Introductions! (Squid Staff)

So, let's meet the Squid Studios team. Probably should have done this sooner.

We're a small group dedicated to playing--and now also to making--great games of all types, but primarily board games. It's really a shame that we're doing most of this on a "volunteer" (and self-funded) basis at this point: that crumby "real" world with all its bills and payments and what-have-you. (Holla if ya hear me.) We love what we are doing and are very excited about the results.

I'm Patrick Filipiak, project leader and lead developer for Squid Studios games. That means I choose which ideas to run with, and I direct the way in which our games develop. I do much of the designing and troubleshooting throughout the game design process. I also do much of the nuts-and-bolts stuff like creating mock-ups for play testing, balancing the game rules and mechanics, and the maintenance of this blog.

Kevin Jacobson and Brad Metzler are key developers. These guys take the rough ideas I give them and make them better, suggesting possible gameplay elements or a different spin on a concept. During brainstorm and planning sessions, these are the guys that make the room light up. Currently, Kevin is assigned primarily to Liege Lords, and Brad is tasked with the broader shaping of Escape.

Graphic design is handled by Aaron Schlagbaum, a relative newbie to strategy board games, but not to visual design. He takes the sketches and ideas given to him and makes them interesting and awesome. Or so we suspect, as we have just barely reached the point of needing his services and haven't seen his work yet.

There are a few other folks that you may be introduced to soon, once I get the chance to invite them into what we're doing.