๐ค Interview with Naoki Sekino
2024ๅนด 4ๆ 24ๆฅWe spoke with Naoki Sekino of the board game shop Asobiba about what it's like working together with the rest of the shop staff to create the word-association card game, SIGN!
English (translated)
Translated by Renkon
(2023) SIGN
Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
#My name is Naoki Sekino, and I run the board game shop Asobiba. This shop opened three years ago.
How did you get started making games?
#For a while, our staff had been thinking about making a game together, but we thought that if we could make games together with some of our regular customers, we would have a lot of ideas and fun! So that was the start of our team doing exactly that.
Can you tell us about some of your favorite games and genres?
#I like so-called heavy games like Brass: Birmingham and Agricola. I also like auction games and economic games.
Can you tell us a bit about the board game cafรฉ Asobiba?
#It is a board game shop located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Fujisawa City, Shonandai, and you can play, buy, and enjoy board games at Asobiba. Last year, we created our own game for the first time and published SIGN. We are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, but we are open from 13:00 to 22:00 on other days and on holidays.
Whenever we go to Asobiba, the staff there are always happy to go over the rules of the games with us. Do you have to learn all of the rules for all of the games in your store?
#We know them all perfectly! Well, maybe not quite, but I do have the basic gist of them. Every day we open new games to play, and our regulars often leave us with more new games to check out, so it's pretty tough to keep up.
Please tell us about SIGN!
#SIGN is a cooperative board game where players make a starry sky. Everyone besides the solver plays Star Cards with different words written on them and tries to match them with that round's theme. By connecting the Star Cards with chips marked with symbols like "greater than,", the players can communicate to the solver which of these words is closer to the theme. After players put together the constellation in two minutes, the solver gazes at the starry sky and guesses the correct answer. How many messages, or signs, will you be able to solve?
Can you tell us about the process of making SIGN? Was it different from the way you approached making your other games?
#Since we were working as a team, first we all came up with ideas. After doing a lot of playtesting, we voted on the best games, and started production on the one that received the most votes. At first, SIGN was a ranking-style valuation game, but after doing many test plays, we brought it closer to its current form. At the time, the game used a train motif, but we changed it to constellations so that more people could play.
How long did it take to think up SIGN and then bring it to market? What was the most difficult step?
#It took about a year after we first landed on the concept. The hardest part was that we were working as a team, so the more opinions we gathered, the harder it was to sort out which ones to go with. It was tough.
What was your greatest influence when making SIGN?
#We took inspiration from cooperative games such as ito and Just One.
What was the most challenging part of making SIGN?
#The most challenging part was deciding how many copies to print. At first, we thought we could produce a small lot of about 50 copies. But if we did, it would cost 5 to 6,000 yen to print each set, which would mean the selling price would be even higher, so we were forced to print much more. Printing more copies meant we had to confident that our game was worth it, so that made us quite nervous.
When making SIGN, how did you select what to use for the Word and Theme Cards?
#When thinking up words or during playtesting, we would say, "This might be a good word," and that's how we chose them. As for the themes, everyone on our team came up with words that we could use as subjects.
What has the response been like from the people who played SIGN?
#We are very happy to hear that everyone is really enjoying the game. We are extremely grateful that there are some people who play the game and then say, "That was so much fun, I want to buy it!" However, no matter how good the response has been so far, I still get nervous every time I ask people to play SIGN. (laughs)
Were there any interesting or funny responses you've received from players, especially during the playtesting process?
#When some customers were playing, the theme was "The current solver has THIS," and the word satou (sugar) was strongly emphasized. To my surprise, it was apparently because the solver's family name was Satou. At first, everyone was like, "Why would they have sugar...?" But then, some players who knew were like, "Their name!" and started hurrying with excitement. It was very funny to see.
Is there anything in SIGN to which you want to draw the player's attention?
#One point that we were very particular about was making the finished board look like a starry sky. We have received compliments on how nice it looks. Also, we were particular about making the game so that anyone can enjoy playing it, even those who are not good at speaking freely such as in games that require a lot of improvisation.
Do you have any board games that you'd like to shout out, especially those made by individuals or small groups? What do you like about them?
