Philippe Keyaerts

Philippe Keyaerts (* 1959) is a Belgian game designer.

Life and games

Keyaerts grew up with five siblings. During his childhood, he played chess, collected puzzles and later was interested in, among other things, the strategy board game Full Métal Planète (1988) and The Settlers of Catan (1995). His degree in mathematics from Keyaerts closed with a master's, and he also studied computer science, painting and graphics.

Keyaerts first release was the strategy game, released by Euro Games / Descartes 1999 Vinci, which is about the rise and fall of civilizations in Europe. The game was, among other things on the list for game of the year in 2000 and finished fifth at the German game prize. Appeared in 2001 with Evo the second game of the author. Back to the prehistoric times, the player must ensure the genetic evolution and the survival of their dinosaur race. Evo was nominated among others, the German Games Award and was nominated by the Games Magazine 2002 "Game of the Year ( Traditional) ". Followed in 2004 with Space Blast a relatively simple strategy game in which three to six players with spaceships fight a space battle on a hexagonal grid. In contrast to the two previous titles, the game was little noticed.

By 2009, Days of Wonder Small World appeared Keyaerts developed his first game Vinci continues: Small World took over the basic mechanisms and combined them with new game elements and a more humerous fantasy theme. Among other things, Small World has been called " Game of the Year - Games Hit Expert 2009" and got the following year the " Special Jury Prize " of the As d' Or - Jeu de l' Année. Since its release it has been translated into ten languages ​​and sold around 100,000 copies so far. To date, six extensions, and implementation for the Apple iPad have been released in the summer of 2011 came in the publishing house also has a new, stand-alone game called Small World Underground out.

In the summer of 2011 appeared with Olympos, a new game of the author, which in 2012 in France with the As d' Or - Award Jeu de l' Année " Grand Prix". The theme in ancient Greece is a settled strategy game also revolves around the development and spread of civilizations, but focused towards Vinci and Small World on other aspects. So the military plays a lesser role, but are time management, technological development and the religiosity of civilization in the foreground.

Keyaerts lives with his wife and son in Brussels. Away from the games development, he taught mathematics.

Ludography

Awards

  • Game of the Year 2000: Vinci, shortlist
  • German game prize 2000: Vinci, 5th place
  • 2001: Evo, 4th place
  • 2009: Small World, 5th place
  • Game of the Year 2009: Small World, Games Hit for experts
  • As d' Or - Jeu de l' Année 2010: Small World, Prix Spécial du Jury
  • 2012: Olympos, Grand Prix
  • Jeu de l' Année 2003: Evo nominated,
  • International Gamers Award 2000: nominated Vinci, " General Strategy - Multiplayer "
  • 2002: Evo, nominated " General Strategy - Multiplayer "
  • 2009: Small World, nominated " General Strategy - Multiplayer "
  • Japan Board Game Prize 2009: Small World, 6th place
  • Games Magazine 2002: Evo, Game of the Year ( Traditional)
  • 2010: Small World, Game of the Year ( Traditional)
Vinci (board game) Small World (board game) BoardGameGeek
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