PAX AUS Indie Showcase 2024 - Oracle
The PAX AUS Indie Showcase is a chance to see some of the best new and upcoming titles from the ANZ digital and tabletop development scene, with past winners including such celebrated games as Unpacking, Copycat, Yum Cha, Kingless and many more. The 2024 Indie Showcase is shaping up to be another highlight of the event and Player2 encourages visitors to PAX AUS to make their way to the PAX Rising area and check out the following title, as well as the many other excellent indies on display.
In the wake of lockdowns and the search for a new game group, Oracle designer James struggled to find a title that catered to his specific needs at that point, balancing complexity with approachability. James solved this problem by creating Oracle, a 2-5 player social deduction card game that gives each player a specific target. Player2 spoke to James about their work on Oracle and Indie Showcase win.
Player 2: Thanks so much for speaking to us James! To start, what is the origin story of Oracle Games?
James: It all began at a board game event at uni. It was the first event of the semester and I was really excited to meet new friends. I jumped straight into a game, but unbeknownst to me, this game would last multiple hours. Don’t get me wrong, the game was fun, but with an extensive rulebook and long playtime, it didn’t quite fit the social setting. Before even finishing the game, the event was over and I had missed the chance to meet anyone else. This got me thinking – was it possible to have a game be both fast-paced and approachable, yet thrilling and dynamic at the same time? On that day I vowed to create such a game, and so, Oracle was born.
P2: Where were you when you found out you’d won a spot in the Indie Showcase?
James: Not too exciting of an answer, but I was at home in my pajamas reading my daily emails. I’m not too good at reacting to exciting news either, so I told my partner Anna about it and they did most of the celebrating on my behalf.
P2: Self-publishing can be a challenge, especially for a first-time designer – what were some of the hurdles you had to overcome to get Oracle out of your brain and into people’s hands?
James: Personally I am not an artist, so designing and compiling all the artwork for the cards, rulesheet, box, and marketing (and attempting to make it all look professional) was definitely the hardest step. After that comes selling the game and getting its name out there, which is what I’m currently attempting to do!
P2: You mention not particularly enjoying some of the heavier games you’ve encountered, what are some of your favourite board and card games and what do you think draws you to those?
James: The first card game I ever played was Coup, a lightweight social deduction game which my friend Tara had introduced me to. I really liked that you could jump straight into gameplay without relying too much on rules. Betrayal is a heavier game which I thoroughly enjoy due to how dramatic things can get. The main thing that draws me to any board game is the social experience. Can you express yourself through gameplay? Is it approachable and inviting to play? And of course, anything which raises the volume of the table (in a friendly manner) is a good sign.
P2: What advice would you give to budding designers looking to get their work published – was crowdfunding something you ever considered for Oracle?
James: I was going to make a blog post showing my own journey in developing Oracle, but because I will most likely procrastinate, I’ll also give a short summary here for any readers interested in making their own game. First, don’t be intimidated! If you have a game idea, start with a piece of paper that you can simply cut up into cards to write descriptions on. If you have a group of friends, that’s a great way to playtest your idea. Once you have something more concrete, then comes creating a demo. This will be a refined version of your game that looks and feels professional, that you forward onto local board game clubs and cafes to further playtest your game. I’d highly recommend ePrint Online in printing this out for you. Next comes mass production. Here I’d recommend Nice Funny Games, as they were extremely helpful in answering all questions and concerns. And if anyone reading this has further questions about this process, please reach out and contact me on the Oracle website!
P2: Tell me about the best game of Oracle you’ve ever played or seen played – why does it stand out in your mind?
James: The best game of Oracle I have played was the very first game ever. This game was played on a deck which was printed at Officeworks and cut by hand. I was a bit shy with my creation but my friend Jimmy was really encouraging and gathered some people to play. In the middle of the game, Jimmy had played a shocking move, dealing damage to himself using his own Attack cards, reducing his health to one. This didn’t make any sense until he then played Blood Magic on his opponent (a card which switches your health with another player). With his opponent left on one heart, he proceeded to exhaust his opponent of all defenses, before finally dealing the final blow.
P2: You generously donate copies of Oracle to clubs, non-profits and more – what prompted you to pay it forward in this way?
James: My main goal in starting all this was to create a game that others could play and enjoy. Considering this objective, I thought the best thing I could do was give games to communities that would use them. After all, one game in a club could be played by hundreds of people. Because selling games to communities is pretty hard (especially when no one knows your game), donating was the next best thing.
P2: What can PAX AUS attendees look forward to at the Oracle booth?
James: If what you’ve read has piqued your interest, come try the game at the booth! I’ll be there all three days of the event, and would love to meet and chat with people, about anything really!
PAX AUS Attendees can find the Oracle booth in the PAX AUS Indie Showcase section of PAX AUS from October 10-13, as well as purchase the game right now!
