A Look Back to Move Forward: The Creative Process
How’s everyone doing? We hope you’re doing well and making steady progress toward your goals!
Here at Amurá Unlimited, we’re doing what we do best—creating, developing, and exploring new possibilities. (As always, lol!)
When I get deep into the creative process, I like to step back and revisit some of my earlier game designs. I call it a little “look-see.” I look at the decisions I made, the challenges I faced, and the solutions I came up with. Sometimes, looking back provides just the inspiration I need to move forward.
Now, I have this thing for wood and wood-based products. Why? That’s probably a question only a psychiatrist could answer! LOL. Maybe it’s the sculptor in me. There’s just something about seeing my games take shape on a wooden board that makes the project feel real. It’s as if the idea has finally stepped out of my imagination and into the physical world.
And if that wooden board can be elevated into something beautiful, like a finely crafted, handmade chessboard, even better! Now we’re talking pizzazz!
With games like Gin-Go, Squarin’ Off, Attactics, and Warrior Zone (still in development), the wooden board came first. Only afterward did I explore other formats, such as mouse-pad and folding boards.
There’s a practical reason behind this approach, too. Building a game in its original form forces me to work through the rules, test the mechanics, and resolve design challenges before moving on to production. Once the game works as intended, I can explore ways to make it more accessible to customers through simpler, more affordable formats.
It’s a process that allows me to see not only what a game is today, but also what it might become tomorrow.
For me, creativity isn’t just about coming up with a great idea. It’s about giving that idea a solid foundation, exploring its possibilities, and bringing it to life.
Sometimes, moving forward means taking a little time to look back. And you never know—your next great idea might be hiding in something you’ve already created!
Keep creating, keep exploring, and keep moving toward your goals. You never know where your next idea will take you!
Here are wooden versions of two of my games and their current counterparts (from left to right - Squarin' Off and Gin-Go):
An older version of a Squarin' Off with dark and light stained tiles.
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