Blog Posts

‘AndHe’ Games interview with legendary designer Bruno Faidutti

This week I read a wonderful article, an interview with Bruno Faidutti (Citadels, Red November, The Queen’s Necklace, the list is enormous) by ‘AndHe’ Games. Bruno answers with such honesty in his replies to the interviewer questions, and I just can’t get his final statement (about life not being a game, but a mess) out […]

Are we about to ruin our board game with this idea?

Some of you may already know that the three of us are working on Ghostel. It’s Bevan’s design but Me and Tony are helping him out with development. We’re getting ready for the Kickstarter campaign and got onto the subject of this blog post: Game Art So naturally, with 3 people working on a project you’re eventually […]

TT #20 – Board Gaming Etiquette, The Bespoke Geek and More Beeps Than Ever!

http://media.blubrry.com/talkingtinkerbots/tinkerbotgames.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Talking_Tinkerbots_Ep_20.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:20:17 — 73.5MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSIn this episode Gino and Bevan discuss the Dos and Don’ts of board gaming etiquette! Also Bevan interviews Kara Gander about her Kickstarter campaign ‘The Bespoke Geek’ for geeky clothing, and we give you a Ghostel update.

TT #10 – Kickstarter leaving Amazon, Holiday Gaming and The Clumsy Cat and the Radiator

http://media.blubrry.com/talkingtinkerbots/tinkerbotgames.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Talking_Tinkerbots_Ep_10.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:29 — 28.8MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSIn episode 10 of Talking Tinkerbots: 0:26 – Kickstarter is leaving Amazon 13:40 – The games we played/got over the holidays 15:50 – The clumsy cat and the radiator

TT #4 – The Jumanji Question and an Interview with Jon Adams (Cartography)

http://media.blubrry.com/talkingtinkerbots/tinkerbotgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Talking%20Tinkerbots%20Ep4_1.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:18 — 37.8MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSAll three tinkerbots are joined by game designer and kickstarter campaign runner Jon Adams of Cartography! Also on this episode: – Board Game Mashup follow up – The best of the suggested mashups from our listeners. – Feedback – The […]

TT #5 – A Woozling Magic Moment, The Apprentice and Ignoring First-Time Designers

http://media.blubrry.com/talkingtinkerbots/tinkerbotgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Talking_Tinkerbots_Ep_5.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:08 — 39.5MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSThis week is brought to you by Gino and Bevan! On this episode: – A Board Game Magic Moment about Christmas games for Niblings (Feed the Woozle: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/130624/feed-woozle) – Bevan tells us about an episode of The Apprentice all about Board […]

TT #15 – Exciting News and Interviews: Tabletop Day Special (Hi Steve!)

http://media.blubrry.com/talkingtinkerbots/tinkerbotgames.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Talking_Tinkerbots_Ep_15.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:02:52 — 57.6MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSIn episode 15 of Talking Tinkerbots: 0:24 – Finding Tony 1:02 – Follow-up: Luck in board games 5:08 – Why tweets are 140 characters 14:48 – Exciting news! 21:35 – Tabletop Day 25:10 – More things speeled wrong 26:25 […]

S3E1 – We’re Back! Season 3 Starts Here with special guest Mike Barnes

http://media.blubrry.com/talkingtinkerbots/tinkerbotgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Talking_Tinkerbots_Ep_27.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:58 — 53.1MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSBevan and Gino host with special guest Mike Barnes from Who Dares Rolls. They discuss BGG ratings, Who Dares Rolls and Gino talks about the power of Thumbnails for Kickstarter Campaigns on our new section Getting Kicked!

399 Days of a Kickstarter Campaign – A Ghost Story

This infographic may be useful to people planning a board game Kickstarter campaign. For everyone else it’s an interesting look at the timeline for fulfilling a campaign like ours. On January 26th 2016 we launched the Kickstarter Campaign to produce our game Ghostel. We set ourselves a deadline of fulfilling all pledges by the end […]

S4E1 – Rob Daviau, Emma Larkins and Matt Leacock

https://media.blubrry.com/talkingtinkerbots/tinkerbotgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/S04E01-Talking-Tinkerbots.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download () | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSRob Daviau, Emma Larkins & Matt Leacock – Game Design & Pitching Panel Discussion Join host Gino from Tinkerbot Games as we hear from our panel of board game design experts as they share their insights and experiences about designing and pitching […]

