At SPIEL'16 we not only played board games, but also used the opportunity to chat with representatives of the publishing house. In long discussions it became clear that even the small and medium-sized game makers are not resting on their previous successes, but are actively promoting the development of new concepts.
… Manfred Lamplmair from Rudy Games
Manfred Lamplmair is CEO of rudy Games, a game developer with European headquarters in Linz. The Austrians have made it their business to develop games of the future. Rudy Games consciously relies on the combination of classic board game elements and the support of digital technologies. At SPIEL'16, rudy Games was mainly with the board game Leaders - a combined game represent (Review of Leaders). However, the new project was also teased Interaction - a combined gamethat will touch the area of so-called social board gaming. The gaming tables at booth 3-O116 were always full. A reservation list helped the rudy Games team to systematically allocate at least half of the board games. In an open discussion, Manfred Lamplmair revealed that rudy Games will continue to adhere to small and large innovations in the future - even if hybrid games wrongly have to fight their bad reputation in the digital age. The future of Leaders - a combined game Seems secure if you look at the number of interested players.
Two new enhancements too Leaders - a combined game rudy Games presented at SPIEL'16: The extension Rising Sun, which makes Japan available as a playable nation and lets players slip into the role of Tennō Hirohito. The Japanese use kamikaze pilots as a special skill. In addition, with Eva Peron, the first female leader will be eligible for election if one opts for the extension El tango diplomacia decides. Manfred Lamplmair was particularly enthusiastic about this new product: "We are proud to have integrated Eva Peron, the first female leader, into Leaders.” With the introduction of Argentina as a game faction, trade boycotts are now a strategically important game element. "The community has long wanted a female leaderAccording to Lamplmair. It is "It wasn't that easy to find a suitable candidate who fits the game".
The search was worth it. With María Eva Duarte de Perón, the Austrians have integrated a particularly charismatic character into the game. Two-time President Juan Perón's First Lady wins "Allies alone with their charm". The fair is a complete success for rudy games. When asked about the remaining game inventory, Lamplmair said: "We learned from the past and produced enough games.” That this was necessary was shown by the numerous sales that went over the exhibitors' table during the conversation alone. In addition to new extensions, community events in particular are planned for the future. "We want to hold leaders tournaments next year", predicted Manfred Lamplmair, referring to a stand extension that would then be required. "Twice as big“ must become the exhibition space for rudy games in order to be able to organize a possible tournament. The fact that digital technologies will also be used to make the game exciting is an integral part of the plan for Manfred Lamplmair and nothing special - at least not for rudy games. Even if some critics Leaders - a combined game as a mere risk clone, there is more than a copied game idea behind the overall concept of the combined games. Lamplmair presented the current project in an almost visionary manner Interaction - a combined game. The game is "a family game that changes depending on the location" um Lamplmair wrote the innovative title in one succinct sentence. Player social data such as interests, location and even social relationships are key components of the hybrid game, which will also run with app support. "Access to data from Facebook profiles is not mandatory. This does not have to be used by the players", Manfred Lamplmair replied when asked about possible criticism of the use of profile data from the social network. It's a good thing that rudy games has always stuck to the idea of so-called combined games - even in times when hybrid games were decried as mere gimmicks rather than games. In any case, this persistence paid off for the Austrians.
… The Loth family from Mogel Verlag
Jürgen and Michael Loth were available for the conversation at the booth of Mogel Verlag from Rhede in Emsland. The Emsländer reported informally about their family publishing house, which was only founded this year. While Jürgen Loth is responsible for trade and sales, his brother Michael takes care of game development as the creative head. The oldest work Pearl diving presented the Lower Saxony to a publisher who, at the time, rejected the title because "The presentation and rules were not yet fully developed,” says Michael Loth. Around "to remain as free as possible in the development" the family from Emsland then quickly founded their own publishing house. With a smile, Michale Loth added that the family consisted of so many people that "can easily do the whole thing yourself.” The core team at Mogel Verlag consists of a total of five people. At this point, Gerrit, Jörn and Mutter Loth should be mentioned by name, who have made a decisive contribution to the current success of the publishing project. The organization of the entire publishing industry is running at full speed, albeit at half speed – at least if you use the part-time work as a benchmark. "The team members meet every two weeks and report on what has been done during this time," said Jürgen Loth, just to add directly that "all decisions are made together.” It's nice when the development of parlor games can also be successful in such a familiar setting. Balancing main job and publishing work works well if you listen to Michale Loth, who works as an art teacher in addition to game development. Good planning is still a prerequisite for coping with the tasks ahead. Behind the designs of the card games Pearl diving, Willi Word Worm and Animal Threatened! There is more to it than an art layman would suspect at first glance. While Willi Word Worm and Pearl diving primarily appeals to children "behind the getup of Animal Threatened! a very different kind of romance, meant to convey a feeling," explained Michael Loth from the point of view of an art teacher.
In the Loth family, quality management also takes place in the kitchen, if "sit a team that plays through the games," according to Juergen Loth. In the parental home in the country there is enough space anyway. What is surprising at first turns out to be a tried and tested means of achieving maximum creativity in the development of new game concepts on closer inspection. Business economists would describe such processes as real benefits in a company: "short decision-making paths" is the magic term. Criticism is seen as motivation within the family, even when harsh language is used. The brothers, who are also friends and spent their youth together in a circle of friends, know just like them "have to take each other", said Jürgen Loth and referred to the immense productivity that is achieved as a result. When developing new games, it helps that the Loth family learn board games in a completely different way than the rule makers intended. Using house rules for games is especially important for Jürgen Loth's favorite game Scrabble a real guarantee of fun. Spontaneous play activities on car journeys, in which shared family experiences are recalled, also fit in with this. The Loth family can certainly be described as enthusiastic about games, even if they "do not know all the new titles that appear on the market.” You can't and you don't have to, because in the end it's all about playing what you like. It is known within the family that "Cola dilemma", says Michael Loth. A question about the exact circumstances would have been more than appropriate at this point. Especially at the card game Willi Word Worm According to Jürgen Loth, you can see what makes Mogel Verlag so special: “We bring something into the games that affects us. It's about taking a closer look at the term cheating. The players are forced to expand the rules as far as they can.In fact: using Willi Wortwurm as an example, this thought makes perfect sense in order to eliminate possible “word-finding disorders”.
As people who are close to nature, the Loths also want to convey messages with their games. So is the card game above all Animal Threatened! a form of criticism - also in the sense of a call to get involved in animal welfare. "The rules say that it shouldn't just be about playing", Jürgen Loth said, followed by short passages from the rules of Animal Threatened! and Pearl diving to quote.
More card games are already being developed for the future, at least one of which is good enough to be published. When asked about the topic of the next card game, Michael Loth answers succinctly: "It's about knights.” Sounds like a kid-friendly theme for a card game. Overall, the Mogel Verlag should also in the future "definitely continue as a family project", said Jürgen Loth with conviction, although "can never know what will be next. As a publisher, the Loths have also received game ideas from private individuals, but so far no concrete plans for the implementation of non-family game concepts. Jürgen Loth is "for your own games', but admits that opinion could change.
The Mogel Verlag team is made up of real go-getters who even went to the trouble of building their own trade fair stand. "Jörn only sanded for 12 hours", says Juergen Loth. Easy "so that nothing is taken away from you"added Michael Loth. It meant splinters of wood in your fingers. The Loth family's attention to detail is impressively professional for a newcomer to publishing. The visitors of SPIEL'16 liked Mogel Verlag's booth so much that numerous players stopped for a game of cards. Only English customers are a small challenge. There is enough time before SPIEL'17 to improve your English skills.
