Shem Phillips has his own game publishing label, Garphill Games. His most recent, game Plethora, was funded through PledgeMe. Another of his designs, Saqqara got picked up by a European publisher and was released at SPIEL in Essen this year, the largest board gaming convention in the world. Shem's day job is running a digital garment printing factory on the Kapiti Coast called Print Mighty. He talks to Gill South
Garphill Games
In 2008 I started designing my own games. A year later I ventured out into the unknown by self-publishing my first title, Linwood, naming my publishing label Garphill Games, in tribute to my father, Gary Phillips. Since then I have released two more games, and had another, Saqqara, published by White Goblin Games.
It's hard to pin-point exactly how or why I became a designer. I suppose it's just another creative outlet. The great thing about game design is that it requires a good balance of creativity and number crunching.
I think this is what appeals to me about the hobby. I say hobby, because I am yet to make any decent money from my games. However, in time I think the market will begin to shift to favour the one-guy type publishing companies like myself. At this stage I am just aiming to release one or two games each year, and hopefully build a bit of a reputation and following from gamers.