Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication

In episode 142 of Game Design Unboxed, we talk with freelance game designer Rosco Schock about his first published game, Diplomacy: The Golden Blade, released by Renegade Game Studios. The conversation focuses on the challenge of translating the ”feel” of a classic, beloved strategy game into a streamlined and more approachable card game experience. We also discuss the path from prototype to publication, finding the right publisher and timing for a licensed project, and balancing respect for a 60-year-old franchise while creating something new. Rosco explains how Diplomacy: The Golden Blade now serves as an on-ramp to the larger Diplomacy experience, why understanding a game’s unique selling points matters, and how patience and persistence pay off in game design. Plus, we learn what a game triathlon is. Featuring: Rosco Schock - Guest Danielle Reynolds - Host

In episode 140 of Game Design Unboxed, we talk with Andrew Stiles, game designer and co-host of the podcast Tabletop Submarine, about how discovering GDU early in his design journey helped him better understand the tabletop space, and how a life reset during COVID (and a challenge to get a game signed in 6-months by his wife) sparked a career pivot into game design. We talk about his first game, Wine Cellar, and how the inspiration came from his previous background as a sommelier, prompting him to lean into the “design what you know” mentality. Andrew talks us through key development decisions, such as scaling player counts, reworking card math, and how table space and visibility shape the player experience. The episode also covers other topics, including the realities of breaking into the industry, the value of the UNPUB mentorship program, researching and targeting the right publishers, why smaller conventions are a great place to network for new designers, Board Game Arena (BGA) implementations, designing for non-gamers, and bad fonts that keep you up at night. Featuring: Andrew Stiles - Guest Danielle Reynolds - Host

In episode 138 of Game Design Unboxed, we chat with Edwin D. Benton II, Founder and CEO of Doin’ the Most Games, about how his journey into game design stemmed from an addiction to app games like Words With Friends and a frustration with their limitations. This inspired him to build his own inclusive, slang-driven app where players could contribute words from around the world, a mindset that evolved into the world of tabletop card games, which were gaining popularity at the time. We talk about the spontaneous vacation sing-along moment that sparked Song Survivor, his playtesting process (from parties with friends to blind tests), his passion for designing for players with disabilities and specific cultural groups, hiring experts, packaging for mass market (why box size matters), and leveraging celebrity endorsements (and how to get them). Featuring: Edwin D. Benton II - Guest Danielle Reynolds - Host

In episode 136 of Game Design Unboxed, we chat with freelance game designer (and Danielle’s co-designer on Tricky Kids), Steven Ungaro, who shares his “zero-to-three-games-in-a-year-hero” design journey. They discuss how discovering hobby games led him down the research rabbit hole many aspiring designers fall into, and how resources like the long-running Ludology podcast have evolved over the years. Because it is Steven’s specialty, the episode covers a lot about trick-taking games, including designing for “bad hands,” the genre’s popularity in the Midwest, and making it more accessible to non-trick-takers. They also talk about how playtest feedback can shift your perspective on terminology, mechanics, and rule clarity, common phobias in games, matching art aesthetics to theme, and how players can rely on familiar stories (like The Three Little Pigs) when learning new games. Featuring: Steven Ungaro - Guest Danielle Reynolds - Host

In episode 134 of Game Design Unboxed, we chat with first-time game designer Reed Ambrose about his family-weight, tile-laying game Wispwood. Reed shares how his journey began with BoardGameGeek (BGG) contests just for fun, and how collaborating with published designers pushed his craft forward and helped him take design seriously. We discuss why design contests like the ones on BGG are a great starting point (structure! deadlines!), how an UNPUB speed-pitching event helped Reed get on publishers’ radar, and the eerie folklore behind Wispwood, inspired by his fascination with the ghostly forest lights known as Ignis Fatuus. We also cover what it’s like working with publishers, from building relationships to how pitches move through design and development teams, why having multiple themed prototypes matters, and the challenge of designing a solo mode that stays true to your game. This episode also opens with a brief bonus interview previewing March’s upcoming UNPUB Festival, an annual event hosted by the volunteer organization UNPUB focused on unpublished games and designers. The intro-chat highlights the event’s offerings, from industry-led panels and workshops to large-scale playtesting opportunities. Check out the convention March 12-15, 2026! Featuring: Reed Ambrose - Guest Danielle Reynolds - Host

In episode 132 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication, Amanda Rivera returns from behind-the-scenes to behind-the-mic as a guest host to chat with Danielle about GDU’s sixth season. They talk about how thematic season 6 was, recall insights about arguably one of the most common questions in game design (to pitch or self-publish), share how designers make games accessible and approachable, comment on the power of networking in the tabletop community, and share more about the amazing games and guests who were featured this season. Danielle also shares previews of her upcoming games and expansions, discusses the trials and tribulations of the gaming industry in 2025, and highlights trends she’s noticed on the horizon. Other interesting highlights from the season six recap: - How games can inspire connections between people (especially cooperative games that link players together with a common goal). - Networking, networking, networking! - How Amanda always needs to know the flavor text for who the first player is. - Danielle explains the definition of her term ”art correction” rather than art direction. Featuring: Danielle Reynolds - Guest Amanda Rivera - Guest Host

