On 19 October 2024, the Catalan board game A Risk Cat made one of its first public appearances at Calders Juga, a leading event for board game enthusiasts in Central Catalonia, where it was presented as a prototype.
Luci Morera, the game’s co-creator, took part in an interview in the prototype area and explained the creation of A Risk Cat, a game of risk and strategy illustrated by Terrassa artist Octavi Intente, a painter with a passion for cats. ‘It is a push-your-luck game where players try to collect as many paintings as possible, but can lose everything if they take too many risks,’ Luci explained.
The project began with Luci and her partner Joan Rosset. Inspired by a similar game, they decided to create their own with original illustrations. The festival Calders Juga, run by CALDAUS (Calders’ board game association), gave them the opportunity to share the game with the public and gather real feedback to keep improving the rules and playing experience.
With a strong emphasis on creativity and visual appeal, A Risk Cat combines simple mechanics with a rich visual and narrative world. ‘We don’t come from the world of game design; we are players. But it has been very exciting to see the project take shape,’ Luci added.
Although the presentation video shows an early version of the game, you can watch it below to discover its origins and the public’s first impressions:
Video transcript:
Presenter: Here we are with Luci Morera.
Luci: Hello, thank you.
Presenter: Welcome to Calders Juga.
Luci: It’s a pleasure.
Presenter: You are here today with a prototype of a game called A Risk Cat. Tell us a little about your game.
Luci: It is a push-your-luck game, involving chance, where you try to collect paintings. A painter has made these paintings, and because he really likes cats, he has put a cat in each one. The aim is to score as highly as possible to win the paintings.
Presenter: Those paintings with the cats. Wow! And, as you mentioned earlier, you made this game with your partner?
Luci: That’s right.
Presenter: And the two of you have been working on it…
Luci: Yes. We discovered a game that more or less gave us the idea for this one. We then made it using drawings by a friend, Octavi Intente, who is a painter and illustrator. We tried it that way, then decided to take a different approach. Now the paintings are being made especially for the game.Presenter: How wonderful! You have the artistic side, the mechanics and the storytelling all together. Since you are one of the people bringing prototypes, I wanted to ask about that process. How did it evolve from your first idea to the game people can play here today?Luci: As I was saying, we first focused on a game that gave us the idea to get started. Then we developed it and commissioned these paintings, working closely with the artist. We kept shaping it and brought it here.
Presenter: Once you have thought up the game and made that first version available to the public, what does the public help you change? Does it help you fine-tune it?
Luci: We had already tested it with friends before coming here. We are looking for feedback to make changes. It has been a pleasure to meet people outside who, while not necessarily working professionally in games, have made many of them. They have helped us set out the rules, see how to organise them and consider what we could change.
Presenter: Very good. Here in Calders this year, we have made a real effort to welcome people with prototypes and let visitors play them. We hope you take away all the feedback you need. When the interviews are finished, I will come over because I want to see it. I love the artistic side too, so I am delighted to try it. Do you have plans or a date for release, or for presenting it to a publisher?
Luci: No. One reason for coming was to meet people who could help and point us towards publishers. We already have a contact in Terrassa who has made games, so that is one route, but we wanted to meet others. We don’t know this sector: we are players, not designers, and this is our first game. It has been a pleasure to meet people who have worked in it for many years.
Presenter: Well, we hope the finished game will be here for the next Calders Juga. That would be great.
Luci: We would love that.
Presenter: And if things go well and it goes on sale, please let us know.
Luci: We will certainly give Marc a copy. We have already promised you at least one, and I expect there will be more, so yes, absolutely.
Presenter: We would love to have it.
Luci: Very good.
Presenter: Thank you very much.
Luci: Goodbye.
