Paper Bag Creative University

Design and Develop a game in 3 Easy Steps

March 2nd – Week 1 – What are Games? – Research, Inspiration, and ideation
March 9th – Week 2 – Understanding Game Design – Theme and Experience
March 16th – Week 3 – Mechanics, Dynamics and Aesthetics
March 23rd – Week 4 – Designing and Developing Your Game Experience

March 24th – 30th – Week 5 – Mid-Way ( Optional Check-In )
If you want to book a 20 min mtg to discuss your game idea with us this is that week.

March 30th – Week 5 – Play testing, Iterating – Taking Your Game To The Next Level
April 6th – Week 6 – Rules, Graphics, and Finalizing The Game Experience
April 13th – Week 7 –Why You Should Be Shooting Videos of Your playtests
April 20th – Week 8 – Pitch decks, Videos, and Sell Sheets – Tips, Techniques, and Strategies for Pitching

May 1st -May 5th – Optional Presentation Week – Set-Up a Meeting to Pitch Your Game to Ed & April

Sign Ups will be open only for a short time, Classes Start March 2nd

From IDEA TO PLAYABLE GAME in 8 Weeks

"This course was a "Game Changer" in my inventor path. I learned a lot about the structure of game designing. All the information was very useful to design games in a more professional way. With the knowledge I learned I felt more confident pitching my game to companies.
I am so happy because I have received several congratulations for how well my pitch, my sell sheet and my video were done. During Mojo Pitch more than 10 companies were interested in my game thanks to April, Ed, I feel so grateful..."

Antonio Alicibia

"Before I took the class I had no idea how to design or pitch a game. But I have so much more confidence in my game making abilities after the class.
My favorite part of the class, besides the game type specifics, was the synergy between Ed and April. They are fantastic together and really feed off each other’s energy. It’s a fun time and a great way to learn.
I would certainly recommend other inventors take the class and work with Ed and April! It’s so much great information and a fun, upbeat format.

Heidi Brescher

This Board Game Design Master Class will teach you to be a Professional Board Game Inventor. During the course of 8-weeks, you’ll take a deep-dive into Game invention from two industry veterans who have experienced it all over the course of their careers and continue to create and pitch games to this day

During this course, you’ll meet twice weekly with Ed And April as they share steps, knowledge, tools, and resources, to be a successful game designer. After the course is complete, you’ll have the skills you need to IDEATE, CREATE and PITCH YOUR GAMES directly to game companies in the industry.

You will learn to come up with new game ideas every day, looking at competitive research for inspiration, and using the brainstorming techniques you will learn in this class, you will have a wealth of game ideas ready to be developed. Then you will select one of those ideas to develop in this course. April and Ed will take you through all the steps necessary to develop a licensable game, from mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics to themes and Game experiences. You will know what makes a great game and how to make the right decisions at the right time to get it there.

You’ll also learn about play-testing, and why it’s important to shoot a video even during a playtest. How to develop a winning pitch deck, and accompanying Pitch Video, and finally how to put your pitch together so that licensees will want to sign your idea!

This TableTop Game Design Master Class is Limited to only 25 participants, so Sign Up Now to Secure Your Spot!

Ed Gartin • Creative Catalyst

Ed Gartin is a 22+ year veteran in the Toy and Game industry and is currently the founder and Creative Catalyst behind Paper Bag Creative. During that time Ed has been designing, developing, and manufacturing innovative new toys and games at places such as Hasbro, Toys R Us, Kosmos, Decipher TCG, and SwimWays, just to name a few. He’s led multiple design teams in the creation of highly successful brands and innovative new products. His career highlights include: Monopoly Gamer – the largest prime time launch based on sales in the 87-year history of Monopoly. Monopoly Millenials which Generated over 1.5 billion media impressions at launch. The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game, which won the Origin Awards for Best Trading Card Game of 2001, and Best Graphic Presentation of a game in 2001. Today Ed continues inventing and developing toys and games that bring families together through play, and inspire children to become the amazing people that they were destined to be. Having worked in every genre of gaming from Trading Card Games at Decipher, Family Board Games at Hasbro, and German Board Games at Kosmos; working everywhere from the boardroom to the factory floor to make it happen; Ed has seen it, heard it, and done it. Now, he would love to share that wealth of experience with you so You Can Master Board Game Inventing!

April Mitchell • Professional Inventor

Growing up, April remembers that her father was always creating new things, be it tools for his trade or fishing. Inventing runs in her family, actually; her grandfather received several patents for his inventions, and her great-grandfather was an inventor as well. While studying to become a teacher, April began using her creativity to design her own games and interactive activities. About a decade ago, she invented and licensed a patented device that prevents towels from slipping off towel bars and onto the bathroom floor. (It did not make it to market and is still available for licensing.) She found success with her next product idea, the Right Height Adjustable Heights Over-the-Door Hook. The company she licensed it to displayed it at the 2019 International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago. It will be distributed on-line and at retail stores! Since then, she has licensed products in several industries. She specializes in the toy and game industry, having licensed over 7 toys and games in the last 18 months – she is truly a professional inventor!

we’re here to all your questions

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