#I recommend Mob+'s Nana because it is easy to play and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The cute illustrations were done by Sai Beppu, the same artist who worked on SIGN.
Do you have any messages for your players?
#We are always grateful to everyone who has supported our board game shop Asobiba, and for enjoying SIGN. Board games have a wonderful charm to them. We hope you will continue to enjoy many wonderful board games from all over the world! Thank you for your continued support.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!
#ๆฅๆฌ่ช
(2023) SIGN
่ชๅทฑ็ดนไปใใฆใใ ใใใ
#ใใผใใฒใผใ ใทใงใใใใใณใฐใ็ตๅถใใฆใใพใใ้ข้็ดๆจนใงใใ3ๅนดๅใซใใผใใฒใผใ ใทใงใใใใใณใฐใไฝใใพใใใ
ใฒใผใ ไฝใใๅงใใใใฃใใใฏใชใใงใใใ
#ไปฅๅใใไฝใฃใฆใฟใใใจๆผ ็ถใจในใฟใใๅๅฃซใง่ใใฆใใใฎใงใใใๅธธ้ฃๆงใจไธ็ทใซไฝใฃใฆใใใใใขใคใใขใ่ฑๅฏใงๆฅฝใใใ๏ผใจ่ใใฆๅธธ้ฃๆงใจไธ็ทใซใฒใผใ ใไฝใใใผใ ใ็ตๆใใใใจใใใฃใใใงใใ
ใใใใใใใใฐใใๆฌไบบใซใจใฃใฆไธ็ชๅฅฝใใชใฒใผใ ใๅฅฝใใชใธใฃใณใซใใ็ดนไปใ้กใใใพใใ
#ๅฅฝใใชใฒใผใ ใฏใใใฉใน๏ผใใผใใณใฌใ ใใใใขใฐใชใณใฉใใชใฉใฎ้้ใฒใผใ ใจๅผใฐใใใฒใผใ ใๅฅฝใใงใใใใใใฏ็ซถใใฒใผใ ใ็ตๆธใฒใผใ ใชใฉใๅฅฝใใงใใ
ใใผใใฒใผใ ใซใใงใใใใณใฐใใซใคใใฆๆใใฆใใ ใใใ
#ใใผใใฒใผใ ใทใงใใใใใณใฐใงใใ ็ฅๅฅๅท็่คๆฒขๅธๆนๅๅฐใงใใผใใฒใผใ ใ้ในใฆใป่ฒทใใฆใปๆฅฝใใใใๅบใ็ตๅถใใฆใใพใใๆจๅนดใฏๅใใฆ่ชๅใใกใงใฒใผใ ใไฝๆใใใSIGN-ใตใคใณ-ใใๅบ็ใใใใพใใใ ๆใป็ซๆๆฅใฏๅฎไผๆฅใงใใใใใไปฅๅคใฎๆๆฅใ็ฅๆฅใฏ13:00-22:00ใงๅถๆฅญใใฆใใใพใใ
็งใใกใใใใใณใฐใใซ่กใใจใใใคใไธๅฏงใซใฒใผใ ใฎใซใผใซใๆใใฆใใใพใใใใๅบใซใใใฒใผใ ใฎใซใผใซใใในใฆๅๅผทใใใใใใฎใงใใใ
