Does your family only play board games, but you prefer to play video games? Interwoven has solved the ultimate family night battle through integrating board games and video games into one game for everyone to enjoy.
Interwoven is a board/digital game design startup company. It began in 2018 by founder Nicole Martino, co-founder Kazimar Guenther as a designer, and Trevor Malpede as an artist. All students are studying Entertainment, Arts & Engineering at the University of Utah. They are working with the U’s Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute to grow their company.
Martino describes the company’s mission: “Interwoven exists to connect people of different backgrounds and cultures into one fulfilling experience.”
Their efforts are spent working on their first game, called “Battle Roll.” It includes a multi-player online battle arena element and is a 2-4 player game. There are two ways to win in “Battle Roll”: destroying a base or killing the other players that are not on your team. “‘Battle Roll’ was inspired by a video game genre and was put into board game form with a video game aesthetic present,” Martino said.
When Battle Roll has been completed, Interwoven plans to place it in local board game stores in Salt Lake City.
Games have always been a part of Martino’s life. “Games have helped many people out of different situations,” she said. “They have helped people cope, and they can help people when they are sick. If I can make games that inspire people, then I will be doing my part.”
More articles like this in ‘Student Innovation @ the U!’
Find this article and a lot more in the 2021 “Student Innovation @ the U” report. The publication is presented by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute to celebrate student innovators, change-makers, and entrepreneurs.
