Working as a team has its ups and downs, especially when that team is composed of two very close friends. Harry and I make up “Team I,” one of two board game design teams on Mark IV Games. Before Mark IV Games had even started, we were already close. We played D&D together (He DMs one game and we both play in another), lived in the same college dorm, and got along really well.
The two of us have been working for almost a year on designing our game, codenamed Project Impervious, and we’ve learned a lot about each other in the process. For starters, Harry is much more creative than I am. Lots of the game’s best features were ideas that randomly popped into his head. I, meanwhile, am more methodical and logical, and enjoy problem solving. I like to make things work, while Harry likes to make things that work.
This creates tension sometimes– Harry might have a really interesting idea that, to me, just doesn’t fit the game. I may come up with a solution to a problem, but Harry sees a way to avoid the problem altogether. In general, I’m a lot more resistant to change, but Harry is always willing to go out on a limb.
More often than not, however, these differences enhance the board game design experience. I created the first draft of Project Impervious a year ago, and without Harry’s input, the game was very, very boring. And without me to slow him down, Harry jumps from idea to idea instead of sticking with one concept to see if it works. As projects evolve over time, we don’t worry about upsetting each other, because we trust that what we say is in the best interest of the game.
At the end of the day, board games are about bringing people together. This means compromising and trying new things, even if you don’t think they’ll work. I’m grateful that Harry is able to push me out of my comfort zone and show me how to improve one adjustment at a time.
For those of you working on your own board game design, or even working on any collaborative projects, how do you handle working with people with different work styles? Is there a tip or trick you use when conflict arises? Let me know in the comments or reach out to our Facebook, Instagram or Twitter what your experience with collaboration is!