Steve Meretzky on board games

Steve Meretzky is one of my heroes. Seriously, besides being behind one of my Top 5 games of all time (Planetfall -- What? Floyd? NNOOOO!), Meretzky is one of PC Gamer's "Game Gods", an amazing designer and writer, and seems to be an all-around pleasant guy.

Over at GameDaily BIZ, Meretzky is talking about how the game industry can learn from board games.

He's got some good things to say about avoiding industry creative stagnation (or, as he says, we "seem to be in the midst of a long contraction"), and as a business guy, I like his brass tacks take on funding experimental projects:

"...when you're planning your product roadmap for next year, you can still throw
$10 million at Squad of Heroes V, and $25 million at Trolls 'n' Treasures
Online, but also toss in a million here or there for something more offbeat;
just think, if that low-budget game turns into a hit, the ROI will be
incredible!"

I'm curious as to what Meretzky would think about the upcoming XBLA translation of the Settlers of Catan board game.

And any guy who is as erudite as Meretzky and advocates more social drinking as a part of video game community building is tops in my book.