#ๅ จใฆๅฎ็ง๏ผใจใพใงใฏใใใชใใงใใใใ็จๅบฆใฏๆๆกใงใใฆใใพใใๆฅใ ใๆฐใใใใฌใค็จใฎใฒใผใ ใ้ๅฐใใใใๅธธ้ฃๆงใ่ฒใใชๆฐใใใฒใผใ ใ็ฝฎใใฆใใฃใฆใใใใใใใฎใงไธญใ ่ฟฝใใคใใฎใซๅฟ ๆญปใงใใ
ใใฎๅบฆใฎใSIGNใใจใใไฝๅใซใคใใฆใ็ดนไปใ้กใใใพใใ
#SIGNใฏใๆ็ฉบใใคใใๅๅใฎใใผใใฒใผใ ใงใใ ่งฃ็ญ่ ไปฅๅคใฎใฟใใชใงใใพใใพใชๅ่ชใฎๆธใใใใๆใฎใซใผใใใใ้กใซๆฒฟใฃใฆๅ ดใซๅบใใฆใใใพใใ ๆใฎใซใผใๅๅฃซใไธ็ญๅทใใใใง็นใใไบใงใฉใกใใฎๅ่ชใฎๆนใใ้กใซ่ฟใใฎใใ่งฃ็ญ่ ใซไผใใใใจใใงใใพใใ 2ๅ้ใงไฝใใใๆ็ฉบใ็บใใชใใ่งฃ็ญ่ ใฏๆญฃ่งฃใๆจ็ใใฆใใใพใใ ไฝๆใฎใกใใปใผใธ๏ผSIGN๏ผใใฟใชใใใฏๆญฃ่งฃใใใใจใใงใใใงใใใใ
ใSIGNใใไฝใใจใใซใใฉใฎใใใชใใญใปในใงไฝๆใใพใใใใไปใฎใฒใผใ ใไฝใใจใใจไฝใ้ใใใใใพใใใ
#ใใผใ ใงไฝใฃใฆใใใใใใพใใฏใฒใผใ ใฎๆกใๅ จๅกใงๅบใๅใใพใใใ ใในใใใฌใคใไฝๅใ้ใญใฆใ่ฏใใฃใใฒใผใ ใซๆ็ฅจใใใไธ็ช็ฅจใ้ใพใฃใใใฎใๅๅๅใใพใใใ ๆๅใฏใฉใณใญใณใฐ็ณปใฎไพกๅค่ฆณใฒใผใ ใ ใฃใใฎใงใใใใใใไฝๅบฆใใในใใใฌใคใ้ใญใฆ็พๅจใฎๅฝขใซ่ฟใฅใใพใใใๅฝๆใฏ้ป่ปใใขใใผใใฎใฒใผใ ใงใใใใใใใใใใใใใใใฎๆนใซ้ใใงใใใ ใใใใใซๆๅบงใขใใผใใซๅคใใพใใใ
ใSIGNใใฎใฒใผใ ใไฝใๅงใใฆใใ็บๅฃฒใซ่ณใใพใงใใฉใใใใใฎๆ้ใใใใใพใใใใๆใๅคงๅคใ ใฃใใใจใฏไฝใงใใใ
#ๆๅใซๆงๆณใไฝใฃใฆใใใฏ1ๅนดใปใฉใใใใพใใใไธ็ชๅคงๅคใ ใฃใใฎใฏใใผใ ใงๅใใฆใใใใใๆ่ฆใใใใใ้ใพใๅใใฉใฎๆ่ฆใง่กใใใพใจใใใฎใๅคงๅคใงใใใ
ใSIGNใใไฝๆใใใซใใใใๆใๅฝฑ้ฟใๅใใใใฎใฏไฝใงใใใ
#ใitoใใใใธใฃในใใฏใณใใชใฉใฎๅๅใฒใผใ ใฏๅฝฑ้ฟใๅใใพใใใ
ใSIGNใใไฝๆใใใซใใใๆใๆๆฆใใใใจใชใฉใฏใใใพใใใ
#ๆใๆๆฆใใใใจใฏๅฐๅท้จๆฐใงใใๅฝๅใฏ50้จใใใใฎๅฐใชใใญใใใง่ฃฝไฝใใใใจๆใฃใใฎใงใใใ50้จใงใฏ1ใคใใใใฎๅไพกใ5ใ6ๅๅใชใฉใซใชใฃใฆใใพใ่ฒฉๅฃฒไพกๆ ผใ้ซ้จฐใใฆใใพใใใใใใใๅทใๅฟ ่ฆใใใใพใใใใใใใๅทใใจใใใใจใฏใใใใใใฒใผใ ใซใใใใจใใๆฐๅใใๅ ฅใใพใใใใ็ทๅผตใใใพใใใ
