Why the Future of Video Games is Moving Back to the Dinner Table

What It Covers

Brynn Putnam, CEO of Board, presents a $399 face-to-face gaming console — a 24-inch touchscreen that recognizes physical game pieces using proprietary capacitive pattern technology and embedded AI. The episode covers hardware development timelines, pricing strategy, IP licensing potential, and how Board creates a new entertainment category between board games and video games.

Key Questions Answered

• •Hardware prototyping strategy: Avoid over-engineering early prototypes. Build only what demonstrates the core customer experience, not a fully functional product. Board raised its seed round using a partially non-functional demo that conveyed the feeling of playing with physical pieces on a shared screen. This approach reduces capital burn and lets storytelling drive fundraising before manufacturing complexity is fully solved.
• •Manufacturing location tradeoffs: Choose contract manufacturers based on product weight and size, not just labor cost. Board's predecessor Mirror produced in Mexico rather than Asia because the large, heavy screen made trans-Pacific shipping costs prohibitive. For Board's current product, a Thailand-based tier-one manufacturer with prior Peloton and Portal display experience reduced prototyping time by leveraging existing supply chain expertise.
• •Hardware pricing model: Price hardware at low-to-no margin and build LTV through software and accessories. Board sells the console at $399, individual games at $35 with custom piece sets, and plans a creator subscription launching end of year. With 85% of members active monthly and averaging over 30 sessions per month, the per-session cost competes directly with family movie outings at $100–$150 per trip.
• •New category creation fundraising: When building a product that doesn't fit existing TAM definitions, validate through experience demonstration rather than market sizing. Board faced skepticism from both board game purists and video game communities. Putnam's approach: show the product working in a room, let investors feel the experience firsthand, and build narrative around the customer emotion rather than defending against incumbent category comparisons.
• •IP licensing as growth lever: Pursue IP partnerships only when the integration feels native to the platform's technology, not as a direct port. Board is in conversations with major entertainment IP holders but has deliberately avoided simply porting Monopoly or checkers. The target model mirrors Monopoly Go's approach — reimagining beloved characters and worlds in ways that specifically leverage physical pieces interacting with a digital shared surface.
• •Creator economy as subscription driver: Build a creator toolset that turns the platform itself into a game. Board users are already using the SDK with AI coding tools to build custom experiences. A formal creator studio launching as a subscription add-on will allow custom piece design and game creation. Putnam's daughter created a personalized mermaid piece that unlocks new in-game experiences, demonstrating the emotional and commercial pull of user-generated physical collectibles.