Interview with the Creator of Labyrinthos, A Unique Puzzle Game Book and Coloring Book

SEATTLE - Oct. 12, 2013 - PRLog -- Labyrinthos is a unique puzzle book that is at the same time a maze game that can be played like a board game, a coloring book for grown-ups and kids, and a conceptual art piece that expresses a philosophical belief.

The book is available until October 20 via a pledge on Kickstarter at: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/maciekjozefowicz/labyrinthos-puzzle-board-game-art-literature-read

The following is an interview with Maciek Jozefowicz, the creator of Labyrinthos, and Roger Hicks, the owner of TodayInBoardGames.

Roger: Give us an overview of Labyrinthos

Maciek: Labyrinthos is a maze puzzle that extends over an entire 28-page book. Players begin the maze on the front cover and have to find their way through paths, spaces and jump portals to the end, the back cover.

You can play Labyrinthos in different ways. You can play it like a traditional maze puzzle. You can play it like a board game using dice. But instead of using game pieces to mark your location you actually mark your location with a pencil or pen.

And there is the “The Labyrinthos Love Story”, where one player begins on the front cover while the other players begins on the back cover. The goal is to find each other. This may be one of the most unique gamplay because rather than being a game of competition, it becomes a game of cooperation.

Roger: Tell us about the spark or inspiration for Labyrinthos

Maciek: For some years, I’ve been trying to make art that is more than a pretty image. I want to make art that is also a game. So I began exploring mazes and how I can develop them into art. Eventually, the game aspect of mazes began to be more and more important. I wanted to make as challenging a maze puzzle as I could.

For that purpose, I’ve been exploring different formats for mazes. Formats like the poster and the scroll and the book. I love books and not just reading books but the actual physical objects that are books. The idea was to create a maze that takes up an entire book. That is Labyrinthos.

Roger: Lets talk about the design process. Tell us a bit about the iterations the book has gone through and the refinements you've made along the way.

Maciek: Originally, Labyrinthos was called simply Maze Book or Book Maze. And the very first version of the game was drawn freehand in the Adobe Illustrator using the pen tablet. It was very curvilinear and it lacked spaces. But right from the start I incorporated the “jump portals”. These are areas that allow the player to jump over pages rather then move progressively through paths.

Also from the start was the idea of a maze with no dead ends. This characteristic was philosophical. I don’t believe in dead ends. I think that no matter where you are, you can always get where you want to be. I guess that is the optimist in me speaking.

Having no dead ends allows this maze game to be played in more ways than a typical, one solution maze. You can play it back to front, for example. This allows for a two player game, “The Labyrinthos Love Story”, that I already mentioned.

The design evolved slowly and the title changed. I decided to call it Labyrinthos to make it sound more poetic and mysterious. After all, mazes are about mystery in some respect. Labyrinthos is the fifth iteration of the book maze. Not only does it have elements that the other versions have, jump portals and no dead-ends, it has many new elements like spaces, points, treasures, a grid system with symbolic “steps” that allow you to play with dice.

These additions, make Labyrinthos the richest version of them all. But the inclusion of additional elements is not the only difference. In Labyrinthos I used the various elements to create abstract compositions. I added lineweights, different line thicknesses, to add interest to the orthogonal system of design. Each spread of the Labyrinthos book is like an abstract picture. This makes the book not only a puzzle but also a coloring book.

Roger: What has been your biggest challenge in designing Labyrinthos?

Maciek: I think the biggest challenge came very early in the design process: how to design a maze with no dead ends. What kind of form does it have to have? And the answer came from two places: art history. The solution came from Celtic ornamental designs. These gave me the idea of using the crossing, weave-like paths. Using these I do not have to create dead ends, I just reconnect paths.

Roger: Let's shift gears and talk about you. How did you getinto maze creation?

Maciek: It started about 10, 15 years ago from the idea of wanting to make a art that is more than just a pretty picture. I wanted to create art that is also a game. Art with utility, so to speak. So, I thought maybe the maze would be just the right subject for that. I think that a maze is a great subject for abstract art. It can make wonderful public art. It is not only decorative but it also invites viewers to play it, to participate in it.

I’ve been exploring different way of creating mazes and creating them in different formats (book, scroll, poster) ever since.

Roger: Tell us a little bit about your life outside of Labyrinthos: family? Work? Other interests?

Maciek: This is a sore subject for me. Since getting my masters degree in architecture in 2009 at the late age of 38, I have yet to have an opportunity to work in the field. Right now I am working temporarily as a construction laborer for a Seattle firm LockhartSuver. That job will last until April or May of next year, and after that I will again be looking for a job. It’s very frustrating to work your ass off (excuse the language) to get a college degree and then not even have an opportunity at a “college level” job. Not even an entry college level job.

And as far as family, to be honest, I need to get a life, as they say. But until I become financially stable through my projects (or a decent job) that will be placed on hold. To my way of thinking, how can I make another person happy if I can’t make myself happy. Of course, being an artist is a handicap in a way (as is my shyness). Creating art is a lonely endeavor. I am often envious of musicians, dancers and actors. They get to show their craft in more public settings.

As far as other interests. I love mountain biking, I love tennis, I love to read classics and I love to read comics. I enjoy watching football, especially now that my Seattle Seahawks are finally a legitimate threat to win a Superbowl. I used to love basketball, but then the whole Supersonic debacle happened and I lost interest in watching the pros.

But most of all, I love to create. I love to do art, illustrate stories, make puzzles.

Roger: A word of advice to your fellow creators?

Maciek: Well, when I feel that I’ve succeeded, then I may start giving advice. Right now, I think, I should be taking advice not giving it.

Roger: Tell us how (and where) we can find you?

Maciek: My website, where you can find samples of my work and more information about the various works-in-progress is http://www.konokopia.com