scritto da

Simarillon (Davide)

A Modena con Dr. Eureka!

Fraga è l’autore di giochi come La Danza delle Uova (Haba), successo planetario e gioco che non deve mancare in nessuna collezione, ma anche Spinderella, vincitore del KinderSpiele des Jahres nel 2015 e gioco per piccoli dai componenti eccezionali, e del recentissimo Capitan Sonar (Matagot-Pendragon) che sono curiosissimo di provare e che da quanto letto sembra divertentissimo in una meccanica di un cooperativo a squadre che è qualcosa di nuovo e originale, particolare gradito con la quantità di giochi che ci sono oggi sul mercato.

Ho avuto la fortuna di conoscere Roberto Fraga durante Modena Play 2016. Il suo Dr. Eureka! spopolava in versione gigante allo stand Oliphante e lui era lì ad offrire partite con l’autore (con una semplicità e simpatia assolute) a tutti quelli che passavano. Roberto è stato così gentile che, dopo avermi stracciato in una partita a tre con lui e consorte, abbiamo chiacchierato per quasi un’ora. Queste chiacchiere si sono trasformate nell’intervista che gentilmente mi è stata concessa con delle domande un po’ più strutturate rispetto alle chiacchiere che si possono fare alle fiere.

Qui sotto potete leggere l’intervista in inglese e un breve sommario in italiano della stessa.

I’m born the 11th of December 1960 at La Coruña in Spain. I have both nationalities, French and Spanish.

And when did you create your first published game?

I have created DRAGON DELTA in 1996, the game was awarded in 2000 and published by Jeux Descartes in 2001. Now the game is re-published by Matagot (River Dragons).

Do you live working as a game designer? How difficult is this work? 

I’m working only as game Designer from December 2009.

Before I was captain of a Coast guards ship at Saint-Malo.
It’s not difficult.

You need to have imagination, to be a really good observer and to be really perseverant.

In your career you created a lot of game for children. Why?

When I design a game, I’m not thinking to create a game for children or for adults. For me there are no frontiers. Adults could play to children games, I don’t like the frontiers and categories (OK, I know I was custom officer!). I’m just creating because I like that.

After that, YOU, are explaining that’s children games: o))

Do you think it’s easier to create a game for children or for adults?

It’s more difficult to create ORIGINAL games for children, and from 0 to 5 it’s really difficult, and this target is really hard, but we have to do it!

How much time do you spend to create a new game?

Of course, that’s depends of the type of game.

But, my better ideas (like DR EURÊKA and DANCING EGGS) needs only 5 to 10 minutes… but of course, it’s a dream to always have this kind of ideas!!

What is the process that transform the idea of game in a real game? 

That’s totally secret ! :o)

How do you know that your game is a good game?

I never know it.

That’s the players who said that to me. I never know if my games are perfect or not, as I’m really really, really difficult designing games!

What it takes to turn an idea into a board game? 

All the ideas could become a game! All is possible, the only limit is your imagination.

Do you think that people, and especially children, can learn playing a board game? What can you try to teach with your games? 

I’m never thinking about that when I’m designing games.

But, I’m totally sure, that ALL THE GAMES can help children to learn something. It’s not so evident for a lot of teachers now, but it will be more efficient on the next years, I’m sure!!

KinderSpiel des Jahres

After the victory of KinderSpiel des Jahres with Spinderella what kind of emotions did you feel? 

To be honest, I was really really happy during 30 minutes, but after that I was just thinking “So OK, now you have won the Kinderspiele, but, now, what’s happened?” … as I’m always looking to the future and I need the that.  the past is the past…but now what’s happened???

You’re famous around the world for Dancing Eggs, what do you think about this game? 

I think, it could be more famous!! :o)

Which do you consider your most successful game? 

Actually it’s DANCING EGGS, of course, but in the near future it will be DR EURÊKA!

And what is your preferred games?

My own preferred game is RIVER DRAGONS, because I like so much to explain it to the players, and from 2001 I have never had bad comments on this game.

What are your plans for the future?

La Danza delle Uova

In 2016, we will publish PRINCESS JING with Matagot, illustrated by the famous Naiade.
In 2017 we will publish to more games with BLUE ORANGE, and one of them will the second one of the DR EURÊKA range.

And we will also publish a crazy card game with AUZOU, a French children book publisher who wants to develop games.
But the most important news, is that my wife, Florence, will work with me from the 1st of January 2017, and that’s great, as we have only ONE life!! :o)

In questa breve intervista lo spagnolo Roberto Fraga da una carrellate dei suoi giochi. Ci ricorda del suo maggior successo la Danza delle Uova e crede che Dr. Eureka raggiungerà, in futuro, risultati analoghi. Tra i suoi giochi poi ricorda River Dragons come il suo gioco preferito e da ultimo sottolinea come tutti i giochi citati… dovrebbero avere maggiore successo.

Roberto con la moglie e… alcuni dei suoi giochi

Il  processo creativo per Roberto è fulminante, i suoi migliori giochi sono stati pensati in soli 5 minuti, anche se sottolinea come sia difficile creare un qualcosa di davvero originale e trasversale a tutte le età. Una citazione particolarmente importante, anche per un qualcosa in cui io credo molto, ovvero che TUTTI I GIOCHI possono aiutare i non grandi ad imparare qualcosa se approcciati nel modo corretto.

Da ultimo ci ricorda la Fragames di recente creazione, in cui lavorerà con la moglie e i suoi progetti futuri: Princess Jing (Matagot) e altri due giochi, uno con la Blue Orange e l’altro con Auzou.