You can watch this episode with video on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paxJFQ90qAY

I sat down with David Turczi to talk about his approach to game design, working with other designers, and what goes into making amazing games.

Sponsors:

Hero Time Manufacturing (5% discount + free quote): https://herotime1.com/?utm_source=ivanalexiev
Omnibus Gaming: https://omnibusgaming.com

My Upcoming Games:

Siege Perilous: https://playsiegeperilous.com
Grimbrew: https://grimbrewgame.com
Song of the Wildkin: https://songofthewildkin.com

Book a call with me: https://calendly.com/ivanalexievv/5x55gamedesign
Join the Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/AeJmRJaEV3
Get your game professionally playtested (fill in bottom of the form): https://playerlair.net/playtesting-and-design-consultations/

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Danish game designer and publisher Preben Møller joins me to talk about the long road of creating and publishing his ambitious 4X board game Sky Empire. We discuss how the project evolved over two years of development, the lessons learned from canceling a first crowdfunding campaign, and what changed before launching again successfully. Preben also shares insights into marketing board games, designing meaningful solo modes, gathering honest playtesting feedback, and why designers should decide early whether they want to pitch their games or publish them themselves.

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Brazilian designer and publisher Renato Simões (FlipToons, Piratas, OZOB: A Cyberpunk Board Game) joins me to talk about the importance of finding the hook in game design. We discuss his journey from King of Tokyo fan to publishing Brazil’s best-selling card game, how FlipToons went from idea to contract in just a month, and why OZOB became a $1,000,000+ crowdfunding success. Renato also shares insights into collaboration, the Brazilian market, and why networking is just as vital as design.

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I chat with designer David Gordon (Floristry, Finspan, Making Monsters) about co-designing, filtering feedback, pitching to publishers, and crafting tense, elegant mechanics like Floristry’s Dutch auction. We also dive into his process, inspiration, and lessons from working with top publishers like Stonemaier Games.

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In this episode of the Player Lair Podcast, we sit down with Cole Smith, designer of Tanuki, 3 Magi, and Sauros, to talk about his journey from pandemic hobbyist to published game designer. We dive into his roots in childhood rule-bending, how being a graphic designer informs his prototypes, and why sometimes it's better to shelve a game, or fight for it.

Cole shares insights on pitching, playtesting, balancing creativity with feedback, and why quick overview videos might be more important than your rulebook. We also explore his latest game Sauros, a clever blend of trick-taking and puzzly tile placement… with dinosaurs.

Whether you're just getting into game design or looking to refine your pitch process, this episode is packed with honest advice, practical tools, and a good dose of creative encouragement.

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Zev Shlasinger has been in the hobby game industry for almost 30 years. He founded Z-Man Games in 1999, sold it in 2011, then worked for the new owners until mid-January 2016. At the end of January, he took the position of Director of Board Games with Wizkids. Some of the titles you might be familiar with are: Pandemic, Fantasy Realms, Agricola, Sidereal Confluence, Clash of Cultures, Merchants & Marauders, Tales of the Arabian Nights, Shadow Hunters, Arboretum, Tragedy Looper, Grave Robbers from Outer Space, Tournament at Camelot, Super Skill Pinball, and a host of others.

Check out Zev's new publishing company Play to Z here!

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Ori Kagan is the creative force behind Kagan Productions, a renowned agency specializing in high-quality animated trailers for board games. With a proven track record of helping campaigns raise over $19 million, Ori collaborates with both established publishers and first-time creators to bring their tabletop games to life with captivating storytelling and marketing expertise.


Main Kagan Productions website: https://kaganproductions.com/
Kickstarter Health Scorecard: https://ori-y8ghfgfd.scoreapp.com/
Kagan Duckademy Waitlist sign up: https://kaganproductions.com/lp-kagan-duckademy/

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Andrew Bosley is one of the co-designers of Planecrafters by Paisley Board Games and the artist behind Everdell, The River, Mission: Red Planet, and Citadels. He is a freelance illustrator, game designer, and writer working primarily in the board and video game industries.

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