
Rob Huber of Rattlebox Games and the "[toggle Gaming]" community on Facebook recently interviewed Keith Matejka of Thunderworks Games. His interview is re-posted here with his permission:
Rob: A question that I am always on the lookout for from any designer is, “What do gaming and game design mean to you?
Keith: Gaming is the fuel for relationships to me. In a world of digital isolation, board gaming has become how I am able to enjoy myself and the people around me. I love the competition. I love exploring new ideas or new settings with friends. I love sitting around a table and just enjoying each other's company. It enables social interaction around a common appreciation for games, where all daily worries can be put aside.
Rob: I couldn’t agree with you more. What you described there is basically the heart and soul of toggle. We will have to get you to come out to a toggle event sometime and share the love! Feeling that way about gaming in general, what do you love about Dual Powers?
Keith: I love Dual Powers firstly because of it's clever use of the Calendar system. I like the level of confrontation in it, as 2-player games often can be very confrontational. Dual Powers has a great mix of cat/mouse between two players. I love the length! There's a lot of game in those 45 mins.
It makes a great lunch hour game, or it's easy to play it multiple times in a row to really explore the design.
Finally, I enjoy the theme. I wasn't familiar with the time period when I first played it, but the more I learn about it, the more interesting it has become. I like that I'm learning about history in the most fun way possible.
Rob: I can’t wait to get my hands on it! I play a lot of games at two players and love a game that is balanced for that. My copy of ‘Carcassonne: the Castle’ is one of my most played games. It sounds like this won’t take any longer to play. Now that you have a few successful games under your belt, what excites you about this particular Kickstarter?”
Keith: This Kickstarter is exciting to me because it's different! Thunderworks is probably best known for Bullfrogs and Roll Player -- both fantastical in theme. This game pushes it in a different direction, especially with Kwanchai's unique and amazing looking art.
Also, this project is fun for me, because I've gotten to work with my friend and great designer, Brett Myers. It's a nice change to go back and forth between my own designs and designs from other people.
Rob: It was great talking now I am even more disappointed that i didn’t get to try Dual Powers at Protospiel Milwaukee last month!
Rob: A question that I am always on the lookout for from any designer is, “What do gaming and game design mean to you?
Keith: Gaming is the fuel for relationships to me. In a world of digital isolation, board gaming has become how I am able to enjoy myself and the people around me. I love the competition. I love exploring new ideas or new settings with friends. I love sitting around a table and just enjoying each other's company. It enables social interaction around a common appreciation for games, where all daily worries can be put aside.
Rob: I couldn’t agree with you more. What you described there is basically the heart and soul of toggle. We will have to get you to come out to a toggle event sometime and share the love! Feeling that way about gaming in general, what do you love about Dual Powers?
Keith: I love Dual Powers firstly because of it's clever use of the Calendar system. I like the level of confrontation in it, as 2-player games often can be very confrontational. Dual Powers has a great mix of cat/mouse between two players. I love the length! There's a lot of game in those 45 mins.
It makes a great lunch hour game, or it's easy to play it multiple times in a row to really explore the design.
Finally, I enjoy the theme. I wasn't familiar with the time period when I first played it, but the more I learn about it, the more interesting it has become. I like that I'm learning about history in the most fun way possible.
Rob: I can’t wait to get my hands on it! I play a lot of games at two players and love a game that is balanced for that. My copy of ‘Carcassonne: the Castle’ is one of my most played games. It sounds like this won’t take any longer to play. Now that you have a few successful games under your belt, what excites you about this particular Kickstarter?”
Keith: This Kickstarter is exciting to me because it's different! Thunderworks is probably best known for Bullfrogs and Roll Player -- both fantastical in theme. This game pushes it in a different direction, especially with Kwanchai's unique and amazing looking art.
Also, this project is fun for me, because I've gotten to work with my friend and great designer, Brett Myers. It's a nice change to go back and forth between my own designs and designs from other people.
Rob: It was great talking now I am even more disappointed that i didn’t get to try Dual Powers at Protospiel Milwaukee last month!