TT #3 – Board Game Mashups

http://media.blubrry.com/talkingtinkerbots/tinkerbotgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Talking-Tinkerbots-Ep3.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:40 — 24.4MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSGino and Bevan talk about Board Game Mashups! The episode begins with our latest board game magic moment from listener Richie Janukowicz. Then we discuss board game mashups – merging multiple games into one super-game! Following on from this Bevan […]

TT #14 – Luck in Board Games and a BIG SCARY Announcement

http://media.blubrry.com/talkingtinkerbots/tinkerbotgames.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Talking_Tinkerbots_Ep_14.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:24 — 35.2MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSIn episode 14 of Talking Tinkerbots: 1.00 – The best method ever for picking a topic 2:08 – Luck in Board Games 23:45 – Ghostel!

Break the Block

Hi folks! So last week I posted an update which included my unfortunate realisation that at some point in the last few months I’d hit something all designers dread; Writer’s Block. Now this really sucked, but I was super lucky to have a very supportive family and friends around, in particular my wife who helped […]

TT #13 – Aether Magic: An interview with Jeff and Lee of Happy Mitten Games (inc the Jumanji Question!)

http://media.blubrry.com/talkingtinkerbots/tinkerbotgames.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Talking_Tinkerbots_Ep_13.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:12:50 — 66.7MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSIn episode 13 of Talking Tinkerbots Gino and Bevan interview Jeff and Lee from Happy Mitten Games about their experiences so far in their Kickstarter campaign Aether Magic. We discuss: A secret campaign update! Hear it here first! Asking […]

TT #11 – Crowd Sales, UK Games Expo, The 5×12 Challenge and a baby!

http://media.blubrry.com/talkingtinkerbots/tinkerbotgames.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Talking_Tinkerbots_Ep_11.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:12 — 27.7MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSIn episode 11 of Talking Tinkerbots: 0:32 – Bevan’s board game magic moment 5:30 – Crowd Sales from The Game Crafter 21:15 – UK Games Expo! 22:20 – Meeting people in real life 24:20 – Jamie’s blog about podcast 25:47 – The Tinkerbots […]

MONSTROUS is (hopefully) going to release the Kraken!

MONSTROUS is a gloriously illustrated deluxe Greek Mythology game from new publishers Good Games Publishing. We reviewed the game and also interviewed designer and publisher Kim Brebach on our podcast. If you hadn’t already guessed, we like the game (we gave it 3 out of 3 approval spanners) and in fact I’ve even backed it […]

Dragons, Gold, Ghosts and Jugglers…it’s the Tinkerbots’ Story of the UK Games Expo 2017

This year was our first time at the UKGE as proper stallholders, we had tables and everything! We tried to make a time-lapse video of setting up the stand but we had to stop halfway through, still, this is what we got. (Note Tony doing the setup while Gino does all the heavy lifting).   […]

TT #6 – Meeple Lovers, Mega Feedback and a Magic Moment

http://media.blubrry.com/talkingtinkerbots/tinkerbotgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Talking_Tinkerbots_Ep_6.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:23 — 26.9MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSGino, Bevan and Tony are all present in this episode! This week: – We’ve had the biggest feedback ever and we discuss what we can do to improve our podcast – A magic moment about old friends and new games […]

Ghostel: A Post Kickstarter Campaign Analysis

This post is an analysis of some data from our Kickstarter campaign for Ghostel. It may be useful for future campaign creators. The information we’re going to discuss: Total Backers Total Pledged Average Pledge per Backer And this will be analysed in 3 different areas: Countries Source/Referral Pledge Levels

TT#21 – New Music, Ghostel is coming and Spreading the Love!

http://media.blubrry.com/talkingtinkerbots/tinkerbotgames.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Talking_Tinkerbots_Ep_21.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:07 — 8.3MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSIn this short and sweet episode Bevan is going solo! There’s a quick set of updates of all that happening on the upcoming Ghostel Kickstarter campaign, and a few shout outs to a couple of industry chaps and chapettes […]

TT #16 – We’ve got chemistry with John Coveyou!

http://media.blubrry.com/talkingtinkerbots/tinkerbotgames.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Talking_Tinkerbots_Ep_16.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:19 — 47.0MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSThe tinkerbots interview featured guest John Coveyou. John is a successful board game designer and kickstarter campaign runner! He shares with us some excellent insights into running a crowdfunding campaign as well as design tips so if you’re one day hoping […]

Get Your Face In Ghostel Winners Announced!

