Unboxed: A Board Game Industry Discussion

Sidelines can be an awesome addition to your brand's catalog or a money sink that takes away from your core product focus. They're tough to get right, so we connected with Andrew Loremen, CEO of Many Worlds Tavern, a brand whose merch consistently catches our eyes, to help build a roadmap for sideline success. Special thanks to our episode contributors: Andrew Loreman Many Worlds Tavern Episode written and produced by Danni Loe & Jennifer Graham-Macht. Beats by Lukas Michas. Graphic design by Seth Nickerson.

Gaming, like most hobbies, can be an escape for the player. So in today's society, does that mean certain themes are off limits? Tory Brown, designer of Votes for Women, doesn't think so. She tackles discourse head on, balancing the harsh realities of history and making a product with a message. Special thanks to our episode contributors: Tory Brown Votes for Women Episode written and produced by Danni Loe & Jennifer Graham-Macht. Beats by Lukas Michas. Graphic design by Seth Nickerson.

There's been a game taking the industry by storm! Maybe you've seen advertising for Flip 7 on BoardGameGeek, a viral video popping off, or noticed it as Game of the Month at Walmart. Or maybe you've seen it on your table because your friends keep asking to play it! We had to hear the details about this dynamite release, so we went straight to the source. David Blanchard, Director of Party and Family Games at The Op Games, joins us to share the story and strategy behind our new favorite card game. Special thanks to our episode contributors: David Blanchard The Op Games Episode written and produced by Danni Loe & Jennifer Graham-Macht. Beats by Lukas Michas.

Good graphic design can make or break a game experience. Whether from completing the theme to improving UX, it's impossible to create a product without incorporating graphic design. We invited industry expert Matt Paquette to dive into his design philosophies and share key experiences from his robust career. Special thanks to our episode contributors: Matt Paquette Matt Paquette & Co. Episode written and produced by Danni Loe & Jennifer Graham-Macht. Beats by Lukas Michas.

This must be scientifically proven by now: Hobbies clearly make us better at our jobs. A giggly pair of Danni and Jen share some of their personal experiences with hobbies (mainly Woobles) and reflect on how those joys impact their work. Episode written and produced by Danni Loe & Jennifer Graham-Macht. Beats by Lukas Michas. If you liked this episode, support us further by treating us to a Ko-fi and following us on Bluesky and Threads!

Running the largest-grossing tabletop gaming Kickstarter campaign of all time can be a daunting feat, but Johnny O'Neal and the team at Brotherwise Games are a passionate, dedicated group. He reflects on their 12-year journey from launching the Boss Monster board game, and how they find themselves as a leader in licensed gaming. Special thanks to our episode contributors: Johnny O'Neal Brotherwise Games Episode written and produced by Danni Loe & Jennifer Graham-Macht. Beats by Lukas Michas. If you liked this episode, support us further by treating us to a Ko-fi and following us on Bluesky and Threads!

The ultimate crossover - when tabletop games are made with toy-like components. Danni and Jen turn the nostalgia dial up to 1,000 on this episode, remembering the toys of their childhood and reflecting on how games are turning the best memories into the catchiest gameplay. Episode written and produced by Danni Loe & Jennifer Graham-Macht. Beats by Lukas Michas. If you liked this episode, support us further by treating us to a Ko-fi and following us on Bluesky and Threads!

Is there a cozy game bubble? And if so, is it about to pop? We sure hope not! Jen and Danni are joined by Lysa Penrose, Head of New Games Marketing at Ravensburger, to dive into these questions. Special thanks to our episode contributors: Lysa Penrose Ravensburger Episode written and produced by Danni Loe & Jennifer Graham-Macht. Beats by Lukas Michas. If you liked this episode, support us further by treating us to a Ko-fi and following us on Bluesky and Threads!

Asking yourself the age-old question of how to balance information and entertainment in short form video content? Us too! So we asked social video content guru Ray Billings, Digital Content Coordinator at The Op, to share how her approach to maximizing the seconds on TikToks and Reels to support their growing audience on both platforms. Special thanks to our episode contributors: Ray Billings The Op Episode written and produced by Danni Loe & Jennifer Graham-Macht. Beats by Lukas Michas. If you liked this episode, support us further by treating us to a Ko-fi and following us on Bluesky and Threads!

There is a lot of diverse talent required to make a game! Join Danni and Jen as they discuss how to highlight and celebrate all the different types of work being done in the industry, and why that's a good thing for your game. Episode written and produced by Danni Loe & Jennifer Graham-Macht. Beats by Lukas Michas. If you liked this episode, support us further by treating us to a Ko-fi and following us on Bluesky and Threads!

How do you start building a new community - and where? AJ Porifio, founder of Van Ryder Games, joins Danni and Jen to share his innovative ways of building, broadening, and enriching Van Ryder's community of fans. Special thanks to our episode contributors: AJ Porifio / Van Ryder Games Episode written and produced by Danni Loe & Jennifer Graham-Macht. If you liked this episode, support us further by treating us to a Ko-fi and following us on Bluesky and Threads!

