In this festive episode 129 of Game Design Unboxed, we chat with sister duo Anya and Irina Kagan - game designers and the founders of Gifts Galore - about their Hanukkah-themed party game, Gelt Galore.
They talk about how magical childhood traditions inspired them as adults to bring new energy to holiday gatherings and how a simple homemade game — originally crafted from post-its, stickers, and family trivia — turned into a full-fledged board game.
We discuss several unique design challenges including how to compile authentic and accurate historical info for trivia questions and how to strike the right balance between questions that are easy/fun and questions that are deep or educational.
The sisters also share how they designed Gelt Galore to be accessible and inclusive by using pictures along with colors (considering colorblind accessibility), designing mechanics that work for players of all ages and mobility capabilities, the “bribes” that help them attract playtesters (like candy or pizza), the inviting game design community in Kalamazoo, Michigan, stories of little-known Hanukkah heroines, and the age-old debate of the superior latke topping. Is it sour cream or applesauce? You decide!
Featuring:
Anya and Irina Kagan - Guests
Danielle Reynolds - Host
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.