Matt Kirby, has been Busy since Inventing the Apples to Apples Game!

by The Bloom Report | 20 Jan 2022

The Bloom Report

What exactly do you do in the industry?

I am a content creator

What is your claim to fame in the industry?

Inventor of Apples to Apples

What has been your biggest achievement?

Apples to Apples and DecadesMatrix.com

What was your biggest failure?

Following up A2A

What have been doing since you invented Apples to Apploes in 2014?

I've been BUSY!!!!

I created the Family - Pirate - Strategy game : Picaroon. Here is are the three level of rules for Picaroon :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHdwpknu3kM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLFRvfBBTg0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Anm8HhIuBSk

I plan on finding a distribution channel for it and a new version of my game Shipwrecked :

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/644/shipwrecked

I am the Content Creator for all of the following with my friend Guustav who handles the IT - side of it.

My general interest website: https://www.entropynation.com/

I have created online games for the entropy site

https://www.entropynation.com/games/

This is a website I created that teaches 20th Century history graphically - along with the (most important) connections:

https://decadesmatrix.com/

Here are the Cartoons i create for my entropynation.com website :

https://entropytoons.com/

Here is a documentary I created about a very unique artists I know in SF :

https://www.entropynation.com/gnomegame/

Here is a website/ database I created that uses attributes to search for the world's most famous 1,000 pieces of art :

https://famousartmuseum.com/

Here is a website I created for my father (deceased) who was a well - known artists in southern CA :

https://www.sheldonkirby.com/

I work with Moxiebox to bring a quality Art - Lesson in a subscription form to home school families and public schools.

I produce most of the supplementary content that provides art history and/or connections to the time periods and general concepts :

https://www.moxieboxart.com/

I have conducted seminars for students and their teachers on the importance / method of employing creativity in their lives. I have a (100 + slide Presentation) titled " The Twelve Tools of Creativity" where I explore / articulate and express the nature of this most important topic. I plan on turning this into an E-Book.

In general I am always stressing the power and necessity of employing creativity in any fashion, more now than ever before !!!

One last thing : I hope to use the structure and accessibility of Apples to Apples in order to conduct / expose civil dialog in this country. The thought is to create a custom Red State / Blue State Apples to Apples deck to create a forum to discuss important concepts / challenges that face this country. Id like to facilitate and MC these discussion and post them on YouTube. Apples to Apples is a unique construct that can be utilized for the Public - Good. I'd like to be part of this !!!

Do you have a mantra that you live by?

Content - Content - Content

Why and how did you get into the Toy and Game industry?

Complete amateur found a manufacturer, Out of the Box Games (OTB Games), which then sold Apples to Apples to Mattel.

What has kept you motivated to stay in the toy industry?

I enjoy the divine process of invention !!!

What was your favorite project to date?

http://www.decadesmatrix.com

What trends do you see in toys or games that excite or worry you?

That Cards Against Humanity inspired RACE TO THE BOTTOM

What advice can you give to inventors who are presenting new toy or game ideas to you?

Amazon is not your FRIEND

What advice would you give a young adult graduating from high school or college today?

Passion Wins , Everytime

What advice do you have for people starting in the industry?

Invent from nature, not trends

Do you have a typical work day and how does it play out for you?

I try stuff

What’s your workspace setup like?

Typical

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Making people think / laugh / understand the nature of creativity

What is the worst job you’ve ever had and what did you learn from it?

It is better to have a job in the content biz

What’s a problem you’re still trying to solve?

A game that involves the intersection of personal and group goals

What and/or who inspires you?

Theoretical Physicis / Revolutionary Artists

What excites you?

The creative passion / connecting to The Source

How do you define creativity?

Connecitng notions / observations / ideas

How do you define innovation?

Employing creativity

How do you recharge or take a break?

Trying to improve at my tennis game

What words describe how you think or how your brain works?

WTF ?

What was your favorite toy or game as a child?

Odd Rods (Cards) Chess / Risk / D&D / Liars Dice

Where were you born?

San Diego, 1/7/1964 - Capricorn !!

What was your life like growing up?

Sensitive / creative / Frightened child navigating life

Where did you grow up and how did that influence who you are today?

S.F - A culture of intellectualism

What is one mistake you’ve made, and what did you learn from it?

One must think of others

What do you read every day, and why?

Online all the time, I want to read an actual book someday!!

Who is the person you most admire?

Richard Feynman / Carl Sagan / William Blake

What is your favorite gadget, app or piece of software that helps you every day?

My pillow !!! (Not the guy !!!)

How do you jumpstart your creativity when you find yourself stalled on a project?

Observe nature !!

When is the last time you laughed out loud? What caused it?

Today, thinking about all the stupid stuff I've just done !!

What are your favorite childhood memories?

Mission Hills in S.D. - Haunted House hunting

Are you named after anyone?

My grandfather from Croatia : Anton Djzaic (middle name Anthony)

Do you have any kiddos?

Three brilliant / disruptive youths angling for Paradigm Shifts

Do you have any pets?

We are all addicted to thinking our dogs are immortal

Do you have any guilty pleasures?

Wouldn't U like to know !!!

What’s in your fridge?

Cold Cash

Do you play any musical instruments? If so, which one(s)?

I play Rick Beato Music Appreciation Videos !!!

Who are your favorite musicians, singers or musical groups?

