Will Sudoku ever be stopped?

Mar 12, 2024

Jeff Widderich, President of Syndicated Puzzles, discusses the importance of spatial thinking, the competitive nature of puzzles, and the potential for multi-solution puzzles in the puzzle industry. He emphasizes creativity in puzzle design, the struggle to break through in the game industry, and offers insights on the Sudoku industry. Widderich also expresses the need for new energy and innovation in the puzzle market.

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

Introduction

00:00 • 5min

Innovating Game Design: From Chess Sets to Mouse Chaos

05:22 • 8min

Challenges and Success in Board Game Design

12:55 • 5min

Puzzles and Investments

17:41 • 14min

Navigating the Gaming Market: Timing and Strategy

31:48 • 3min

Navigating the Complexities of Game Design

34:57 • 19min

Episode 15: In today's episode features an interview with Jeff Widderich, the president of Syndicated Puzzles, who discusses his background, experience on Dragon's Den, game creation, the challenges faced in the puzzle industry, and the future of game design. Widderich shares insights on the importance of spatial thinking, the necessity for new and innovative puzzles, the competitive nature of puzzles, and the potential for multi-solution puzzles. He emphasizes the need for game designers to remain independent and the significance of creativity in puzzle design. Additionally, he addresses the influence of trends, the struggle to break through in the game industry, and his perspectives on the Sudoku industry. Widderich also discusses geographic influences on his business and expresses his desire for new energy and innovation in the puzzle market.

Check out the games and resources from this episode:

http://syndicatedpuzzles.com/
https://www.str8ts.com/
https://sudokuwiki.org/

(00:00) - The Art of Negotiation and Podcast Introduction
(01:32) - Diving Deep with Jeff Widerich: The Puzzle Visionary
(02:18) - The Birth of Straights: A Puzzle Revolution
(04:59) - Collaboration and Innovation: The Making of Straights
(07:49) - From Art to Games: Jeff's Creative Journey
(12:55) - Board Games vs. Sheet Puzzles: A Comparative Analysis
(16:25) - The Architectural Mind Behind Game Design
(22:05) - Syndicated Puzzles: A Journey Through App Development
(26:04) - Discovering Talent and Preparing for Dragon's Den
(26:32) - A Unique Approach on Dragon's Den
(29:34) - The Aftermath of Dragon's Den Success
(32:27) - The Importance of Timing in Game Design
(36:28) - Navigating the Puzzle Industry's Challenges
(43:51) - Advice for Aspiring Game Creators
(45:39) - The Future of Game Design: Multi-Solution Puzzles
(51:14) - The Struggle for Innovation in Puzzle Publishing

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com