This week my first published game, ContraBanter, hits hobby retail shelves. We had a great early launch at Millennium Games in Rochester. Family and friends from the area came out, and a whole bunch of new people got to try ContraBanter for the first time. The reactions were lovely. It was so nice to hold the real, final game artifact. And the play was the same as it’s been for a couple years now: delightful, surprisingly strategic, and full of big laughs. Working with Skybound Tabletop has gone swimmingly.
Next week I’m off to Columbus, OH for my first-ever trip to Origins. I’m primarily attending for one business meeting, which I’m very optimistic and excited about. This is the second demo for a certain publisher—my top pick, whom I’ve given an exclusive first look. I’m feeling confident. Loads of streamlining and playtesting have gone into the development. Barring some dramatic changes I haven’t anticipated, I think this is the game’s best version of itself.
Besides that, I have a couple party games under development with my local co-designer friends Jono Naito-Tetro and Bobby West. I’ve signed up to show off Medusa’s Garden at the Unpub speed pitch event. For the rest of the con, I will be testing other designers’ games in the Unpub room. Come December, Gabe Godoi and I will (most likely) have something ready to show off at PAXU. Until then, I’ll be flying a bit under the radar and hoping to network with lots of cool people.
If we met at Origins and you’re reading this, please say hi!
Rock on.
Phil Gross, Game Designer 