Next generation game evolves
CHILDREN’S ‘BRUTAL’ FEEDBACK HELPS INVENTOR DEVELOP CREATION
BRUTALLY honest children have helped a board game inventor have another shot at success.
About 10 years ago, the Mercury reported on Tony Messiou’s creation, Evolution, which ended up selling about 500 games around the world.
But it was a bit complicated and had a few other flaws that were helpfully pointed out by a group of youngsters.
Now Tony has reinvented the game as Evolve and 1,000 units are on their way over from China.
He said: “When I did the game 10 years ago the BBC organised a thing on the radio with children playing the original game and they were brutally honest.”
The new game – which sees players trying to get their species to evolve from basic creatures to more advanced forms of life – is the same idea as the original but the gameplay has been transformed.
Tony, 70, who lives in Leicester Forest East, said: “It’s been simplified because the children were finding it very complicated.
“There is also some added interaction between the players where they compete and bid for cards that help them advance.
“There’s also a dice in the game now and more random events like tornadoes, earthquakes and meteors that can set them back.”
Tony said coming up with a game and watching people enjoy it had been hugely rewarding for him.
He said: “The previous version 10 years ago sold about 500 but it wasn’t really generating new sales.
“But for the past decade – mostly over the past year or so – I’ve been developing it and there’s also been a lot more testing, too.
“I’ve now got the new games. They’re being shipped from China.
“There are a few already on sale in Leicester Forest East post office for the introductory price of £15. I think the rest will be sold for about £17 to £20, probably. I’ll be selling online.”
Tony has sunk about £4,000 more of his money into developing and manufacturing the new game, but said it had all been worthwhile.
He said: “It’s been really good fun to do. It feels like it’s been a continual improvement from the original game to this one and even if I don’t make my money back it’s been worth it.”
super-apegames.com