Still going.

Yes, I'm still here. 4 years have passed since my last entry and I've been up to so much. I now have 4 designated work spaces - the good old shed that is in dire need of replacement - my self built workshop which is in dire need of tidying up - my covered storage area which is good for little messy jobs when it's raining and my outside chop/saw area where all the big jobs are done. As I write I'm sitting in the 'to be tidied' workshop cutting company tiles for my latest crowd funded campaign - QE. Crowd funding has been a revelation for Cubiko Games - knowing how much raw materials to order and getting funding up front are a perfect combination. Also I enjoy the added challenge to get the games out ahead of schedule. This blogging takes to long, maybe I'll write every 5 years!

Straight back to it

No entries for over a year, I'm rubbish at this blogging lark. Anyway, I'm back from Essen 14 with no games, completely sold out. This is great of course but it also means I've got to get right back into production, no time to take break. With winter looming it'll soon be too cold to work outside for any length of time. Yesterday I got the timber and started cutting it down. For the next 6 months I'll be making JamSumo. I reckon I will make about 30 copies in time for the official release at the UK Games Expo. I didn't do any production today as I spent the day clearing up he shed. I generally let it get totally messy until I can't bear it any more. I reached that point this morning when I couldn't find my tape measure. One day proved not to be enough 'clearing up' time though as I'm only half done and I'm none the wiser as to the location of the tape. Oh, I did do a little redesign of the board just a little tightening up of the area where the dice are placed at the beginning of the Sumo game.

Chess or drafts?

When I take time out from Cubiko I will choose chess, it is right up there as one of my favourite games. I do not play at a high standard but I enjoy the one against one battle of brain power. This mornings game with my eight year old produced this very odd position where his position looks more like drafts!

Making Cubiko - Step 4

Step 4 is the base box. Take 4 off-cuts and mitre the ends to 45 degrees. Make sure the finish of the internal sides of all the pieces are smooth using 240 grade sand paper. Then glue the 4 pieces together to form the perimeter of the box. Cut a piece of 5.5mm ply to 246mm square and glue it to the perimeter so that it forms the base of the box.

Making Cubiko - Step 2. I get my Sapele from a merchant in Park Royal, London. It's on the way to my sons school so when I need a piece I'll pop in during the school run. The merchants deliver for free but, as I only buy 1 length at a time, I have to get the piece out from the pile myself. Getting to the right piece of 3 metre from a huge pile isn't rocket science, just hard work. A day or 2 later the wood arrives and I must immediately cut it down to 246mm 'Cubiko size' pieces 246mm , 3m is far too long to have hanging around!

Making Cubiko -Step 3

It is essential to store your 'Cubiko sized' pieces of wood correctly. Sapele will ready warp so store them flat, under weight, in a place that has constant temperature and humidity. I use the cupboard under the stairs which is ideal. Step 3 is to get the pieces to be 246mm square and 18mm thick. So I send the pieces through my thicknesser taking off about a millimetre on each pass (Photo of thicknesser here). I also cut the pieces again but across their width this time to make them 246mm square. I keep the off-cuts and use them for the sides of the component box. (Which tomorrows step 5 entry)

The guide to making Cubiko - Step 1

My next series of entries will be a step by step guide on how to make a cubiko game. I recently bought a nifty camera so I'm thinking each entry will come with at least 1 photo. That way I'll learn how the camera works, it's got so many buttons and stuff. Anyway onto step 1 - Get wood. Yes you'll need plenty of wood as all Cubiko games are made from this stuff. I use Sapele but I suppose any wood will do, just get your neighbours permission before you hack down their prized conifers. Er, no photo of the wood yet 1) I've not worked out how to use this camera and 2) I'm out of stock of the raw ingredient.