One Move at a Time is now available for purchase!   The following book review comes from Peggy Brown.   One Move at a Time, the book by storied game industry vet Kevin McNulty, is a fun 50-year romp through the memory of one of the game industry’s absolute OGs. The game business, as it is today, well, is what it is. But for those who don't have a deep well of historical knowledge, One Move at a Time is a chronicle of just how different things were in the before-times.   Before big box retail, before online anything, before artificial everything, the business of board games was run on coffee, handshakes, positive ambition and sheer determination.     Kevin starts where he grew up - in Stuyvesant Town - and tells the stories of how New York City and the people around him heavily influenced who he became. There’s nothing about his salt-of-the-earth childhood that would indicate things could have turned out any other way – it’s clear that Kevin was always the Kevin everybody knows and loves. And while some of his old stories might sound a little quaint or even fantastical, his account is 100% legit: this is the way things were done.   Reminiscing about the Toy Building at 200 Fifth Avenue and all the history that bubbled out of it for a century paints the colorful backdrop for the long lists of retailers, travels, distributors, trials, tribulations, and game industry icons that run through this memoir. The remarkable longevity of Kevin's 50+-year career is distilled down into this book, but if you were to ask him to expand on any one of the million or so anecdotes in it, I would bet each one could be a book of its own.     One Move at a Time is a time capsule that, thankfully, is no longer trapped inside the mind and memory of Kevin McNulty… it has memorialized a time and a place and an origin of how a major multibillion dollar industry pretty much began, and the experience of being brought up in the middle of it. Even though the world has turned and is virtually unrecognizable since some of Kevin's game industry memories and friendships were formed, it's a valuable read to remind anybody in the business, or teach anyone new to the business, that relationship building along with knowing how to work very hard while having lots of fun was - and still is - the foundation of how board games are born.   Photo Credit: Matt Nuccio

  Hi David! Can you share with our readers, on the off chance someone doesn't know you, what do you do in our industry? Forrmerly I a toy inventor who spent decades creating, licensing, and building products and brands. Today, I’m President of the world-famous Laugh Factory, where we’re expanding in many way including expansion of our clubs, feature films and television, content and consumer products - including our collaboration with EPOCH on the first-ever stand-up comedian trading cards.   What is it about the Toy and Game Industry that you love? It’s one of the few industries where creativity, joy, and business all intersect. You’re literally creating happiness. I like to say that both toys and comedy are the “smile business.”     What is your claim to fame? I’ve had an unusual and fun career. I hold a Guinness World Record as the World’s Fastest Backwards Talker, and I’ve licensed many successful products including the Nerf Vortex football, Aqua Doodle, Twisty Petz, and the current viral sensation Reel Big Catch from Educational Insights. Now, I’m helping introduce an entirely new collectible category: stand-up comedian trading cards.   What are you working on now? We’re launching the Laugh Factory Comedian Trading Cards with EPOCH - bringing comedy into the collectibles world for the first time. At the same time, we’re expanding the Laugh Factory into a full lifestyle brand across media, products, and live experiences.   Howie Mandel Bobby Lee Caroline Rhea starring in Adam Rifkin’s ‘Toad’   Katt Williams, Tiffany Haddish, James Franco, and Craig Robinson Joining cast of Adam Rifkin’s ‘Toad’   As part of that, we’re producing our first feature film, TOAD - a campy, irreverent comedy built around strong comedic voices. What’s exciting is that we don’t just see it as a film, but as an IP platform with real licensing potential across games, collectibles, and merchandise - very similar to how successful entertainment properties expand into products.   Why now? Comedy has never been more global or more digital. Comedians have massive followings, but there hasn’t been a physical collectible that captures that culture. Trading cards are the perfect bridge between nostalgia and modern fandom. Comedy has always been something you experience - now it’s something you can collect. I’m incredibly fortunate to have great partners like Jamie Kiskis at Epoch and Shane Mang from Landware Entertainment who brought us this great opportunity.   