Behind the Success of KenKen: An Interview with Robert Fuhrer

01/02/24 • 77 min

Robert Fuhrer explores his years-long journey in the toy and game industry in this interview. He reminisces about the many experiences that shaped his career from early exposure to the toy industry, his first creation, his various partnerships and ventures and how he ended up being the owner of the popular puzzle game, KenKen. His journey reflects the crucial importance of relationships in business, being outspoken about opportunities, and taking on ventures with undefined outcomes. Fuhrer also talks about his experience with marketing and fiercely competitive business models and gives some sage advice to aspiring game developers.

Play KenKen:

https://www.kenkenpuzzle.com/

(00:00) - Robert's Journey in Toy Industry
(08:56) - Navigating Japanese Business Cultural Differences
(15:48) - Pitching Toy Ideas in Japan
(26:54) - Design's Impact on Game Success
(35:23) - Introduction to KenKen Puzzle Game
(42:09) - Meeting Will Shortz and Introducing KenKen to the New York Times
(52:31) - Launching in The Times UK
(55:27) - Securing Rights and Trademarking KenKen
(59:43) - Building the Online Version of KenKen
(01:04:35) - Business Model and Revenue Streams
(01:09:51) - Company and Team Size
(01:11:53) - Advice for Entrepreneurs

Check out our brainy games:

Sumplete - https://sumplete.com
Kakuro Conquest - https://kakuroconquest.com
Mathler - https://mathler.com
Crosswordle - https://crosswordle.com
Sudoku Conquest - https://sudokuconquest.com
Hitori Conquest - https://hitoriconquest.com
Wordga - https://wordga.com

Play KenKen:

https://www.kenkenpuzzle.com/

(00:00) - Robert's Journey in Toy Industry
(08:56) - Navigating Japanese Business Cultural Differences
(15:48) - Pitching Toy Ideas in Japan
(26:54) - Design's Impact on Game Success
(35:23) - Introduction to KenKen Puzzle Game
(42:09) - Meeting Will Shortz and Introducing KenKen to the New York Times
(52:31) - Launching in The Times UK
(55:27) - Securing Rights and Trademarking KenKen
(59:43) - Building the Online Version of KenKen
(01:04:35) - Business Model and Revenue Streams
(01:09:51) - Company and Team Size
(01:11:53) - Advice for Entrepreneurs

Check out our brainy games:

Previous Episode

Horror, Puzzles, and Pragmatism: The Improbable Journey of CineNerdle

Step into the shadowy corridors of game development with our esteemed guest, Nilanth Yogadasan, the creative genius behind the eerie yet addictive games, CineNerdle and CineNerdle 2. His games reach over 30,000 daily players, and over 15 million games played. Our conversation takes a deep dive into Nilanth's inspiration, drawing heavily from his passion for horror cinema, and how it fuels the enigmatic puzzles in CineNerdle. Alongside his passion, Nilanth's journey also encompasses the trials and tribulations of maintaining a successful game, providing a fascinating glimpse into a game maker's mind.

Play Nilanth's games:
https://www.cinenerdle.app/
https://www.cinenerdle2.app/

(00:00) - Passion for Games and Film
(10:56) - Evolution of CineNerdle and Adding Ads
(17:03) - Creating and Developing the CineNerdle Games
(24:32) - Getting Community Feedback
(25:55) - Branding and Naming CineNerdle
(31:21) - Pausing School and Running CineNerdle Full-Time
(37:01) - Building and Marketing Games

Check out our brainy games:

Next Episode

Bridging the Word Gap: How Woogles is Revolutionizing Scrabble

Unlock the secrets of Scrabble with Woogles creators César Del Solar and Jesse Day, who join us to discuss the power of two-letter words and parallel plays that can transform your word game skills. As we chat with these Scrabble aficionados, we uncover not only their journeys into the world of competitive Scrabble but also how their diverse backgrounds and love for the game led to the inception of Woogles. Their friendly banter on topics from condiments to the platform's chess-inspired beginnings gives a glimpse into the camaraderie and passion fueling their successful, polished online presence, crafted when the world went virtual.

Play Woogles:

https://woogles.io/