Derek Pederson of Woosung Boardgames: 'It’s great to connect with others'
The content creator and reviewer on how posting a few photos of family games night resulted in an online audience of more than half a million
Posting out a few pictures of family games night to a few followers in the pre-pandemic days of February 2019 has led Derek Pederson into a peculiar new realm as one of board gaming’s biggest social media influencers.
Five years and more than 500,000 followers later (260,000 of which are on Instagram; 250,000 on TikTok), Derek now posts his engaging videos under the Woosung Boardgames banner out to crazy numbers for what is often seen as an insular hobby.
An example: his intensely frustrating but ultimately rewarding Insta clip of simplistic, wooden, dexterity game Shoot for the Moon has garnered almost 220,000 likes since last November, and the quick beginner’s guide to wizard drinking game Not Enough Manna has garnered similar numbers.
Meanwhile, on TikTok, Woosung Boardgame’s clip of Connect 4 Spin has been seen almost four million times.
Not bad for a bunch of board games. So, we spoke to Derek about his favourite types of games to play, tips for keeping a regular social media routine going without burning out, and plans for the future.
How did you start getting passionate about board gaming and getting the collecting bug? Was there any one particular game that drove it?
DP: The gateway game that really kicked off the hobby for me was the cooperative game Forbidden Island.
That drove me to buy the second game in the series, Forbidden Desert, and then I was completely hooked.
How was the driving point in sharing the collection with Woosung Boardgames/The Board Game Guy?
DP: I started off posting the occasional photo of us playing games as a family on Instagram.
This then turned into posting more photos, which led to writing game reviews and making silly board game videos. This then transitioned into make overview/preview videos.
Was there a particular point when you noticed the Instagram and TikTok channels take off? Was there a particular video or change in direction?
DP: I had a bunch of videos that went viral around the same time. This really helped increased my overall followers.
This was during Covid, so I think lots of people were looking for game recommendations, especially games for two players.
How big is your collection and how do you store it? Is it all in the one room?
DP: I own 500-plus board games. It’s way too many!
I have a total of six game shelves full of games right now in two rooms.
Any videos that you particularly enjoyed making?
DP: I love making skit videos and videos where we’re just playing games as a family. I love covering dexterity games, two-player games and small portable games.
I’ve also really enjoyed collecting and doing a Uno video series. I never knew how many there were!
You clearly love games of all types – including heavy strategic Eurogames, but there’s also a clear love of lighter family-focused games that aren’t necessarily going to be found on the upper reaches of the Board Game Geek charts. Is it tricky bridging that divide between hobbyist fields and the mass market, and are there different methods to covering both?
DP: Yes, it’s very challenging to cover heavier strategy games through video content.
They’re just so rule-heavy and have so many components. It can be very difficult to condense a game down into a 30-second video.
I find doing reviews and photo posts are a better way to cover these. I would say the majority of my audience likes more light, quick-playing game options. So I have tailored my content to more of these game features.
You’ve managed to stay consistent in terms of creating over a good few years. What tips would you give to other board game content creators, both in a) the type of videos and presentation that work and b) how to avoid burning out before a platform is truly made?
DP: It’s always a challenge! My best advice is post at a pace that works for you. I find that if you get overloaded, you can quickly get burned out and lose you creativity and passion.
I typically take one day off from posting each week. There are also weeks where I post less and repurpose some of my content.
Take breaks when needed and find the balance and what works best for you.
‘If you play games with family regularly, the more connected you will feel’
I’m someone who frets for days after publishing anything in fear of daft typos or errors, regardless of the size of the audience I’m sharing with: can posting to so many people feel overwhelming or is that part of the enjoyment?
DP: I typically try not to overthink things. I feel that each game brings something new to the table.
I typically come up with an idea and just run with it. Sometimes typos to slip through and I’ll have to edit and repost it. I try to prevent this from happening though.
Are there any aspects of the board gaming industry you’d like to see improve? What could be done to improve it, if so?
DP: I would say improved diversity in the artwork and themes of games. It’s something that this industry needs to constantly be striving for. I feel this has improved recently, but would like to see even more in the future.
Why is board gaming important for you personally? And what do you think are the benefits of families and friends playing together are? Is there a type of connection you can get there that’s different from other leisure pursuits?
DP: There is so much to love! I like how it brings people together and that board games are a global interest and hobby.
If you play games with family regularly, the more connected you will feel. It’s also a great screen-free activity.
I love both the social and strategic side of board gaming. It’s great to connect with others and to keep the brain sharp.
What are your favourite games to play with family members?
DP: I love dexterity and roll-and-write games. These have light rules and quick set-ups and playtimes. These have been huge hits for our family.
Are there any upcoming games that you can’t wait to play?
DP: It’s hard to pick just a few.
I’d say Mycelia will be very popular. It’s a game about building a mushroom kingdom.
Clank Legacy 2, Cathood and Shipwrights of The North Sea to name a few more. There will be so many good ones coming.
What can we expect from The Board Game Guy in the future? Do you have any plans to branch out?
DP: I’ll hopefully start posting on YouTube with longer-form content. I’m always looking to expand the channel.
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He's actually got about 16k genuine followers. Look at his follower in detail and use tool online to see 94% fake