Beatles / Pink Floyd / Doors / Amaral (Spanish)

What music are you listening to now?

Richard Wagner

Fav Cereal ?

Fruit Lopps lOLOLOL

What are your favorite books?

LOTR - On the Road - Catcher in the Rye

What are your favorite websites?

Youtube, Live Science, Wired

Who are your favorite athletes?

Joe Morgan (Mlb) Fran Tarkington (NFL) , Dan Fouts (NFL)

Favorite movie of all time?

2001 Space Odessey - Butch Cassiday and Sundance Kid - The Graduate - Truman Show - Apollo 13 - Raiders of Arc

Tell us about your hobbies?

Tennis / pen/ink drawings / website creation / make videos

Hugs or Kisses?

A kiss is truly divine, a connection, a doorway

Everything would have been different if…

Nazi invasion of Russia, June 1941 .........

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Completely Unaware of Myself !!!

Editor's Note: Our last conversation with Matt was back in 2014! Check out Joyce Johnson's interview with Matt.

Apples to Apples game inventor Mattel game inventor DecadesMatrix.com Strategy Game Picaroon The Twelve Tools of Creativity

Join People Of Play (POP)!

Recent Blogs

David Fuhrer, President of the Laugh Factory, Announces Laugh Factory x EPOCH Trading Cards

SHAWN JOHNSON EAST & ANDREW EAST COLLABORATE WITH TABLETOPICS® TO DEVELOP NEW CONVERSATION STARTER SETS FOR COUPLES

How I Got Here: Amy Friedland, Executive Vice President

Design Edge-Make48 Challenge: Matt Nuccio and the Next Generation of MESH

Recent Blogs

Biographies and Interviews

David Fuhrer, President of the Laugh Factory, Announces Laugh Factory x EPOCH Trading Cards

Press Release

SHAWN JOHNSON EAST & ANDREW EAST COLLABORATE WITH TABLETOPICS® TO DEVELOP NEW CONVERSATION STARTER SETS FOR COUPLES

Biographies and Interviews

How I Got Here: Amy Friedland, Executive Vice President

The Bloom Report

Design Edge-Make48 Challenge: Matt Nuccio and the Next Generation of MESH

Press Release

Nominations Now Open for 2026 TAGIE Lifetime Achievement Honor

Recent Wiki

COMPANIES

SHAWN JOHNSON EAST & ANDREW EAST COLLABORATE WITH TABLETOPICS® TO DEVELOP NEW CONVERSATION STARTER SETS FOR COUPLES

PEOPLE

How I Got Here: Amy Friedland, Executive Vice President

KID INVENTORS, YOUNG INVENTOR CHALLENGE

Design Edge-Make48 Challenge: Matt Nuccio and the Next Generation of MESH

AWARDS

Nominations Now Open for 2026 TAGIE Lifetime Achievement Honor

APPS, DIGITAL, VIDEO GAMES

Ron Fowler: The ReFraze Ecosystem Now Includes Expansion Packs and an App

POP's Got Talent

POP Entertainment

Randy Klimpert Shares his Ukulele Collection

POP Entertainment

Steve Casino Peanut Art

POP Entertainment

Everyone's Talking about POP!

POP Entertainment

Princess Etch - a Multi-Talented Etch A Sketch Artist

POP Entertainment

Joseph Herscher of Joseph' s Machines.

Recent POPcast

Hidden Role: The Brains Behind your Favorite Games

Brent Bushnell talks Two Bit Circus, VR, & STEAM (Part 1)

Hidden Role: The Brains Behind your Favorite Games

Tim Walsh Celebrates the 30th Anniversary of Blurt!

Hidden Role: The Brains Behind your Favorite Games

Connie Vogelmann designed Apiary & Wyrmspan!

Hidden Role: The Brains Behind your Favorite Games

Bob Fuhrer... Is THE Crocodile Dentist!

Hidden Role: The Brains Behind your Favorite Games

Tom Dusenberry... Bought Atari, Wizards of the Coast, and Avalon Hill!

POPDuos

POPDuos: Interviews with Legends and Leaders

POPDuo: Richard Dickson, Mattel’s President & COO, and Kedar Narayan, Young Inventor Challenge AMB

POPDuos: Interviews with Legends and Leaders

POPDuo: Will Shortz and Josh Wardle

POPDuos: Legends and Leaders Explore Creativity

POP Duo: Elan Lee, Co-Founder, Exploding Kittens.and Jeff Probst, Host and Exec Producer, Survivor

POPDuos: Legends and Leaders Explore Creativity

POP Duo: David Fuhrer, MNG Director, Blue Sq Innovations & Shawn Green, past Dodgers & Mets MLB Star

POPDuos: Legends and Leaders Explore Creativity

POP Duo: Bob Fuhrer, Founder, Nextoy and Tom Fazio, Golf Course Designer

The Bloom Report

Toy Inventors--The Heart and Soul of the Industry

The Bloom Report

Brian Turtle: 'Endless' Stories, Advice, Kevin Bacon and More! tBR Person of the Week

Biographies and Interviews

Jonathan Levy on Jon2.0 - from Co-Founding Mastermind Toys to Spin Master

Biographies and Interviews

Andrew Perlmutter's Journey from Glencoe to Funko with Crazy Ideas that turned out Golden

Featured Innovators

Tim Walsh

Bob Fuhrer

Peggy Brown

Leslie Scott