinking ahead and understanding my opponent. But it was Stratego that really captured my heart. I still have my childhood copy, complete with a record of our wins and losses – a treasured memento of those formative experiences.
And we didn't just play existing games! My grandfather and I would spend hours drawing intricate mazes for each other to solve. His mazes were always so beautiful to look at and complete – I wish I'd kept some. These creative sessions planted the seeds of game design in my mind, even if I didn't realize it at the time. Looking back, I can see how these moments shaped not just my love for games, but my approach to creating them.
From Digital to Analog: Finding My True Calling
After graduating from UC Davis in 2010, I initially set my sights on the video game industry. The San Francisco Bay Area was abuzz with startups, and I dove in headfirst. I worked on some exciting projects – Sifteo Cubes, an innovatively motion-aware gaming platform, was one of my favorite projects – but something was missing. My experiences were often ultimately disheartening, and I felt my love for games slowly diminishing.
Then came a turning point. In 2013, I rediscovered the joy of games while working at Marbles: The Brain Store. It wasn't just about the games themselves, but the atmosphere – we had a great team that felt like family, and a driving purpose that I had never found in the video game world. It reminded me of my cherished moments with my grandfather, and I felt like I'd found my path.
When Sifteo ran out of money that same year, I saw it as a sign. It was time to fully commit to the world of tabletop games. The tangible nature of board games, the face-to-face interactions they foster, and the endless possibilities for creativity all drew me in. I realized this was how I could create lasting memories for generations to come.
Looking Ahead: A Journey Through the World of Board Games
This shift, from digital to analog, set the stage for the next exciting chapter of my career. In the posts to come, I'll share insights on designing for different age groups, take you behind the scenes of developing a Spiel des Jahres winner, and dive into the business side of board games. We'll explore topics like effective playtesting, writing engaging rulebooks, and making games accessible. I'll be sharing the kind of insider knowledge I wish I'd had when I was starting out.
Whether you're an aspiring game designer, a board game enthusiast, or just curious about the industry, I hope you'll find something valuable in this series. And who knows – we might even spark the idea for the next great board game in the process! My goal is to offer you a blend of personal stories and professional insights that capture the magic of the tabletop industry.
Stay tuned for the next post, where we'll dive into the thrilling journey of developing and marketing the award-winning game: Kingdomino.
What aspects of board game development are you most curious about? Drop a comment below, and I'll try to address it in a future post.