Twenty-Some Questions:
A Moment With
Dan Smith,
Smif Ink / Third World Games
Who are you, who are you with, and what
the heck do you do?
Dan Smith AKA Smif (Smif Ink) illustrator and game designer. I am aligned
with Third World Games (TWG), a hell of a great company to be a part of. I
do it all, big or small, from game design to graphic design, to web
design...I'll design anything!
How long have you been in the gaming industry? How did you get started?
13+ years as a freelance illustrator in the industry, 3 years as a game
designer. My first gig was doing 20 illustrations for Steve Jackson Games'
GURPS ULTRATECH, and was I one proud puppy when it came out.
What are you currently working on?
I am working on new sets for my PORTABLE ADVENTURES - The multi genre card
game line, specifically a sci-fi set based upon TWG's FIRESTORM line and a
spy/set called IRON MAIDENS (girl robots, a genre classic!) Also TWG will
be coming out with an expanded edition of my successful BATTLE OF THE
BANDS: the rock and roll card game.
What, if you can remember, was the first game that you ever played? If
you
can’t remember your first (shame on you!) then what was the first one that
really lit your fire?
The first game that made an impression was AMERICAN HERITAGE: DOGFIGHT, a
fun board game dealing with WWI aerial battles. The game that twisted me
into a gamer, AD+D, just before DMG was printed. Man, those were the days,
killing and pillaging without regret or actual role-playing. Ah, youth....
Are there any game companies or designers that you admire, and why?
I admire what Steve Jackson has accomplished in the industry, working with
TWG, I admire their sensibilities and passion. Cumberland games is another
company that I admire for their spunk and high quality work.
What, if anything, would you say is the hardest thing about the gaming
business?
Getting paid. Period. Everything else is toothpaste. Shout out to all of
the I.C.E. victims in the house! ;)
If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing?
I do stuff in addition to this, life is too short to put all of your eggs
in one basket. I have a successful graphic design business outside of the
industry, and I am the trivia master of the western sector of the USA. Go
ahead, try me...;).
Where you cool in School, and are you cool now?
I got cool during 11th grade, but it was because of my extracurricular
activities that got me attention from my classmates. I was a second
generation Mod. With scooter and everything.
What changes, in reference to the gaming industry, would you like to see
take place in the future?
I would like the industry to open it's conceptual horizons, wayyyyy too
many games about weird life forms killing other life forms. Gaming is too
entrenched in the "I BEAT you" mentality, we've lost the social
interaction that gaming used to be about.
Are there any changes that have taken place that you dislike?
There is so much out there that is crap, that to list anything here would
be pointless, ultimately we need more voices contributing to the gaming
concept, other than corporations and media giants.
What do you like to do in your free time, other than gaming?
Music, film, dancing, collecting everything, drawing, making friends.
Is there anything new in the gaming industry that has impressed you?
Other than my games? ;) Not really, everything is pretty much status quo.
Do you play role-playing games?
I used to be THE gm for GURPS, but time restriction keeps that from
happening too much now.
Do you play any CCG’s?
No. I like traditional card games, everyone has the same opportunity to
win, and it's social, not deathly competitive.
Do you play any board games?
I rule at BARBIE, QUEEN OF THE PROM and MYSTERY DATE. Now, that's role
playing!
Do you play any miniatures games?
No room. Altho' I liked Silent Death and Space Hulk.
If you could pick only one superpower,
what would it be?
Flight!
Do you have a favorite movie if so,
which one?
I have 3: Seven Samurai, Bell, Book and Candle, and True Grit.
Do you have a favorite book or series of books if so, which?
I am Legend. I cried when I first read it. It's weird, tears coming down
your face as you're trying to read.
Television - do you own one? Do you have any favorite shows or genres?
Yes, SCTV, the greatest show ever made, even the bad shows are worth
watching...sort of. Fave genre is the western.
When gaming, what are your favorite eats and/or beverages?
Dr. Pepper. Celery sticks.
What’s cooler: Ninjas & Kung-Fu, or Zombies & the Undead?
Zombies, by far. Martial arts are okay, but the thought of shambling,
hungry, mindless...oh hell, we have those already. ;)
What was the first game that you
designed?
7th grade I made the KISS board game with photos cut from magazines and
the KISS ALIVE booklet. To say that game rocked is an understatement. ;)
In music, many musicians compare personal musical success to the
Beatles’ “Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band” like the ultimate
goal. (I’ve put out many great records, but still haven’t put out my Sgt.
Peppers yet. Ozzy). Have you, as a designer, designed your Sgt. Peppers,
so to speak? If not, what game has come close?
Battle of the Bands is that game. (The musical reference actually fits
here. ;).) It fulfills everyone's wish to front their own rock band while
having enough bizarre elements to make it really wild and different every
time you play it. Example: You are the Lyricist and you play the Kazoo,
your Mom is the sex machine and she plays with chocolate syrup(!), Santa
is the ass-kicker of the band and he wails on the gong and Rob the Zombie
is the drunk and he plays the electric bass. This is your band. You have
bested the other bands in play at 2 gigs, the Garage gig and the Nite Klub.
You've had 1 hit so far, the national anthem!
Do you have a favorite game genre?
Post apocalyptic, hands down!
What advice do you have for any would-be game designer?
Write what you know. I love music, my best game is about music.
Is there a game style that you haven’t tackled yet but would like to?
With my PORTABLE ADVENTURES card game line, I will eventually tackle all
of the genres, I mean I've done 8th grade, now that's a genre!
Where do you get inspiration for your game designs?
Everywhere. Everything. I have 12 games on my computer just waiting to be
made about things you never have thought of for a viable (and fun!) game.
When do get an idea for a game, where do you start? What is involved in
your game creation process?
Paper and pencil to get the basic ideas down, or my portable tape
recorder( if I was smart enough to bring it! ;).) comes in handy.
Ultimately the computer is my best friend as I am graphically oriented and
most of my ideas stem from my art.
Dan Smith
Smif Ink/Third
World Games
Thanks to Dan for participating! I wonder
when that Kiss game is comin' out... ;)
- Guild Master
Posted 10-15-2003