Mikko Saari: The only Finnish game designer dies

Kari Mannerla, the best-known Finnish game designer has died of cancer at the age of 76. Mannerla’s most important game, Afrikan tähti (African Star or Diamond Hunt) was published in 1951 - he designed it when he was just 19. It was a smash hit; the game has sold over three million copies since, half of them in Finland (there are only about five million people in Finland).

Afrikan tähti remained his only significant published game until 2005 (newspapers claimed he had designed 16 games before Afrikan tähti, but those are unknown today), when Inkan aarre (Treasure of the Incas) was released. This sister game of Afrikan tähti is basically a map variant of the original - instead of Africa, players romp around South America. There’s one minor change in rules.

Afrikan tähti is a true classic. Everybody knows it in Finland. Mannerla is also the best-known game designer in Finland, as he has always been credited for the game. With the current influx of new games with designer credits, Reiner Knizia or the other German designers may wish for a similar fame in years to come, but for now, Kari Mannerla is the only game designer for the Finnish public.

Afrikan tähti wasn’t Mannerla’s best-selling invention, though. He helped develop scratchable lottery tickets for the Finnish lottery company; those have sold over 15 million copies. Mannerla’s actual career was in advertising; it is unknown how much money he made with Afrikan tähti.

© 2006 Mikko Saari

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We need more designers in Finland!  I know lots of Finns are working on prototypes, and I’ve played a few.  I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before we see a Finnish name on a box cover. Posted by Phil Schwarzmann on Aug 1, 2006 at 03:12 AM | #

I know this is just me being stupid, but when I casually glanced at the headline for this article, my heart stopped.  Honestly, my first thought was, “Oh my god, Mikko died!  And he was so young!” Mikko, I’m glad to see that you’re still with us! Posted by Larry Levy on Aug 1, 2006 at 09:20 AM | #

Worry not; I’m more alive than ever, thanks to my son, a constant source of amazement. Iäm not much of a designer, either. Finnish Board Game Society is organizing a game design contest with Tactic; Bruno Faidutti is also in the jury. I’ll write about that once we get some results, but I’ll just note there were over 20 entries. There’s a design scene in Finland! Posted by Mikko Saari on Aug 1, 2006 at 11:25 AM | #

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