ใSIGNใใซ็จใใใใฆใใ่จ่ใใๅบ้กใใผใใฏใฉใฎใใใซ้ธๅฎใใพใใใใ
#่จ่ใใในใใใฌใคใ้ใญใฆใใไธญใงใใใใใ่จ่ใใใฃใใใใใใใใจใใ่จ่ใ้ธใณใพใใใใ้กใซใผใใฏใใผใ ๅ จๅกใงใ้กใซใชใใใใช่จ่ใๅบใๅใใพใใใ
ใใใณใฐใงใSIGNใใใใฌใคใใๆนใใใใฃใใใใใจๆใใพใใใใใฌใคใใใๆนใฎๅ้ฟใฏใฉใใงใใใ
#ใฟใชใใพใจใฆใๆฅฝใใใง้ใใงใใใ ใใฆใใฆใจใฆใๅฌใใใงใใใใฌใคใใใๅพใงๆฅฝใใใฃใใใ่ณผๅ ฅใใใ๏ผใจ่จใฃใฆใใ ใใๆนใใใใฃใใใฃใฆใใใใใ้ใใงใใ ใใใใใใใใๅ้ฟใใใใ ใใฆใใฆใใๆฏๅSIGNใ้ใใงใใใๆใฏ็ทๅผตใใพใใ็ฌ
ๅถไฝๆใฎใในใใใๅฎขๆงใฎใใฌใคใฎไธญใงๅฐ่ฑก็ใชๅ็ญใ้ข็ฝใๅฑ้ใชใฉใฎ็ต้จใใใใฐๆใใฆใใ ใใใ
#ใๅฎขๆงใ้ใฐใใฆใใๆใซใใไปๅใฎ่งฃ็ญ่ ใๆใฃใฆใใใใจใใใ้กใงใใใจใใใจใใๅ่ชใใจใฆใๅผทใใใฆใใใฎใงใใใใชใใจๅ็ญ่ ใฎๆนใฎ่ๅญใไฝ่คใใใ ใฃใใใใงใใ ๆๅใฏใฟใใชใใชใใง็ ็ณใๆใฃใฆใใใ ใปใปใป๏ผใใจใใ้ฐๅฒๆฐใซใชใฃใฆใใพใใใๅๅญใ๏ผใจใใใฃใไบบใใกใใใใใใใฆใใใฎใใฟใฆใใฆ้ข็ฝใใฃใใงใใ
ใSIGNใใซใใใฆใใใฌใคใคใผใซไผใใใใใ ใใฃใใใคใณใใชใฉใใใพใใใ
#ใใ ใใฃใใใคใณใใฏๅฎๆใใ็ค้ขใๆ็ฉบใฎใใใซ่ฆใใใใใซใใใใจใงใใ่ฆๆ ใใ่ฏใใใจใฏใจใฆใ่คใใฆใใใ ใใพใใใพใใๅคงๅๅฉใฒใผใ ใชใฉใง่ช็ฑใซ็บ่จใใใฎใ่ฆๆใชๆนใซใๆฅฝใใใงใใใ ใใใใใซใใใใใใชๆนใ้ในใใใใซใใ ใใใพใใใ
ใใใใใฎใใผใใฒใผใ ๏ผ็นใซๅไบบ่ฃฝไฝ๏ผใฏใใใพใใใใใใใใฎใใคใณใใๆใใฆใใ ใใใ
#MoB๏ผใใใฎใใใใใฏๆ่ปฝใซใงใใฆ่่ฅ็ทๅฅณๆฅฝใใใใฎใงใชในในใกใงใใๅฏๆใใคใฉในใใฏใSIGNใใจๅใใๅฅๅบใใใใใๆใใใฆใใพใใ
ใใฌใคใคใผใฎ็ใใใธไฝใใกใใปใผใธใใใใฐไธ่จใ้กใใใพใใ
#ใใผใใฒใผใ ใทใงใใใใใณใฐใๅฟๆดใใฆใใใ ใใฆใใ็ใใใใSIGNใใๆฅฝใใใงใใใ ใใฆใใใฟใชใใใใใคใใใใใจใใใใใพใใใใผใใฒใผใ ใฏใจใฆใ็ด ๆตใช้ญ ๅใใใใพใใใใใใใไธ็ไธญใฎใใใใใฎ็ด ๆตใชใใผใใฒใผใ ใๆฅฝใใใงใใใ ใใพใใจๅนธใใงใ๏ผใใใใใๅฟๆดใใใใใ้กใใใใใพใใ