How does a positive learning experience impact support of a product? Expert Rodney Smith, founder of Watch It Played, reflects on what success looks like while teaching a game, and how publishers and industry members can step up players’ learning experiences. Special thanks to our episode contributors: Rodney Smith Watch It Played Episode written and produced by Danni Loe & Jennifer Graham-Macht. If you liked this episode, support us further by treating us to a Ko-fi and following us on Bluesky and Threads!

The board game industry is the Wild West when it comes to visual standards in our products. We’re a far cry from the mid-century Milton Bradley graphic design template that graces the nostalgic place we have in our hearts for the games that got us into gaming. But is that to the benefit of our products and players? Jen and Danni debate the future of art in modern board game product design! Episode written and produced by Danni Loe & Jennifer Graham-Macht. If you liked this episode, support us further by treating us to a Ko-fi and following us on Bluesky and Threads!

Do rising tides really raise all ships? Brotherwise Games thought so when they created a free, fan-focused, publisher-driven magazine called Turn Order for Gen Con 2023. Danni and Jen ask Brotherwise Marketing Designer, Jillian Ross, to share their lessons learned from this creative marketing endeavor. Special thanks to our episode contributors: Jillian Ross Brotherwise Games Episode written and produced by Danni Loe & Jennifer Graham-Macht. If you liked this episode, support us further by treating us to a Ko-fi and following us on Bluesky and Threads!

Your game is designed, manufactured, and shipped. Now it's time to sell it, but where?! Matt Aiken, co-owner of Keymaster Games, joins Danni and Jen to share his experience diving into the world of omnichannel sales & marketing (OSM). Is omnichannel strategy right for you? Matt parses through the opportunities and challenges of selling your product across multiple platforms. Special thanks to our episode contributors: Matt Aiken Episode written and produced by Danni Loe & Jennifer Graham-Macht. If you liked this episode, support us further by treating us to a Ko-fi and following us on Bluesky and Threads!

Box sizes: Who knew they could have such a powerful impact on product and sales strategy? The team at Allplay sure does! Danni and Jen tap Allplay COO, Joe Wiggins' knowledge bank about limiting the Allplay board game product catalog to two box sizes and the impact this decision has had on development and their relationship with customers. Special thanks to our episode contributors: Joe Wiggins Allplay Episode written and produced by Danni Loe & Jennifer Graham-Macht. If you liked this episode, support us further by treating us to a Ko-fi and following us on Bluesky and Threads!

Community building shares a common foundation with starting a cult. At least, that's what Danni and Jen think. They share insights on how to build a sustainable community around your games and brand by reflecting on your mission, onboarding new members, organizing outreach, establishing boundaries, and having a consistent schedule. Special thanks to our episode contributors: Scott Almes Elizabeth Hargrave Travis D. Hill Cole Werhle Audio transcription available here! Episode timestamps: 0:00 - Experience at Tabletop Network 7:33 - Remember the M.O.O.N.S. 12:25 - M = Mission 19:04 - O = Onboard 24:10 - O = Outreach 32:38 - N = No-Gos 38:14 - S = Schedule Episode written and produced by Danni Loe & Jennifer Graham-Macht. If you liked this episode, support us further by treating us to a Ko-fi and following us on Bluesky and Threads!

When was the last time you evaluated how your publisher/media relationships are going? Danni and Jen connect with some of their longest running media partnerships to see what's working, and how we can continue to grow those relationships long into the future. Investment here is about way more than money! Special thanks to our episode contributors: Suzanne Sheldon Danielle Standring Grant Lyons Audio transcription available here! Episode timestamps: 0:00 - Publisher-creator relationships in the board game industry 5:31 - Media categories and their roles 14:57 - Publisher goals for successful game marketing 19:37 - Content creator goals and approaches 27:30 - Best practices for publishers and creators Episode written and produced by Danni Loe & Jennifer Graham-Macht. If you liked this episode, support us further by treating us to a Ko-fi and following us on Bluesky and Threads!

How do we effectively use content to drive demand for our products? Danni and Jen share some observations from major campaigns both outside and inside the board game industry to inspire your own content marketing strategies. Special thanks to our episode contributors: Van Ryder Games Wyrmwood Gaming Audio transcription available here. Episode written and produced by Danni Loe & Jennifer Graham-Macht. If you liked this episode, support us further by treating us to a Ko-fi and following us on Bluesky and Threads!

How do we work greener in gaming? Guest T. Caires joins Danni and Jen to talk about the Green Games Guide and the future of making and marketing games greener. Audio transcription available here. Episode timestamps: 0:00 - Introducing T. Caires 1:41 - What is the Green Games Guide 3:23 - What does it mean to be green? 7:49 - How to be more green in your life? 12:38 - Thoughtful and intentional production 17:52 - Hidden costs of replacements 21:53 - Is paper marketing green? 30:00 - Small changes to existing products 33:16 - Think like the end-user Episode written and produced by Danni Loe & Jennifer Graham-Macht. If you liked this episode, support us further by treating us to a Ko-fi and following us on Bluesky and Threads!