Hey, Good Game

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.

53:48

Creator website

Episode guests

Jeff Widderich

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Importance of spatial thinking in game design highlighted by Jeff Widderich.

Innovation and competitive nature crucial for puzzle industry growth according to Widderich.

Deep dives

Jeff Wooderich's Negotiation with Investors

Jeff Wooderich entered a negotiation with investors seeking $50,000 but ended up securing $150,000 after intense back-and-forth discussions. The investors kept raising the price initially proposed, illustrating the negotiation process's challenges.

Introduction

5min

Innovating Game Design: From Chess Sets to Mouse Chaos

8min

Challenges and Success in Board Game Design

5min

Puzzles and Investments

14min

Navigating the Gaming Market: Timing and Strategy

3min

Navigating the Complexities of Game Design

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/