In episode 125 of Game Design Unboxed, we chat with Roberto Panetta, designer of Gems of Iridescia and founder of Rock, Stone & Dice Games.

Roberto shares how his background in toy and game retail gave him the marketing and sales experience to start his own publishing company. He opens up about reigniting his creativity after feeling uninspired, collaborating with family to build the story and theme behind his first game, and learning the power of feedback from fellow designers. We also discuss common misconceptions about “pretty” games, the pros and cons of bringing your design to digital platforms, and why clear rulebooks matter.

Roberto also talks about his experience with how welcoming and supportive the tabletop design community is, and his convention recommendations for new designers entering the space including UNPUB, Protospiel, and smaller playtest-focused conventions.