Agenda

At GDC 2011, Stone spoke about 15 tabletop games he created for his family and close friends. 15 years later, he has continued this tradition of designing a new game every year: a play-by-mail game for his sons in college, a real-time rhythm card game for drum students, a social game for a wedding, and—most recently—several highly personalized tabletop games for his four grandchildren.
In this session, Stone details those 15 games and describes how his design philosophy evolved during that time. Each game teaches its own special lesson, with unique constraints shaped by the experiences of his small audience. Many of the tips and techniques can be applied to games that you create for the people closest in your life.

Takeaway

You do not need a large team, money, or the latest hardware and software to create games. All you need is inspiration, free time, and a few close friends. By crafting small personal games, free from the compromises typically associated with the game industry, you will grow as a designer.

Intended Audience

This talk is for all game designers interested in exploring the art and craft of creating games without the financial and time constraints imposed by corporate oversight. It will especially interest parents of young children, and anyone who has ever wanted to create a personal tabletop game for their closest friends.