Unpub 5, taking place at the Baltimore Convention Center this weekend, is all about the games — board games, that is.
Game designers from all over the East Coast will be in town, offering up their latest games for play, in hopes of getting honest feedback — yay or nay — and maybe some tips for improvement.
Darrell Louder, 35, is the man putting this year's Unpub together. A designer himself — his chemistry game, Compounded, came out of the first Unpub — Louder is aiming for the big time. Last year's convention, held at a Dover, Del., high school, attracted about 500 visitors. This year, in the more spacious confines of the Baltimore Convention Center, he's hoping to at least double that.
We asked Louder about the move south, about how he became a game designer and why it's so hard to get an honest evaluation of your own game.
Has this been a problem, for people to find honest feedback on their games, in the past?
Yeah. In the past, if I had made a game, I would show it to my friends and family. Most of your friends and family are going to go, "This is great. Keep it up." And you're not going to get the honest feedback, the "It sucks," you know?
When you get away from the closeness of everyone, and you start adding in the public and give them anonymity to be able to give you their exact thoughts on the game, it's kind of priceless.
Is this somewhat born of your own experience, putting a game together and getting it into market?
Actually, yes. Compounder was made for the very first Unpub. Getting the feedback and getting the advice of peers and such, to hone it and work on it — two years later, it got signed because of all that hard work and all their feedback and attention. It's nice to be able to continue that, by offering the same resources I had at my disposal now to more game designers.
What got you into the board game design field originally?
It was actually the first Unpub. It all started with my friend, John Moller. I was all for helping him out, we'd been friends for a long, long time, over 20 years. I was worried, though, that he wouldn't have enough designers show up, because it was in a church meeting hall in Dover, Del., of all places.
So I was like, "You know what, I'll make a game for you." I'd never done it before, so I tried, took it to the event and it was decently received. People were, like, "You have something here, keep working on it."
You're making a pretty big jump for Unpub 5?
Yes. It's a massive space and it's very scary. We've outgrown our space in Dover. And looking at the cost of larger venues, like Dover Downs and stuff — Baltimore is kind of the heart of the East Coast, you've got the airport right there, with the light rail that goes right to the Convention Center. Delaware doesn't have an airport; the closest one is Baltimore or Philly. When it all came down to brass tacks, it was Baltimore is hands-down the best choice.
Do you have to be really into board games to enjoy yourself at Unpub?
No. I think if you enjoy any game at least once. … Games, themes and play styles vary, much like a video game. This kind of gets rid of the console and helps with the face-to-face social interaction. Board games have always been massive — in Europe, they're very popular, and its popularity has been steadily growing here in the states. We're just kind of doing our duty to help that growth keep going.
Unpub 5 is set for Saturday and Sunday at the Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt St. Admission is free. unpub.net.