What inspired the cards? Sports cards and entertainment collectibles - but no one had ever done it for comedians. That gap was an opportunity to create something truly original and historic. We’re not just launching a product—we’re establishing comedy as a legitimate collectible category for the first time.   What do you hope comes from this? We want to build a long-term collectible ecosystem where fans engage with comedians the same way they do with athletes or musicians. This is just Series 1.     What trends excite you? Convergence - where entertainment, social media, and physical products all connect. That’s exactly what we’re doing with the Laugh Factory brand.   What’s next? Expanding the Laugh Factory brand globally across content, live shows, and licensed products - and continuing to create ideas that bring joy and laughter into people’s lives. The trading card platform itself is highly expandable, with future series, rare inserts, live events, and digital integrations. We’re also building original IP like our feature film TOAD with a focus on creating licensing extensions across products and collectibles.   What do you hope your legacy will be? That I helped create things that gave people joy, laughter, fun, and human connection - and that I found a way to turn creativity into something meaningful and lasting.   What makes this different from traditional trading cards? What makes this different is that we’re not just capturing statistics or performances - we’re capturing personality, voice, and cultural impact. Comedians are storytellers with massive fan engagement, especially on social media, and these cards reflect that modern fandom.     How does your background in toys influence this project? For me, this is really about bridging my two worlds - decades in the toy industry creating products people love, and now building the Laugh Factory brand. I’ve spent my career understanding what makes something collectible and meaningful, and now I’m applying that thinking to comedy. These cards are where those two paths finally come together.   Do you see this as a one-time release or something bigger? This is just the beginning. We see this as a long-term platform - multiple series, rare inserts, live events, digital extensions, and global expansion. The goal is to build a true collectible ecosystem around comedy, similar to what exists in sports and entertainment.   Why has no one done this before? Comedy has always been culturally powerful, but it hasn’t been treated as a collectible category - until now. Sometimes the best opportunities are hiding in plain sight, and once we saw the gap, it became clear this could be something historic.   I hear you have a special invitation for toy industry people who enjoy a great show and love to laugh! Yes! On Monday, April 27 join us for a great night of comedy and receive a $40 box of trading cards. With the code EPOCH50, the cost of the ticket will be 50% off. ($20 plus tax). Get your tickets HERE!    

by Cassandra Munoz   In the world of toy design, few names carry as much weight as Design Edge. For over 30 years, the firm has been the secret engine behind the world’s most iconic playthings, partnering with giants like Mattel, Hasbro, and Spin Master. Leading the charge is Matt Nuccio, a man who literally grew up in the industry.    “My parents started Design Edge when I was 14, in our family garage on Long Island,” Matt recalls. “I’ve been there pretty much since.” While the company has long since moved out of the garage, Matt has preserved that foundational ‘maker’ spirit, evolving Design Edge into a global leader in product innovation.    From household names like Tickle Me Elmo, Pound Puppies, and Monopoly to working with brands like Barbie, Marvel, and Disney, the footprint of Design Edge is found in toy boxes and stores across the globe.    JUST PLAYING: Make48 Challenge with Design Edge  The relationship between Matt Nuccio and Make48 is rooted in years of shared history. From his seat on the Advisory Board to mentoring teams at Nationals in Season 5, Matt has been a good comrade in the Make48 ecosystem.    Now, he is stepping into a new role as the challenger and mentor for the Classroom Experience, tasking students with navigating one of the industry’s most complex categories: MESH (Mental, Emotional, Social, and Health) toys.    The MESH category is booming, driven by a growing need for toys that support emotional resilience and cognitive health. However, Matt notes that many products in this space fall into a ‘predictable’ trap, relying on obvious emotional labels like a happy or sad face.    