In episode 130 of Game Design Unboxed, we chat with game designer Joe Hout about his fairytale-themed trick-taking game, 3 Chapters, accessibility in gaming, and his design journey. Joe shares how his path into game design began by tweaking games he loved and then took off after completing a passion-project game he self-published via Kickstarter. We break apart 3 Chapters and how the creation of the game was a culmination of favorite mechanics and key moments from various games he’s designed over the years. This episode covers common barriers to entry in board games, from rule overload to games that are difficult to teach, and why familiar themes like fairytales can make learning feel intuitive. Joe and Danielle discuss how storytelling can help teach and pitch games - especially trick-taking games - which can feel frustrating or intimidating to players who are new to certain mechanics. Joe talks about the joy of hearing players say, “let’s play again,” the value of sticky rules that make it easy to return to a game after time away, and why a game’s weight matters less than its intended audience and purpose. We also discuss learning through design podcasts and tools, collaborating with great publishers, and how those relationships open doors across the tabletop industry. Featuring: Joe Hout - Guest Danielle Reynolds - Host

In episode 128 of Game Design Unboxed, we chat with game designer (publisher, art director, illustrator, and more!) Ammon Anderson about Twinkle, Twinkle, a game born from his lifelong fascination with space. We discuss the origin of the game’s gorgeous translucent acrylic tiles, its “out of this world” space themes and expansions, and the new scoring app Allplay is developing. Ammon shares how Twinkle, Twinkle being featured at PAX Unplugged streamlined it through the pitching process, and what it’s like navigating publisher timelines and offers. Other episode highlights include: celebrating completed projects, illustration costs, paying your kids tax-free to help your business, why he loves crafting high-quality prototypes, the importance of a well-written rulebook, and important lessons learned (like always bringing a friend to help you table at conventions). Featuring: Ammon Anderson - Guest Danielle Reynolds - Host

In episode 126 of Game Design Unboxed, we chat with John D. Clair about his journey from gamifying mazes to becoming a full-time tabletop designer. He shares how setting clear goals, focusing only on games he is excited about, and reworking mechanics from games that inspire him shaped his design approach. John shares how he reimagines mechanics from games he loves, making luck-based designs more dynamic by eliminating “nothing” turns, working with publishers—specifically creative control—rulebook FAQs, data from digital platforms like Board Game Arena, designer inspiration cycles, second editions, and the definition of a true 2v2 game. Featuring: John D. Clair - Guest Danielle Reynolds - Host

In episode 124 of Game Design Unboxed, we chat with game designer Serena Fadlun about creating games that increase human happiness and how she literally dreamed her career into existence when a vision of her future son inspired her to start designing. Serena shares how she blended her work experience (from translating top-secret movie scripts to a career in psychology and mental health) into her game theme and mechanics, continuing to apply her knowledge of statistical analysis and short term research methods into playtesting. They also discuss her decision to release a free print-and-play game that collected optional donations to support future research, a shared fear of public speaking, insights from Yale’s Science of Wellbeing course, and how interacting with social media can be challenging but rewarding in the tabletop world. Featuring: Serena Fadlun - Guest Danielle Reynolds - Host

In episode 122 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication, we talk with owner of MaKa Games and designer of License to Krill, Matthew Kambic, about how a pun inspired his debut game — and how he brought it to life with a custom plushie component. Matthew shares how his engineering background, early love of games, and deep dive into research (contrary to popular belief, he’s not a marine biologist!) helped shape the project. We talk about the trials and tribulations of manufacturing, Kickstarter strategies, building crowdfunding communities through comments, and the importance of critical but constructive feedback from playtesters outside your inner circle. We also discuss the details of the surprisingly complex manufacturing process behind the plushie (including some unusual state-specific laws!), the importance of building strong vendor relationships, and the financial realities of quantity pricing and investment. Featuring: Matthew Kambic - Guest Danielle Reynolds - Host

In episode 120 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Pete Petrusha of Imagining Games about adapting the Eisner award-winning Image comic series, CHEW, into a Forged in the Dark foodie crime drama TTRPG! They discuss several delicious topics including the concept of meeting needs and answering questions with your game designs (what’s something I can play in the hallway with my friends at PAX right now?), obtaining the rights to use ALL the art from the entirety of the comic, incorporating an IP into an RPG - in this case, adapting and building within a pre-existing RPG system to make unique mechanics for the theme - winning an ENNIE award, and more. So take a breather from our clucked up world for a second and listen to some fantastic food for thought! Featuring: Pete Petrusha - Guest Danielle Reynolds - Host

In episode 118 of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication we talk with Pat Marino, game developer and Director of Hobby Games for The Op about capturing the excitement of the Cuphead video game in a unique tabletop experience that resonated with existing fans and the board game community. They explore what it takes to work with licensed IPs including navigating the approval process, scouting at licensing expos, and creating contract terms and timelines. Pat also breaks down the importance of designing for different player types (completionists, story-driven players, challenge-seekers, etc.), and how offering multiple gameplay options can make a game more accessible and enjoyable for everyone at the table. Featuring: Pat Marino - Guest Danielle Reynolds - Host