By Glyptodon Studio
If today we have the opportunity to consume so much content about board games across various types of media, we can attribute this privilege to one special name: Tom Vasel.
He is one of the greatest and most influential modern board game content creators in the world, known for founding The Dice Tower. Writing game reviews since 2002, it was through the foundation of this project that Vasel became responsible for popularizing the format of modern board game reviews in podcasts and videos, helping the games to become increasingly disseminated to the general public.
It was with him that the Glyptodon team had the pleasure of talking during DOFF 2023. The interview remains relevant today, discussing Brazilian games and the power that game design in Brazil is becoming.
Discover which markets are the most promising outside the major hubs and which continent stands out in Tom’s opinion by checking out the full interview below, a conversation hosted by our CEO, Diego Bianchini, and game designer Thiago Leite with one of the biggest influencers in the global gaming hobby.
Diego Bianchini: Tom, as a YouTuber, a hobbyist, and someone who plays many games throughout the year, what is the difference between an okay game and an amazing game for you? Theme? Mechanics? Immersion?
Tom Vasel: It’s the complete package. I don’t know. Sometimes, I know it when I play. Almost always. An amazing game is one that you play years after its release, and people still love it everywhere. I’d venture to say that only a few amazing games are released each year, around 3. Very good games are hundreds, and okay games are thousands.
Thiago Leite: You’ve played some Brazilian games like Sheriff Of Nottingham, Comic Hunters, Brazil, and Paper Dungeons. What do you think of them? Can you see any common characteristics in Brazilian games?
Tom: I’m not sure if there’s something like that yet. But, I know that Brazilian games are not very abstract; you guys love theme. There’s always something thematic in most of the games. The theme is usually strong, and you enjoy player interaction. But, what I really want is to play more. That’s why I’m here. To meet people, yes, but also to discover new Brazilian games and take them with me when I go back to the United States. Because this is a new market, Brazil is one of the largest countries in the world. Who knows, maybe in ten years, you’ll become the biggest board game market in the world?
Diego: What do you think of games coming from non-conventional markets like Brazil, Africa, and India? At the Spiel Digital 2020, we saw many games from these emerging markets. Do you think there’s something special coming from these markets?
Tom: Yes! People from these markets aren’t tainted by the major markets like the United States and Europe. When you play an Indian or Malaysian game, you get a different feeling from traditional market games. With the internet, it’s easier to become known. The problem is that, with games being released all over the world, it’s difficult to stand out.
Thiago: In your experience, what should a game designer strive to incorporate into their games? What key elements are necessary to gain a place for their games in the international market?
Tom: I don’t know. Just make a fun game. If it becomes popular, great! If not, make another game. Not all games are popular everywhere. Let’s talk about Sheriff of Nottingham. It was originally published in Germany as “Hart an der Grenze”. It won an award at the time, but it wasn’t a well-known game; it was just okay. But, with a small change, changing the theme to Robin Hood, it became popular. Sometimes, just one change can make a game much better.
Diego: In 2019, I had a meeting with John Zinser, CEO of AEG Games, and we talked about Brazilian games. I was presenting a project to him, and he said that the next wave of board games should come from South America or Brazil. As you mentioned before, countries like Brazil have a different culture and could be something interesting to present to people. What do you think about this possibility, speaking to Brazilian game designers who will read this interview?
Tom: I’m in Brazil, so yes. It’s Brazil (laughs). Actually, I’m not sure. But it could be. It’s an unexplored market. Will it be South America? Yes. But, I also think it could be India, with 1 billion people; it could be a good market. Even Africa, we’ve seen interesting things there. But, I think that as the world becomes a smaller place, no matter where you are, you can make a game. Anyway, I’m very excited about South America.
Thiago: You’re still at the beginning of Diversão Offline, but what are your impressions of the market and the people here?
Tom: People are enthusiastic; everyone is very nice, and the place is noisy. People are talking and enjoying the moment. Unlike some countries, like Germany, where people play very quietly. Nobody here is normally quiet. Everyone is talking. I see a lot of families here, especially couples. People come as couples, not alone, and both are having fun.
Diego: Tom, once again, thank you very much for talking with us. We hope to meet again soon.
Tom: Thank you very much. I’m really happy to talk to you guys.
On that occasion, besides the interview, Tom had the opportunity to try out World Wonders, a prototype that had been prepared exclusively for the event. The interaction resulted in an unusual and very joyful moment for both Glyptodon Studio and the game designer, Zé Mendes. Check out the details of this moment by clicking here.