The Winners Have Been Picked! Yes, that’s right! Do you remember this competition we ran? The one about getting your face into a game? Well here are the winners! What was the plan? Here at Tinkerbot Games we’re currently on the earliest stages of artwork with our artist Tyler Johnson for our board game Ghostel. We’re going to have […]

Ghostel Expansion: Trick or Treaters, Families, Basements and New Ghosts

I was wrong. So very, very wrong. You see, after the campaign for Ghostel had ended, we at Tinkerbot Games had a sit-down and decided on what we should do next as a company. Bevan felt like we should expand Ghostel, offer new and exciting ways for players to enjoy the game, and add more […]

TT#23 – It’s a MFGCast/Talking Tinkerbots Cross-over!

http://media.blubrry.com/talkingtinkerbots/tinkerbotgames.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Talking_Tinkerbots_Ep_23.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:58 — 42.1MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSGino and Bevan chat to Kurt from the MFGCast, a cracking podcast about tabletop and video gaming from across the Pond. In this cross-over episode, we discuss the the difference between board gaming in America versus in Britain, and […]

[TRANSCRIPT] Talking Tinkerbots #16 – We’ve got chemistry with John Coveyou!

  In episode 16 of our podcast we had a great discussion with game designer John Coveyou about how he successfully funded his 3rd Kickstarter campaign in under 24 hours. We were contacted by someone who was interested in knowing what John had to say but couldn’t hear the podcast because they were deaf. Thankfully […]

S3E2 – How many players?!

http://media.blubrry.com/talkingtinkerbots/tinkerbotgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/TT-Episode-2-Season-3-FINAL.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 47:41 — 43.7MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSBevan and Gino on the podcast this time, talking about designing with regard to player counts in games. We espouse one of our favourite games in Show Me Yours, and Gino talks about the getting those funds after a […]

Games to help with your New Year resolutions…or Great Games and Good Eating for January

Happy New Year! How often do we start with great intentions and before January’s ended, so has our willpower? To help keep those resolutions, here’s some ideas for board games to try before you give in to temptation…   If you need a caffeine fix, try Cappuccino. This fast-paced game lets 2-4 players stack cappuccino cups […]

TT #17 – UK Games Expo Advice, XCOM Giveaway, Funky Dice & We Do a Video Review

http://media.blubrry.com/talkingtinkerbots/tinkerbotgames.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Talking_Tinkerbots_Ep_17.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:08 — 32.2MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS1:50 – A transcript of our interview with John Coveyou for a deaf follower (Thanks Terrance) 3:00 – Banana Banana Banana 6:20 – Gino is betrayed by Bevan and Tony 7:15 – Tips and advice for the UK Games Expo […]

S3E4: – Gino is missing, Bevan wipes a guest’s memory, and everyone learns 3 heads are better than one in a game design challenge.

http://media.blubrry.com/talkingtinkerbots/tinkerbotgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/TT-Episode-4-Season-3-FINAL.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:44 — 39.1MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSBevan leads this podcast, introducing Mark and Eric from his designer play test group. We attempt the ten minute design challenge using themes and mechanics randomly generated by the excellent Boardgamizer website. Can we each come up with something […]

TT#25 – Solo gaming and an interview with Ghostel artist Tyler Johnson

http://media.blubrry.com/talkingtinkerbots/tinkerbotgames.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Talking_Tinkerbots_Ep_25.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:16 — 33.2MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSBevan and Tony host as they talk about the seeming increase in board games featuring a solo mode, and Bevan interviews Ghostel artist Tyler Johnson. We finish up with an update on the Ghostel Kickstarter campaign.

TT #0 – Board Game Magic Moment (Pilot)

http://media.blubrry.com/talkingtinkerbots/tinkerbotgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Podcast-Magic-Moments-Ep-0.m4aPodcast: Play in new window | Download (8.2MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSIn this pilot episode Gino talks about Board Game Magic Moments – Moments where something has happened in the board game related world which makes you smile. Gino talks about his favourite Board Game Magic Moment when a father has gone to […]