Okanagan pair creates board game based on popular TV show ‘Vikings’

Two Okanagan men have made a career out of their love for board games and television shows.

Phelps and his longtime friend Derek Hodgins have created a board game based on the popular television show “Vikings.”

“It’s in our blood, really,” Hodgins said. “It’s what we know, it came very naturally to us.”

READ MORE: Alexander Ludwig, ‘Vikings’ Björn, on his big change in this ‘darkest’ season

The game is called “Vikings, raid and conquer.” Phelps and Hodgins approached the show’s production studio, MGM, and once they got approval, the pair got down to work.

“We showed them the early concept for the game to MGM, they liked it and that was huge,” Hodgins said. “We went right to work putting in tons of hours on it, a thousand hours.

“It’s definitely based on the show. You pillage and plunder, you attack other players, you go on raids, you collect treasures and the ultimate goal is to become the next legendary viking.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's definitely based on the show. You pillage and plunder, you attack other players, you go on raids, you collect treasures and the ultimate goal is to become the next legendary viking."

READ MORE: Jonathan Rhys Meyers joins ‘Vikings’ cast, show renewed for Season 5

This is the second board game the pair has created. In 2013, the two released a game based on the television show “The Trailer Park Boys.” The game has since sold thousands of copies.

READ MORE: Can’t get enough ‘Vikings’? There’s a website for that

The friends say creating games together works well because they can passionately debate the mechanics of the game without taking it personally.

“We kind of have the yin and yang because it is important for Derek to have a lot of depth, whereas I am thinking more as a fan to just try and make it feel more like the show and makes it easier for non-gamers to play, so it works well,” Phelps said.

READ MORE: Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays star, appearing in ‘Vikings’ episode

The game can be purchased online and the pair is currently working on getting it onto store shelves. They are already one step ahead in the game working on concepts for two other games.

“Oh yeah, we have a few irons in the fire for a few licences,” Hodgins said. “We will probably be revealing in a few months or so.”

5:35 ‘Vikings’ star Alexander Ludwig on dating advice and Season 4’s return

• ‘Vikings’ star Alexander Ludwig on dating advice and Season 4’s return
• ‘Vikings’ star Alexander Ludwig on how his character’s confidence changed him as a person
• Alexander Ludwig Talks ‘Vikings’
• “Vikings” actor Clive Standen to make appearance at Toronto’s Fan Expo
• Corus Upfront: Clive Standen from ‘Vikings’
• Take a look at the upcoming season of ‘Vikings’
• Vikings: A World Revealed

Previous Video

Next Video