From left, Chase and Payton Lamb, Jason Gough, and Lina Pinkham play Island Dice at Canalfront Sandwich Shop on Tuesday. Gough is raising funds through Kickstarter to mass produce the game he developed. (PHOTOS BY HEATHER N. GRIMMER / CONTRIBUTOR)

BY SCOTT LEFFLER
scott.leffler@eastniagarapost.com

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The prototype version of Island Dice as played by Gough,  Pinkham and the Lambs on Tuesday.

Three years ago Jason Gough conceived an idea for a strategy dice game. Today his game is a reality and he's merely a fundraiser away from mass production.

Island Dice is a new tabletop game for two to four players from Casual Dragon Games — a company made up of Lockport's Gough and Kevin Bolliger of Grand Island.

Over the past three years the game has "gone through many stages of development," Gough said. It's designed for those who enjoy strategy games. Somewhat ironically, Gough's day job until just recently was as a dealer at the Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls. He lists his role as the "lead developer," while Bollinger is considered the "game mechanics expert."

A third key member to the team is illustrator Jeremy S, a childhood friend of Gough and experienced artist whose portfolio includes work for Disney, Marvel, Cartoon Network, Lucasfilm and BBC/Doctor Who.

Gough explains the purposes of each of the dice in the game.

The game asks players to "Survive the players. Survive the island. Survive the dice." It pits players against one another and the board.

Tuesday, Gough and three friends — Lina Pinkham, Chase Lamb and Payton Lamb — sat down at Canalfront Sandwich Shop in the Lockview Plaza for a demonstration with a prototype game.

Fourteen-year-old Chase has played the game before, comparing it to Stratego. For 11-year-old Payton and Pinkham, it was a first. Both enjoyed it with Pinkham saying it reminded her of "Total Annihilation."

Gough's prototype version worked just fine Tuesday, but his goal is to make hundreds of copies of high-quality versions, a costly endeavor. The laser-engraved dice are particularly expensive to create.

With the costs involved, Gough and Bolliger have set up a fundraiser through Kickstarter. About a week into the drive and with a little more than three weeks to go, the fundraiser has got approximately $2,000 in pledges. The goal is $29,000.

Pledges can be as little as a dollar. Starting at pledges of $25 or more, backers will receive swag — from posters to dice to having your likeness designed by Jeremy S to put on the box of the game.

The cover of the box of Island Dice. For the right donation, your likeness could be one of those running. (ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF JEREMY S)

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