A Chat With Czech Games Edition
/This interview was sponsored by Czech Games Edition as part of its support for the 2021 Cardboard Edison Award.
Tell us about Czech Games Edition and your role in the board game industry.
CGE was founded back in 2007 out of a love of board games and a desire to create entertaining experiences for others who feel the same way. Since the early days, we’ve expanded to a global team of around 40 employees from the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, and the USA—with many external collaborators from all over the world.
Though we’ve grown over the years, one thing that always remains the same is the joy we get from working together on great games and sharing those experiences for other board game enthusiasts to enjoy. Thanks to our partner companies, we’ve been able to release our games in over 40 languages.
Tell us about the upcoming projects you have in the works.
We’re really excited about the relaunch of Galaxy Trucker this summer, which brings all of the frantic spaceship building fun of the original classic to new audiences with a massive visual overhaul, a smaller box, and a cheaper price point.
The CGE team continues to make Codenames Online even better, with new features and a continued commitment to its ongoing development. The Codenames mobile app is also coming along, and that will bring some awesome new facets to the Codenames digital experience.
For fans of Lost Ruins of Arnak, the free four-chapter solo campaign we recently launched has been a great way to expand the solo experience, but we also have an even bigger expansion coming up that will add new asymmetrical player roles to the core game.
We have other cool games in the works, too, and we’ll be announcing more about what’s next for CGE as these projects develop further.
What advice would you give a designer who wants to have a game published by Czech Games Edition?
CGE is always on the lookout for interesting game designs that catch our eye and surprise us with something unique. If you’re looking to pitch us, here are some tips to keep in mind:
Thoroughly playtest your game prototype outside of your regular gaming group to get fresh perspectives and feedback to further hone your design.
Be open to the critical feedback of others, and be prepared for long-term, hands-on collaboration with many iterations before hitting the finish line.
Make sure your game will be a good fit with our portfolio. Hit us with a unique theme, interesting game mechanics, and a thoughtful pitch to stand out.
You can submit your game’s sell sheet and rules (and background lore, if you have any) to peter@czechgames.com—we’ll be in touch if we’re interested in taking a closer look.
What is something that designers and publishers should be thinking about more?
Being adaptable in the face of unexpected adversity is essential. From in-person playtesting to board game gatherings, the pandemic had a huge impact on people’s ability to both make and enjoy board games this past year or so. At CGE, we’ve adapted in 2020 by offering free solo modes for some of our popular games, creating digital implementations of others, and finding new ways for players to connect and play board games together online amidst a global pandemic.
It’s always good to be thinking about the many different ways you can give players an opportunity to enjoy your gaming experiences.
What is one thing you think we'll see more of in the games industry in the coming year?
We’re all eager to return safely to the table with in-person group gaming nights again, but I think pandemic has definitely helped drive an increased interest in and awareness of solo gaming experiences. Solo modes and dedicated solo games alike have been a growing trend for a while now, and it’s likely that will continue even as gamers begin gathering together again post-pandemic.