Hello Kitty Day at the Park, Q&A with game designer Roberta Taylor and Javon Frazier CEO of Maestro Media.
SciFiction proudly conducted a Q&A with Javon Frazier, the game designer and CEO of
Maestro Media. This fantastic table game, Hello Kitty Day at the Park, brought together
Sanrio friends who embody the characters. Follow and subscribe to our social media
pages for updates, news, and more!
SciFiction Q&A
- Who proposed the notion of gathering all the Sanrio characters in a single board
game? And for what reason?
Bringing together all the beloved Sanrio characters in one game was something that felt
truly special from the start. The idea was a collaborative effort—Sanrio has such an
incredible universe of characters, each with their own charm, and we knew there was an
opportunity to create a game that celebrated that entire world. The goal was to design
something that fans of all ages could enjoy, where they could experience the joy,
friendship, and positivity that Hello Kitty and Friends represent. This project was about
creating an experience that captures that magic in a way that families and fans could
share together. – Javon Frazier, CEO - What sets this board game apart from classic titles such as Candy Land, Hungry
Hungry Hippos, and Life?
So the biggest difference and the thing that makes Hello Kitty Day at the Park special is
that it was designed to bridge the gap between mass-market kids games and the more
complex games popular in the hobby market. While still approachable for a new gamer,
it is more strategic than many familiar childhood classics, with no major elements of luck
like dice or spinners. As I designed it, I wanted this game to be great for families to play
together. – Roberta Taylor, game designer
Roberta nailed it—this game bridges the gap between the traditional kids’ games many
of us grew up with and the more strategic experiences that tabletop gaming has evolved
into. What makes Hello Kitty Day at the Park special is that it brings that signature
Sanrio charm while offering meaningful decision-making and strategy without too much
complexity. It’s still fun, accessible, and full of heart, but it also rewards planning and
smart choices. That’s a rare balance to strike, and I think Roberta and the team did an
amazing job making a game that’s engaging for both kids and adults. – Javon Frazier,
CEO - Do you feel you’ll end up doing a digital version of this board for our digital media
players? Supercharge your digital media game with this board, designed to take your
experience to the next level!
Digital is definitely an exciting space for us, and we’re already exploring ways to bring
more of our games into the digital world. With how well-loved Hello Kitty and her friends
are, I can absolutely see Hello Kitty Day at the Park finding a home in the digital space.
This board game is just the first step in our vision for expanding how fans experience
these characters, so stay tuned—this could be the start of something even bigger! –
Javon Frazier, CEO
- Were there any creative challenges or struggles developing this tabletop board game ?
Every game design has challenges, and this was no different. I knew I wanted to use a
tile-laying mechanic, because there’s something so satisfying about building out the
board you are playing on. But at first I imagined using paths, and it was quickly clear that
doing so really didn’t have the spark I was seeking. After playing with a few ideas, I
realised that moving didn’t need paths to follow, and in the final game, players just
choose to move their character up to 3 tiles on their turn, planning their route based on
what tokens they want to collect rather than being constrained by a pathway. – Roberta
Taylor, game designer - For the fans of Hello Kitty, what exciting features can one look forward to in the
gameplay based on the franchise ?
This game brings many fan favourites to the table, and the great selection of characters
is a real draw. It also really keeps the spirit of Hello Kitty and Friends with cozy game
design and friendly play. – Roberta Taylor, game designer - Based on my review of the game, I have noticed that there is a significant amount of
small pieces included. Can this be attributed to the fact that the game is developed for
ages 8 years and up? And if so, why is this the case?
To appeal to Hello Kitty fans of all ages, it was an original design decision to make a
game that kids could enjoy but would appeal to adult fans of Hello Kitty as well. I’m sure
you know that she recently turned 50 and has fans of all ages. That is why the game is a
bit more complex than many games based on IPs, and consequently has more pieces. –
Roberta Taylor, game designer
Absolutely! The goal from the beginning was to create a game that appeals not just to
kids, but to lifelong fans of Hello Kitty as well. Sanrio is celebrating 50 years of Hello
Kitty, which means there’s an entire generation of fans who grew up with her and still
adore her. So while the game is designed to be fun for younger players, we also wanted
to create an experience that adults would enjoy too. That’s why there are more
components—it allows for deeper gameplay while still keeping the cozy and friendly
Sanrio spirit. – Javon Frazier, CEO