“We set players up to be the stars of the show.”

We’ve gathered a group of 4-6 players to try some collaborative games with mechanics that appeal to a wide variety of skills. These games are hilarious and we emerge feeling smart and witty. No, I’m not talking about the latest escape rooms. We have just finished a session of Jackbox Games.

Jackbox Games are games for large groups of people who can participate via personal devices, no controllers needed. They offer a wide variety of gaming styles, including drawing games, trivia, presentation style games, and other types that encourage creativity and humor. 

Brooke Breit is a creative director at Jackbox Games, and she joins us to talk about their game development cycle, including theme selection, prototyping, the importance of humor, and prioritizing player engagement. She is also a veteran improv performer with stints at Second City and Hello From the Magic Tavern. Jackbox Games tend to reward creative brainstorming, and Brooke talks to us about how improv training has helped with both creating and playing party games.

Brooke shares insights into Jackbox Games’ philosophy of creating social, humor-filled party games that facilitate connection and engagement. I would love to see more escape rooms embrace the party game philosophy that winning is secondary to having a good time.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

We are immensely grateful to our sponsors this season: Morty App, Buzzshot, and COGS. We truly appreciate your support of our mission to promote and improve the immersive gaming community.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 00:13 Sponsor Break: Buzzshot, Escape Room Marketing Software
• 08:50 Jackbox Games During an Escape Room Tour
• 11:45 Designing Games During Quarantine
• 13:27 How the Game Director Keeps the Vision Alive
• 15:35 Avoiding Scope Creep in Video Games
• 18:17 Hallmarks of a Jackbox Game
• 20:47 Sponsor Break: Morty App, Discover And Track Escape Rooms
• 22:27 Theming for Jackbox Games
• 24:35 Testing and Prototyping Jackbox Games
• 27:44 Choosing the Composition of a Party Pack
• 30:39 Sponsor Break: Cogs By Clockwork Dog, Interactive Show Controls
• 32:54 Second City Improv Experience
• 37:52 Hello From the Magic Tavern Fantasy Improv Podcast
• 40:02 Using Improv When Playing Jackbox 
• 45:38 Surprising Feedback During Game Development
• 46:35 Gags in Jackbox Games
• 47:29 Inspiration Behind Job Job
• 51:50 Survivor Plays Roomerang

• 56:50 Challenges of Designing a Music Game, Dodo Re Mi
• 01:02:14 Future Projects: Mega Picker and The Naughty Pack
• 01:10:43 Bonus Story: An Escape Room for Mother’s Day

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Got a question or thought for the podcast? You can submit a voice recording by calling the Room Escape Artist not-so-hotline that always goes straight to voicemail (551-227-7273).

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

• Jackbox Games Official Website
• YouTube Tutorials of Jackbox Games Mentioned
  • Job Job
  • Roomerang
  • Dodo Re Mi
• Brooke Breit at Second City
• Hello from the Magic Tavern Podcast

About Brooke Breit

Bluesky: @brookebreit

Brooke Breit is a Product Manager/ Creative Director at Jackbox Games and has directed games like Job Job, Roomerang, and Dodo Re Mi. She is also an actor, comedian, and an alum of The Second City who you might know as Flower from the podcast Hello From the Magic Tavern or as the Yard Sale Lady in a Geico commercial. Also, check her out in the new comedy series Mr. Throwback on Peacock!

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