Who doesn’t like giant monsters fighting amid massive destruction? We certainly do, which is why we were so excited to get our hands on Godzilla – Kaiju world Wars! After playing it I really wanted to talk to the game’s designer – Richard Berg. Now, I always approach interviews with a new perspective – I ask outlandish questions and really just act like we have been friends forever. And it has worked really well. I had no idea who Mr. Berg was before I started this. Turns out he is really good at game designing. So I went into this interview totally not expecting what came out of it.

So here is our interview, thanks to the Toy Vault guys, with Richard H. Berg.

Where did the idea for this game come from? In the past we have had Monsters Ravage America and the more recent Monsterpocolypse. What made you want to make this game with these other types out there? Why make something many consider to be done already and what challenges did that present you with?

RHB: I was contacted by Toy Vault and asked if I wanted to design a game on either The Princess Bride or Godzilla. Much as I prefer the former in movie terms (There is no line in Godzilla even approaching “I want my father back, you son of a bitch!”), the latter is much better suited to a day of dierolling. And just because there are other “monster” games out, doesn’t mean the gaming world is satiated therein; and there was no game directly on ‘Zilla.

Godzilla is one of the most iconic characters, and the line up is so vast how did you narrow it down to the four pieces included in the game? Like how did you decide on Rodan over Mothra?

RHB: The number of kaiju was limited by how many figures they could include in the game in economic terms. I had a great deal of source material to use, and I chose the kaiju I felt would most suit the game I was going to design. Mothra presents problems in that it would require two figures and a whole additional set of rules. But no way those two singing twits would be in the game.

There has been a lot of flack for this game from some of the more hard core gamers out there who always expect perfection. They complain about the vagueness of the rules, the lack of explanation for the military and the simple design flaw in Rodan not able to stand up. Is there anything you would re-evaluate now that the game is out? Or things you would change?

RHB: The original rules set was a horror show, mostly in terms of presentation . . . and was not the set of rules I turned in. So I redid the rules-book, and Toy Vault has published that second edition, with lots of visuals and examples.

I read online that this is the first of the Kaiju World Wars line of games. What plans for other franchises do you have in the works? And in other expandable games the board itself is left open to build upon with future releases, but this one is self contained, so would future boards be different locations? Please tell me there is a Monster Island board somewhere in the works.

RHB: Toy Vault – and I – hope to do follow up games in this series (it all depends on sales, to be sure), and, yes, Monster Island would definitely be in there. Mostly we would be adding neato kaiju from the movies, along with more boards, etc., etc. Let’s see, there’s a giant shrimp and a giant lobster . . .we could throw in some bok choy pieces and make Kaiju Lo Mein.

How difficult was it to create the combat system for this game? The cards are fun but there are not a lot of them for each monster, and it almost seems like it would have been easier to just use them to supplement a die roll. Or offer a variety to choose from and build your attack deck with a specific number of cards so you don’t always know what your opponent has ready for you.

RHB: Given that I have 140+ published “wargames”, coming up with a combat system was not difficult. What I focused on was recreating what happens in the movies in, well, 2-D fashion. The number of cards for each kaiju represents the specific major capabilities each has; unusual stuff is featured on the Kaiju Display card. Virtually everything the beasts do movie-wise is in the game.
The build your own deck idea would represent making your own kaiju, and that’s not what GODZILLA is about. GODZILLA is, in great respect, a historical simulation . . .

The online community for this game on the website is in the infant stages with new scenarios and such. How do you see this going? What are the plans for the future of this aspect? I can see the greatness of this, especially if you do expand the game line.

RHB: I think it’s great, as long as they don’t start changing/adding rules. Then it becomes their design, not mine . . .and I keep those at arms length. Long arms. Otherwise, whatever floats their lizardboat . . .

This game also seems like it would be well presented as a table top war game over a board game. How did you decide to keep it confined to a board?

RHB: Because I was asked to design a board game.

The military really seems like a tacked on addition. What was your goal for the military aspect and will it expand out to something more substantial eventually? I love the idea of a counter agent trying to stop the kaiju, but right now they just are kinda there.

RHB: “Historically”, the military has little effect on the kaiju, other than as an annoyance . . .and a way to have the filmmakers throw in shooting and explosions. And we wanted to keep the game as simple – meaning rules length – as possible. I originally had extended rules for tanks, bazookas, the usual stuff, but they served little purpose . . .so we cut to the core.

Designing a Godzilla board game must have been a labor of love. So what is your favorite Godzilla movie? Godzilla monster? And what did you think of the American version all those years ago?

RHB: Ahh, Perry Mason and the Case of the Annoyed Lizard. It was on TV the other day; not as bad as I remembered it. I’m not a great ‘Zilla fan, per se; I’ve seen maybe half a dozen of the movies. What I am is a game designer/fan; I like to design games on unusual, interesting subjects. And, to be blunt, I do it for money, so it’s a Labor of $$. Haven’t hit the 1% yet, though . . .

With the world of Kaiju wide open, what franchises would you love to see get added to this board game series? I really want to see Gamera, and I think the original Power Ranger’s MegaZord would be awesome. But if you could anything to it, what would you really want to add to it?

RHB: Adding franchises is a legal issue (and I’m an ex-attorney). . .and not easy. Having worked with the Tolkien people (I did the original, major “Lord of the Rings” game 35 years ago), I am aware of what a legal tangle franchising can be. Not something I would personally do; but if someone had the franchise and wanted me to go ahead, I would jump into that pool right smartly. How ‘bout a game on Roscoe, Frog of Wonder? Rbbbt Rbbbt.

Awesome guy. Loved his sense of humor and will certainly look for the other games he has had a hand in. If you haven’t had a chance to play this game, go get it. It is a fun time. Till next time!

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