The challenge for the students will be to design a toy that moves beyond surface-level ideas. Matt is looking for interaction over explanation. A physical product that customers choose to return to because it remains interesting over time.    What Matt sees in these teams – and in programs like the CHITAG Young Inventor Challenge – was something familiar. “They remind me a lot of how we started,” he says. “You’ve got ideas, you’ve got some materials, and you just figure it out.   Under Matt’s mentorship, students aren’t just building a toy; they are learning the business of invention. “How am I going to judge? At the end of the day, it’s got to meet the criteria of what MESH is,” Matt explains. “I have to feel; does it have a place in the market? Is there truly a benefit beyond just play value? Does it help a child express their emotions clearly?”      The Real Lesson: Thinking Like an Inventor  What makes the Design Edge x Make48 Challenge different is that it mirrors the real world.    Each team is responsible for:    ● A working prototype  ● A sell sheet  ● A 60-second marketing pitch    “They’re not just making something, they’re learning how to sell an idea,” Matt says. “Why it exists, who it’s for, and why anyone would actually buy it.” It’s a lesson he’s seen resonate not just here, but with younger inventors coming through programs like ChiTAG.    “A lot of people think this industry is just about creativity,” he says. “It’s not. It’s about solving problems in a way that works – on shelf, for consumers, and for the business.”    Frankensteining and Figuring It Out  Ask Matt what skill matters most, and he doesn’t hesitate.    “Make stuff.”    Matt’s approach is called ‘Frankensteining’, the art of getting a whole bunch of existing products to create something entirely new. His advice is grounded in the reality of the workshop: “I think if you want to get into toy design, the best ability is the sketch, and the very close second is tinkering.” He also noted that becoming a student of the market and knowing what's out there and what's been done before is tremendous help.    While aesthetics are important, Matt emphasized that the ‘soul’ of a MESH toy lies in its tactile nature. “It’s always good to have something that’s tactile and has a visual twist. In a lot of MESH toys, texture does make a difference. It doesn’t have to look beautiful, but it should feel and react very well.”    Legacy of Excellence: From TOTYs to TAGIEs  The timing of this challenge is particularly poignant. Design Edge, alongside the team at Exploding Kittens, Inc., recently took home the Toy of the Year (TOTY) Award for Game of the Year. Often called the "Academy Award" of the industry, the TOTY represents the pinnacle of toy design.    "We've been nominated a few times in my career, but that was the first time we'd ever won. I was shocked," Matt admits.    Matt’s streak of accolades serves as a roadmap for what "making it" in this industry looks like.    In 2023, Design Edge was honored with a TAGIE Award, a prestigious recognition from his peers at People of Play, for Best Design Visuals. Surprisingly, they beat out the iconic Furby, marking a significant milestone for the company.    These wins are a testament to the vision and trust required to bring a game from concept to shelf, a process Matt is now sharing with the next generation. Having seen the best in the world honored on the TAGIE stage, Matt understands the level of excellence required to truly stand out.    Fresh offthese milestones – one Matt still calls "a little surreal" – he is focused on sharing what that journey really looks like. "It’s not a straight line," he says. "It’s messy, it’s iterative, and most of the time you’re just figuring things out as you go."    That honesty is what makes his mentorship stand out. For the students, this isn’t just a challenge, it’s a real-world crash course. For Matt, it’s personal. "I started in a garage when I was 14. So getting to help the next group come up, it’s pretty cool."    The Future Looks Good  If there’s one thing Matt is sure of after working with Make48 and seeing young inventors through programs like People of Play, it’s this: the next generation is ready.    "They’re not waiting around. They’re already building," Matt says. "They’re more aware, more thoughtful, and once they start making things, they move fast. The future of this industry is in good hands, as long as they keep making things."    As a mentor, Matt isn't just looking for a "nice job." He is providing the same high-level critiques he gives to the world’s largest toy companies. For these students, it isn't just a competition; it’s an apprenticeship with a master of the craft.    To learn more about the work being done at Design Edge, visit DesignEdge.net or follow Matt’s journey on LinkedIn.