Ready to reclaim game night? Brynn Putnam, the visionary behind the $500 million Mirror success, is back, and this time she's tackling the digital divide with a revolutionary game console called Board. But here's where it gets interesting: she's going analog in a digital world!
Putnam, a former ballerina, initially made her mark with Refine Method, a boutique fitness studio. Her keen eye for innovation led her to create Mirror, a sleek, interactive fitness device that brought workouts into homes. By 2020, Mirror was booming, generating $150 million in revenue before Lululemon acquired it for a staggering $500 million. However, as she scaled her business, Putnam's focus shifted. She began to question how technology could foster connection rather than isolation.
Brynn's vision for Board is clear: "together-tech." It's technology designed to bring people together, face-to-face, around a table. She aims to combat the isolation she observed in the wake of the pandemic, where families were often side-by-side, yet engrossed in their individual screens. With two children of her own now, she's building a new solution. Board is a screen that invites people to play together. No controllers, no logins, just hands, plastic pieces, and a touch-sensitive screen that transforms into a shared, interactive playground.
Board launches with 11 original games, ranging from quick mini-games to 45-minute collaborative quests. Putnam's goal is to revive the joy of playing side-by-side and create a platform that makes gaming accessible and inviting for everyone. The games are designed to be short, spontaneous, and fun for all ages. One game might last 60 seconds, another could turn into a family competition. Players can tap, race, team up, or playfully sabotage each other in real-time.
But here's a controversial point: Board isn't just about entertainment; it's about fostering genuine connection. Early testers have reported emotional experiences, with parents describing laughter and renewed family time. The team is also developing tools to empower anyone, especially kids, to create their own games, turning players into designers and the console into a creative platform.
So, what sets Board apart? First, its 24-inch screen is designed for shared play at a table. Second, it recognizes unlimited touches and physical pieces, allowing for hands, objects, and gestures to become part of the game. Finally, the gameplay is designed for simultaneous play, fostering face-to-face interaction. The games include titles like Chop Chop, a co-op kitchen chaos game, Board Arcade, Cosmic Crush, and Mushka.
At the heart of Board is its advanced piece technology, which blends physical and digital play in an intuitive and joyful way.
What do you think? Does Board offer a refreshing alternative to screen-dominated entertainment, or is it just another gadget? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
