My wife and I had the chance last month to visit Geekway to the West, a board game convention in St. Louis (and a lot of fun.) It was way more laid back than our time at Gen Con or Comic Con, and I enjoyed the smaller, more intimate vendor spaces and the focus on playing games. One of the vendors there, Dragon Phoenix Games, caught my eye for the unique art and mechanics, but also the heartfelt conversation with the couple running the company. Harvey and Carlie Cornell, a husband and wife team who make up the full staff of Dragon Phoenix Games. Carlie takes care of the art while Harvey heads up the design work.
Vesta by Dragon Phoenix Games
Board gamers are drawn like flies to the hot new thing. In board games there is the phrase Cult of the New to describe how many people are only about new releases. It’s also uncertain times when it comes to producing games, with a lot of the pieces manufacutured overseas and costs and tariffs making things difficult.
The couple faces some uphill battles in the later years of their lives. But I walked away impressed with their resolve to do something they loved and work towards a dream. Many of us are too lazy or too timid to do so even in the primes of our lives. Harvey and Carlie are putting in the effort in their later years, and it’s incredibly inspiring to see how, even in creative endeavors, it truly is never too late.
Junction Point 