​​Chat with Matt

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We recently sat down with Matt and had a chat about his experience making this game and his plans. First, we asked Matt about his background in designing games. 

"Canine Kleptomaniacs was a bit of family fun that got out of hand - so there’s not much to say really. I suppose my day job as a museum exhibition and interactives designer employs some of the same skills that are relevant to designing tabletop games. I don’t really consider myself a bona fide game designer though, and I certainly can’t claim all the credit, as this project has truly been a family affair." 

 

I think for me that is part of the charm here. How this game developed in this way and has brought us so much joy What got you into the hobby as a player?

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"As long as the kids have been old enough, we’ve always played board games, mainly during holidays. I guess my first experience outside the usual fare of Cluedo, Monopoly and Uno was with Carcassonne (which I still love). My wife and I have only got into the hobby during the last three years, during the development of our own game. I’d say my wife Jo is the driving force when it comes to new game purchasing. We’re already well on our way to needing dedicated storage options! Thankfully we have an Ikea in Exeter!"

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So how did your game come about?

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"A compulsively thieving dog, a caravan, two wet summer holidays and my playful challenge to the family to “make a game” led to the creation of Canine Kleptomaniacs! 

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Motivated primarily by concern over the amount of time our three teens were spending on screens and being trapped in our caravan on successive wet summer holidays in Devon, we hatched this idea for a game based on the ridiculous thieving antics of our spaniel, Amber. 

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Our youngest son lays claim to setting the illustrative tone of the game with his simplistic drawing of a squirrel. Our daughter says that she came up with rules for the revolting poo pizza card and several others. Our eldest son unearthed a talent for creating quirky illustrations and was responsible for all the artwork. My wife Jo has been a constant sanity checker, controlling the excesses of my childish tendencies for humour and helping refine rules and playtest the game with the public. 

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We spent more than a couple of years developing and playtesting prototypes of the game with ever-widening circles of friends, and here we are now, out in the big scary world with our little orange box of joy, wondering what we do next!"

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See paragraph three! How do you feel when you see people play one of your games at home?

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"Thrilled! Happy and proud of what we’ve achieved as a family. Pleased that something I have been a part of is bringing joy, laughter (and the occasional tantrum) to people young and old across the land!"

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Well that is certainly what we have experienced, without the tantrums, yet! What do you see in the future?

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"We’ve been buoyed by reactions to the game. We know there’s a market. We just must try and get some traction so we can shift our initial print run and replenish an ailing bank balance! 

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The theme of the game leaves lots of scope for future development. In fact, we’ve already got a near-complete add-on, which we considered launching with our original Kickstarter. Called ‘Covert Ops’, it introduces a whole James-Bond / Mission Impossible twist to the game. 

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I wrote out a list of some of the other ideas for add-ons. They’re not anything much more than titles in my head right now, but I can imagine a whole heap more silliness in some of these: Pups in the Palace: A Right Royal Robbery; Dog Ate My Homework - Back to School Edition; Wild and Wanted; Christmas Capers; The Master’s Revenge...

 

There have been so many steep learning curves to clamber up since I jokingly said to the family ‘let’s make a game’! The steepest curve of all has been learning how to market and sell the game whilst simultaneously holding down the day jobs!" 

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All that sounds very exciting, keep us posted! If you could have any other game not made by you in your roster of designed games what would it be and why?

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"Uno! I’d be happy with that!"

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My wife loves Uno, but I think she prefers your game! And finally, which other designer would you most like to have a games night with and why? 

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"I’m a big fan of Shem Philips’ games. Raiders of the North Sea is one of my favourites. It is also one of the few where I still get a look in at winning against my wife!"

 

I know that feeling. Thanks, so much for taking the time to talk with us Matt. I cannot wait to see what you come up with next.

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And to all you out there, I urge you to check this out. If you are looking for a fun, light, quick card game to play with your children or group, then I can highly recommend this game. If you want to read my review of the expansion, then click here. ​​​​