Words by David C. Obenour
Traveling internationally can be immensely rewarding. Lifelong memories are made by visiting historic structures, surrounding yourself in exotic nature, shopping at bustling markets, all of the eating and drinking, and those one-of-a-kind experiences that only come when putting yourself out there. It’s also a lot of hard work. Researching and planning your day-to-day activities, navigating unfamiliar transportation and crowded cities, it all can leave you feeling exhausted and stressed out if you’re not careful. In Let’s Go! To Japan players take it all in as they compete to create their most fulfilling weeklong vacation to Tokyo and Kyoto.
Off Shelf: In the credits for the game, it talks about how in 2020 you and your girlfriend Kathleen were supposed to visit to Japan but had to cancel your plans because of the pandemic. Can you talk about the process of turning that disappointment into this game?
Josh Wood: Our trip was scheduled to start on April first. Starting on that day, Kathleen and I would talk about the activities we were originally going to do on each of those days. We would say things like “We would be doing our tea ceremony right about now,” or “If we were in Japan right now we would be on the Shinkansen to Kyoto right now.” I felt like we planned a perfect trip and I wondered if that would make a good concept for a game. It also seemed like a fun way to experience the trip we never went on.
OS: Imagining you both contributed to planning the trip, did Kathleen help you with the game design of Let’s Go! to Japan? Can you think of any particular thing she helped to contribute?
JW: I often talk to Kathleen about thematic elements when I design games. I like asking her big questions like, “What do you think are the three most important aspects of travel?” or “Other than to have fun, why do people go on vacation?” I love hearing her responses and using them to think about what type of feelings I want to have my game convey.
OS: Have you since been able to visit Japan either together or separately? Did you find any of your work on Let’s Go! helped you on your trip if so?
JW: We went together two days after the Kickstarter ended! It’s amazing how I was able to plan an even better vacation after designing the game. I just knew so much more. Additionally, I also learned to speak Japanese, which was obviously helpful.
OS: You separated the tracking of Mood, Happiness, and Stress. How do you feel these emotions play into an international trip and how are they related and separate?
JW: My brother-in-law got sick on an international trip partially because he tried to do to much on the first day. When making this game I remembered this story and felt like it was an important part of travel. Some things on trips are exhausting or expensive but are totally worth it as long as you don’t overdo it. Likewise, it’s very nice to relax all day, but maybe you will miss out on seeing things you wanted to.
OS: I love how you included Unique Experiences as one of the resources, can you talk about how you came up with that? While the others can be “unique” how do you see this classification as separate?
JW: Originally the fifth icon was going to be “Hidden Gems” or “Loved by Locals”. I have always been fascinated by the dichotomy of tourist vs. locals – a big theme in my previous game, Santa Monica. I found it difficult to make the icon work so I changed it to “Unique Experiences” which represent more ephemeral experiences. When you go to a tea ceremony it will be a different experience than a tea ceremony your friend might go to, because each ceremony is unique.
OS: Based in Los Angeles, do you see this game as centered on an American traveling abroad’s experience? How do you think these priorities and preferences in travel translate differently and similarly in other cultures?
JW: I don’t see it as strictly American. I think many people love Japan for similar reasons, including Japanese people. I think Japanese people love traveling in their country and going to similar places that foreigners like to go. I really tried to include a mix of tourist locations and locations that locals go to. I don’t know wether or not I have succeeded, but I know we have gotten some positive responses from Japanese gamers.
OS: With such a relatable and contemporary setting, do you find yourself role playing? Maybe sometimes getting lost in optimal choice for points and optimal choice for how you would just take the trip personally?
JW: With every game I design, I like to have players wrestle with those types of decisions because they make the game have more emotional weight! I am the type of player who likes to play their favorite cards and try and win with them even if it might not be the best choice.
OS: Did you playtest the game with Japanese players? What feedback did you get from them?
JW: I consulted with Japanese people a lot while making Let’s Go!. I hired illustrators living in Japan and had cultural consultants, but it was also import to consult people who have been to Japan and people who would like to go to Japan so the game could work for everyone.
OS: There are so many considerations with traveling abroad. Were there other things you wanted to include with the game but ended up leaving out due to scope or balance?
JW: There were! Originally there was a whole money system, but it became clear that people were too stressed out about spending their fictional budgets and usually only took the least expensive cards in their hands. I also left out the notion of time. Some activities simply take longer than others, I felt like time management was perhaps to much for people to think about on top of everything else.
OS: Aside from a good time, what do you hope players take away from a game of Let’s Go! to Japan?
JW: I hope players learn something that they didn’t know, and perhaps they feel inspired to take their dream vacation.
OS: Could you imagine creating Let’s Go! games for other destinations? Aside from the landmarks, what other considerations do you think could make for fun adaptations?
JW: I could absolutely see myself doing more Let’s Go! games in the future. I would love to take deep dives into other countries and places and share them with people in new ways. I could see even going beyond countries and making games like traveling trough time or on an adventure in a fantasy world.