How’d They Do That?
Have you ever spent a rainy afternoon inside playing Scrabble or Monopoly or Phase 10 with your family or friends and wondered where these games came from? Who thinks them up, decides on all the rules – and makes them so they actually work? Have you ever tried to create your own game – and just when you think you’ve got it all figured out – somebody comes up with an option that you didn’t think of and you have to add a new rule – then it happens again and again – and pretty soon the thing is out of control. No one could ever actually understand your ‘game.’
Well, that’s happened to me, and we were talking about just such a thing over drinks the other day and my friend mentioned that his co-worker actually just had a game published. I thought that was just totally cool!
Portland ‘tech guy by day’ Carey Grayson knew that he had a good idea in his strategy game 24/7 The Game- so he put together the complete concept and presentation and took it to local start-up game publisher Sunriver Games (did you even know Portland had it’s own game publisher?!)
Sunriver, who launched it’s first game “Havoc” in 2005 – created by co-owners KC and Rita Humphrey, took on Grayson’s game and launched it at Essen Spiel 06 – a huge game convention in Germany – in October. Well 24/7 was a huge hit and it is flying off virtual shelves. So if you’re looking for a really unique (and local!) gift – check out either game at Funagain Games and be amazed that yes – it is real people who actually come up with these things that we love to play!
I am the designer of the game. First off, let me thank the writer here for the totally unsolicited recommendation. Of course I agree with everything she says about the game.
But I should clarify a few things. I wouldn’t define it as a “huge hit” in Essen. Probably more like “well received.” Most everyone who played it liked it and out of that group probably 75% bought it. I can’t vouch if it is “flying off the virtual shelves,” but they are selling.
A quick background: I designed the game about two years ago for my wife. She is not into serious board games (something I love) and so I wanted to create something simple, but challenging. Fun, but not laugh out loud so. Something familiar, but original and something we could play with two, three or four players. Working from that premise and several iterations later, I finally landed on the current version.
My wife enjoyed the so much she played it with our friends and family. Pretty soon they were goating me to get it published (a not so easy task and too long of a story to try and get in here). There you have it. I hope people who buy it enjoy it as much as we do. Happy Holidays!
Carey Grayson
http://www.sunrivergames.com
Well, peshaw, Mr. Grayson. Why, on the way to this very site I saw several digital order packets for gift-wrapped “24-7″ games zip right by me. And it’s no surprise the pallets of game stock are shrinking. I heard through the grapevine that a group of Santa’s elves had just returned from an inservice session on “24-7″ due to anticipated exceptional demand for the game this holiday season. Not a bad testimonial!
Grayson’s natural humility aside, this is noteworthy accomplishment and I’m sure another entry in a certain winning streak for Sunriver Games. “24-7″ is accessible to players of all ages and is inviting, and easy to play, for gamers and non-gamers alike. Having watched the evolution of “24-7″ from the sidelines, bringing the game to market and the international succ”Essen” it received warrants a round of well-deserved applause. Best of fortunes to Grayson and the Sunriver Games team. These folks “get” gaming, and you can bet this won’t be the last you hear of them. Just ask Santa’s elves…
Dave the Shipping Clerk
I forgot to mention, you can also buy the game locally at Rainy Day Games. Steve Ellis, the owner, was the first non-family member to play test 24/7. It was based on his recommendation that I pursued it as far as I have.
Anyway, Rainy Day Games is a great store with lots of games to chose from for both families and serious gamers.
18105 SW Tualatin Vly Hwy
Beaverton, OR 97006 – 3952
(503) 642-4100
Carey
Speaking as a family member (Carey is my brother) & early game version tester, it’s a great game for all ages!
I helped Carey test the game and teach others to play at a local game convention (I’m friends with his son) and like any great game it’s easy to learn and hard to master. I’ve heard it best described as kind of a cross between scrabble (the way the board works) and cribbage (adding of tiles and awarding points). However it’s really in a class of its own, a great game for the family, 2-4 players.