asdfMTV Geek > Hobby Gaming

 "I always have way too many ideas, with no way to pursue them all. I’m constantly thinking of what I should prioritize, what game I should work on next. All day I’m thinking about games, my brain is just wired that way. " - Touko Tahkokallio, designer of Eclipse.

It's hard to understate the success that the board game Eclipse has experienced since its release in late 2011. Yet in an industry where the designer's name can significantly impact sales, gamers have been left with a common question: who is Touko Tahkokallio? In his own words: "A 30 year-old Finnish board game designer, who also works for a digital game company as a primary job." I recently had the opportunity to chat with the rising-star designer about his history as a gamer, the experience of Eclipse's reception, and what the future holds.

After riding a wave of buzz from the Essen Spiel 2011 trade show, Eclipse became the talk of the industry as it went on to scorch the charts at BoardGameGeek.com. The website maintains a massive database of board game info, but of particular note are their rankings (generated by an algorithm that accounts for user ratings among other factors). Fans place particular emphasis on the "Top 100" here, and Eclipse has made quite a splash. Out of nearly 60,000 games, Eclipse now ranks at number 6 with an average user rating of 8.35/10.00.

Players of Eclipse have spoken, and made their judgement of the game well known in the process. But what are they actually doing after trying the game out? Snatching up copies wherever possible. Eclipse's initial print run is completely sold out, and even with a reprint due to arrive later this month, would-be owners seeking a copy are still bidding upwards of $200 on eBay. With an audience not afraid to vote with their wallets, it has become impossible to deny that Eclipse is red hot.

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