This past week was my company’s annual event, Foolapalooza, and this year they brought in award-winning German board game designer Riener Knizia to give the keynote and to play a few games.
While introducing myself I expressed how much I enjoy his games Modern Art and Ra. (I felt like a bit of a newb having only knowledge of two of his games, apparently he’s designed over 500). He was very receptive and offered to play a few games later that afternoon.I was excited, hoping to play Modern Art with him, because I had never lost that game, and I wanted to see if the designer was able to best me.
Riener and Greg
But, we never got the chance, because when I arrived later, I found that Riener was working, he had a few new games in development and he wanted to see in action.
The games were prototypes: just colored blocks without any shape for the pieces, and the board made of flimsy cardboard or just paper. Still it was more than enough to play the games.
We played three games. Two of which had a loose resemblance to Carcasone in the actions of the game, but both were really quite different. The third reminded me a little of Wasabi in the strategy of the board play.
What was really cool was that after each game, Riener asked us our thoughts: where it played well, where it did not, what the theme was, what the name of the game should be. I was honored to be able to provide feedback, but didn’t expect it to be taken very seriously, I mean, he was the game design expert. But to my surprise, not only did he hear our feedback, he valued it and in some cases immediately implemented it.
One point I made was that one game seemed to have a disadvantage for the starting player, and perhaps having a few preset elements would solve for that. When I returned later another group was playing that same game with Riener and my suggestion had already been added in pencil to the makeshift game board.
A co-worker, who had game tested with Riener before, showed me the liner notes to a published game in which he specifically was thanked. I think that would be so cool if I get into the notes for any of these three games I tested, but even if I do not, it was just so cool to be part of the process and see how a talented mind puts together these games that I love to play.
Such a great story – I should post to a link to this item on BoardGameGeek. Lots of Riener fans there!
Greg you look so happy giddy in this photo- I love it! Such an awesome experience- I can’t wait to play some of these games in the future!
I agree with Liz, you guys both look giddy. Maybe Reiner has a post on his blog about how excited he was to meet Greg Robleto!
@dancerindc, that would be awesome. I was talking to the owner of Newark, DE based game store Days of Knights, and telling him how I was game testing with Riener Knizia last weekend and you would have thought I told him I had a meeting in the Oval Office, he seemed just that impressed.
@Selena, that would be so awesome, I hope you are right.