653 Elan Lee, Co-Creator of Exploding Kittens — How to Raise Millions on Kickstarter, Deconstructing Mega-Successes, Secrets of Game Design

This is a OPEN AI summary of the Tim Ferriss Podcast #653- visit www.TinyTim.blog for more AI summaries, or www.Tim.blog for the official Tim Ferriss Podcasts.

In this episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, Tim Ferriss interviews game designer and Exploding Kittens CEO Elan Lee. They discuss the process of designing and developing games, with a focus on the core gameplay loop. They also talk about how the game is a tool for players to have fun with each other, and how the game's strong core gameplay loop allows for interactions that are memorable and enjoyable.

Cards Against Humanity is a card game created by Elan Lee and Matt Inman. The objective of the game is to get through as many one-word cards as possible, as fast as possible. The game is won by the player who has the most points at the end of the game. Elan Lee's game "Exploding Kittens" is a card game that is played by taking turns drawing cards. If a player draws the bullet card, they are out. The game was successful on Kickstarter because it introduced a new gameplay loop that was more interactive and engaging than previous games. Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform that allows people to pledge money to support creative projects. Projects that reach their funding goal receive the money pledged by backers. Kickstarter also offers stretch goals, which are additional goals that can be met if more money is pledged. The company has now shifted its focus to CROWDfunding, which asks backers to complete fun challenges instead of pledging more money.

Elan Lee, co-founder of Kickstarter and creator of the popular "Exploding Kittens" game, discusses the company's success and how they apply positive constraints to expand and raise funding. He also talks about the design and manufacturing process for their games, and the importance of making high-quality products.

Elan Lee, a game designer, discusses his approach to designing games. He starts by brainstorming ideas and then fleshes out the gameplay loop and components. He then playtests the game with potential players to ensure that it is enjoyable. Lee emphasizes the importance of simple components in game design, as well as the need to playtest with others to ensure that the game is enjoyable.

Elan Lee, designer of Exploding Kittens, talks about his design process and the appeal of simple games. He starts with the conflict, imagining two people in a room with a blank card. He then tries to resolve the conflict by thinking about what conversation could happen between the two people. Other guiding principles for his design process include making games that are two-player and have simple instructions. In this interview, Tim Ferriss and Elan Lee discuss the importance of games in society. Ferriss argues that games are essential to helping people learn and grow, while Lee argues that games can be used to chase fads. The individual discusses their lack of experience with D&D and other strategy games, but notes their love for board and card games. They explain the concept of fill-in-the-blank games, using the example of "What is the best thing I could wear on my head?" Deck building games are also mentioned, with the individual noting that each card in these games has a special and powerful purpose.

Elan Lee and Jordan Weisman are co-founders of a clothing company that made shirts with hidden messages. The messages were code for a two-minute TV show clip. The show was about a band with an oppressive producer. A member of the band gets murdered, and the players have to figure out who did it.

Elan Lee is a game designer who creates games that are fun for both him and his daughter. He also talks about how his daughter will be helping to design some games that will be released commercially in the coming year.

Elan Lee, the creator of Exploding Kittens, discusses the success of his card game on Amazon. He attributes the success to the fact that the game was not available for purchase anywhere else, and that the launch itself became a story that helped to further perpetuate the sales.

Elan Lee and Matt Maude, the creators of "Exploding Kittens," discuss their journey from small-time game makers to successful entrepreneurs. They recount how they turned down investment offers from Peter Chernin and other big names in order to maintain creative control of their product. Eventually, they caved to Chernin's offer and agreed to let him invest in their company. This decision led to a whole new level of success for the duo, who went on to create a successful TV show based on their game.

Elan Lee, co-founder of Fourth Wall Studios and creator of "Exploding Kittens," talks to Tim Ferriss about the importance of always learning and growing as a company. He also talks about how they offer equity to all employees and how he is interested in empowering a community through story.

Tim Ferriss doesn't think it's possible for most people to overcome armies of data scientists and algorithms with self-control, so he doesn't have any social apps on his phone. Elan Lee thanks Tim for tuning in.

653 https://tim.blog/2023/02/03/elan-lee/