Pinched! Designer Diary

by David Gordon

The spring of 2021 marked the beginning of a captivating journey into the world of yomi, a Japanese term that embodies the art of reading one’s opponent. This concept took root in various designs, inspired by the iconic goblet of wine scene from “The Princess Bride.” One of these designs eventually evolved into a key mechanic in the game Making Monsters, co-created with Jonathan Gilmour-Long, which is currently available in stores. In Making Monsters, players are rewarded for accurately predicting their neighbors’ actions.

For their new project, Jonathan and I aimed to create a group yomi experience featuring a one vs. many dynamic. The central idea was simple yet engaging: a single player would select a location, while the other players attempted to guess where that player would go. This setup fostered lively discussions and inspired the kind of strategic thinking reminiscent of “Princess Brid-ing.” During our first playtest, the sparks of creativity ignited, and we recognized we had something extraordinary.

Key Features of Pinched!

Dynamic Gameplay: A one vs. many structure encourages strategic collaboration and discussion among players.
Intuitive Scoring: Inspired by our love for Bohnanza, we simplified the scoring system to ensure clarity and accessibility.
Thematic Setting: Players assume the roles of marine scientists exploring the ocean from an international sea lab, adding depth to the gameplay experience.
Innovative Mechanics: The game introduces a ‘River’ mechanic, rewarding players who guess incorrectly with a card to build their strategy around.
Community Projects: Players can utilize cards that don’t match their hand, promoting creativity and adaptability in gameplay.

Throughout the development process, we experimented with various player counts, game lengths, and point systems, making numerous adjustments to refine the experience. A pivotal moment occurred during a playtest with Gil Hova, who suggested that players who guessed incorrectly should at least receive a card from the deck. This idea not only helped sustain game momentum but also offered support to players who faced misfortune during gameplay.

As the game progressed, it quickly became a favorite among playtesters, many of whom requested to play it repeatedly—a promising sign of its appeal. By the summer of 2021, we were actively pitching Sea Lab, and by September, a publisher expressed interest, contingent upon securing an intellectual property they believed would align well. Unfortunately, that endeavor did not materialize, leading Jonathan and me to revisit our pitches in spring 2024. In April, we presented our game to David Chircop and Gordon Calleja, and on May 2, we were thrilled to receive a contract offer from them. We had long admired the work of Mighty Boards, making this opportunity particularly exciting.

After signing the contract, David approached us with a new setting concept that seamlessly integrated into our original vision. Over the next nine months, we collaborated closely with Mighty Boards to refine every system, ensuring a cohesive and engaging gameplay experience. Their commitment to involving us in the editing and artistic processes was commendable, and we were consistently impressed by the quality of the artwork and the thematic coherence.

In a personal touch, I want to extend my gratitude to Mighty Boards for featuring my beagle, Gordon Gordon, on one of the game cards—a delightful surprise!

We sincerely hope you will enjoy Pinched! as much as we enjoyed creating it. Thank you for taking the time to read this designer diary.