Links: Knizia on His Design Philosophy and Recent Releases, Counter Gets New Editors & Myrmes Wins Tric Trac d'Or

For me, I think the overriding criterion is the play dynamics. Therefore, if you have a small hand – just one tile to play – the game speeds up significantly because people don't have to ponder about two or three or four tiles, and which one do I play in which situation, and which one do I want to play next turn. Suddenly the game becomes much more complex for some players, and for some it becomes much more painful because they have to wait. So in this respect, I rather like fast turns, and if I see that it moves fast, then I'd rather increase the number of turns and have many short turns, instead of big and excruciatingly long ones.

The easier process, which I find much more applicable to good results, is to start with something bigger and more convoluted. So, to begin, add a lot of things in, and then streamline them down. I'm more coming from a scientific background; I'm a scientist at heart – and scientists try to reduce the redundancy of the information and bring it down to a few principles, and that's my approach as well. That means I have to start with a rich environment, otherwise I narrow it too much and end up with only a small game. For a big game, I need to start with a very big conglomerate, which is not a one-step process – we very often throw more stuff at it and build it up again, and then see how we can melt it down and what remains and what falls off again. That's a very good process for me. I think it's a much harder process to begin with 80% and just try to add another 20% into it and be able to integrate it nicely. Usually it's better to have a system and say, "Okay, this looks good but very big, what do we absolutely need to have and what can we leave behind?" because then you end up with only the best things out of the big conglomerate.

In Spectaculum, we had a lot of extra features in the [original] gold rush theme. We had bandits which could take things over, figures moving on the board which could influence and erase things... There was another whole board game aspect to it. The playing of the cards and laying of the tiles was only one aspect. But when we looked at it as a whole, we came to the conclusion that the cards and tiles were the exciting part, and the part that can easily be grasped, as a very round and cohesive experience. The other rules made it more of a gamer's game, but I thought that the final result was as simple as possible but as complex as necessary to make it a good game.

So what can you expect from Counter magazine as we move beyond issue #60 and into the future? More of the same and, well, more. The same team has been assembled, so you will continue to enjoy reviews and articles from all of the familiar gamers and friends you have come to know and trust over these past fifteen years. Both Alan and Stuart will also continue to contribute, which is a blessing. We will also have contributions from more folks located around the world. These will be folks who are well-known and respected within the gaming hobby and industry. We have other exciting additions planned that will help make Counter even more exciting, including an online website where you can learn more about Counter, the folks who contribute, and even read a bonus review or two!

Ben and I are very humbled and excited to be assuming the reins of Counter magazine from Stuart and Alan. We are both very appreciative of the outstanding publication they have created and the service they have provided not only for Counter readers, but for the entire hobby and industry. We promise to continue the standard of excellence set by these two outstanding men, and hope to make Counter even more informative, exciting and fun. Join us as we continue to produce the best magazine in the board game hobby!