#821: My Two-Year Secret Project, COYOTE — The Strategies and Tactics for Building a Bestseller from Nothing with Elan Lee of Exploding Kittens

This is a very special episode for me. My brand-new card game, COYOTE, created in collaboration with Elan Lee and Exploding Kittens, is here. It is available in ~8,000 locations worldwide, including Walmart, Target, Amazon, and many others. Learn more: https://coyotegame.com.

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Timestamps (will be updated):

00:00 Intro

05:21 The Journey to Creating a Game

05:51 The Creative Process Behind Coyote

17:16 The Importance of Constraints in Creativity

35:04 The Toronto Sprint

41:02 The Evolution of Coyote: From Concept to Prototype

47:36 Game Design Principles and Recommendations

51:53 Introduction to 'Don't Shoot the Dog'

53:25 Simplifying Game Design

58:55 Playtesting and Iteration

01:08:10 Finding the Sweet Spot in Game Difficulty

01:14:35 The Success of 'Hurry Up Chicken Butt'

01:22:26 Testing and Feedback Process

01:34:49 Pitching to Big Retailers

01:36:19 Designing the Perfect Game Box

01:36:31 Testing and Validating Game Designs

01:41:23 The Road to Retail Success

01:43:51 Keys to a Successful Line Review

01:44:29 The Role of Agents and Publishers

02:07:56 Crowdfunding and Self-Publishing

02:19:56 Understanding Game Publishing Deals

02:27:40 Common Pitfalls in Game Packaging and Marketing

02:38:39 Navigating Retail and Distribution Challenges

02:47:25 Final Thoughts and a Tantalizing Offer

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