"I'm not a fan of gory movies." - person who hasn't seen Psycho Goreman, probably

"Game designers will routinely fail at making something fun. When the game of making games is played right, it is always right outside the edge of what the designers know how to do." Incredible quote from an amazing article. Something I'm only beginning to understand 10+ years in to designing.

Big day of testing mats and getting some new photos to throw around social media. First up: Scream Park. Jerry and I had to break a tie of 68 points each.

I rarely get a new phone. I try to run whatever I own into rags before thinking of getting a new one. But this new phone auto-screens political spam texts. I wish I knew this sooner.

I don’t have an MTG mat so I assembled one with what I have around.

We are making new, awesomely better mats for all our games. Almost no creasing, and the fabric grips the components. Gonna have them available for a couple bucks as an upgrade, and switch out the material for all future game printings. Karnak’s mat, because it’s so impactful, will be free.

Nice musical cards!

Self-Diagnosed… Dracula??? It is hard being punk.

I’m thrilled to share we have a special video going through *every* game at the 2025 Indie Games Night Market (at PaxU)! We’re working with @dnlnwmn.bsky.social, some awesome designers, playing some games, all to give you a thorough set of previews & reviews to see the games you won’t want to miss~

Best use of my time? No. Fun use of my time? Yes. I think all of these are identifiable with a little thinking.

Playthings has players guess which token is theirs, but through touch and sound, as their eyes are closed as the tokens are placed by the Night Terror. However, they can instead ‘cheat’ and peek, if they can get away with it. The push-and-pull of making this tension work has been tricky.

Fun side activity of the day: Poking again at more graphics for this musical-writing game.

Our current plans, plots, and schemes. Anything stand out for you?

Is it okay if I tell you about some horror themed board games real quick? 👻🎃 @trickortreatstudio.bsky.social @worldchamp.bsky.social @dvcgames.bsky.social @pubgob.bsky.social @blacklettergames.bsky.social @hollowpress.bsky.social

Hoy hemos probado en casa Scream Park de @dvcgames.bsky.social en y ha sido todo un éxito. Un juego de draft realmente bonito y cuidado. Gracias @danthurot.bsky.social por el descubrimiento.

Tis the season for Scream Park and Underberg. @dvcgames.bsky.social

We technically have a blog, because it is mainly useful for me to mark and post key information for SEO and other purposes. But also, it means taking a moment to summarize or discuss 'news' of what is going on. So here is the post today that 'announces' Playthings, our VERY peculiar parlor game.

Jerry and I (Jono) played a fast game of Pacts during a quick break between things yesterday. In case seeing the game played a bit may be of interest before it hits PAXU. It continues my theme of doing these little office play videos and getting humbled.

Unboxing Here Lies, a murder mystery game unlike any other by @dvcgames.bsky.social #herelies #murder #boardgames #dvcgames #unboxing

IDK if it would appeal to anyone, but if you have a game that fits our vibe/box/style and are going to PAXU, be sure to reach out in some regard and I can schedule some time for us. Although I do mean if it fits- we get game pitches that don't fit our deal, especially our box, and its a letdown.

Karnak, as a place, is something that has fascinated me with its endless revision and shadows of scandals written in broken stone. It is amazing to see those feelings come out of the box as intended.

It has been a fun few years. I am pretty tired and sick today and have a ton to do this weekend (local events and such) BUT put all the stuff on the shelf (past and future) and feel pretty good about where things are going (my prototype of Rosetta #2 doesn't have a spine image...)

@dvcgames.bsky.social Shout out to DVC, your game submissions guide is A+. Wish every publisher had one of these. docs.google.com/document/d/1...

This was a rad project to figure out together!

Got some nice photos of Pacts! Rock and roll!

Kicking off October with a spooky solo game? Yes please! Let’s learn how to play Screan Park from @dvcgames.bsky.social (and peep that gorgeous art from @nickeldoodle.bsky.social 💀on twitch.tv/wittlegoblin and YouTube.com/@wittlegoblin

I want to promote the best deduction game I’ve played in a looooong time: Signal by @dvcgames.bsky.social boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/42...

Got to play on the new material using for our game mats from now on. Lays flat, wonderful texture, tighter in the box.

Okay so, crafted a test box of an upcoming project to share around CuseCon this weekend. I hope filks get what’s going on!

Thanks Silksong I did say the phrase "I'm a good bug" in the chat. What have you done to me?

And another park #boardgame we covered today, although quite a bit different is Scream Park from @dvcgames.bsky.social . Draft cards to build out the best haunted house. Come and hear my thoughts on this game that is perfect for the Halloween season. youtu.be/yKqM_GRd0y8

An excellent game night! Got to see quite a few things hit the table.

Time to fit in just a little more testing before CuseCon.

It's a majority of family friendly #boardgames this week. On Tuesday it is a park themed review/preview day. So if you are looking for some new family games, then you should tune in this week.

We are playing Rosetta: The Lost Language in our Discord like ye olden days and Jerry made a meme of Tim getting sucked back into the puzzle-y word debate even though he was trying to go to sleep in Australia. I printed it out as decor. I missed playing this game so much.

Got my copy today! Loving a lot of this, and of course CAW CAW to the Corvids shout-out. And specific immense pleasure to help give @danthurot.bsky.social some words for his lovely piece on escape rooms. Gotta pull back up the old ER game design where each player makes a puzzle for the group…

Benefit of bringing the baby to cons all year- we are at a work party at a bowling/arcade dealio and he is out cold.

Going over the sample with a fine-toothed comb.

Awww yisss. Pacts sample from Panda!

Struggling with this as a publisher this week, but gotta do what I like that we do!

The #spooky season is approaching. And if you didn't see the game we covered on Monday, you can check it out in a different way today. And that game is Scream Park from @dvcgames.bsky.social. So check it out as I take it on solo style. youtu.be/inPtNZ2mdgU

Testing some Here Lies 2 cards. Got some weird ones! Riffed a fresh case just to torment @bobbywest.bsky.social

Over the moon for a game that was essentially designed for Jono & Julia to have something new to play over long distance like roll-and-writes back in lockdown. Thank you Andrew!

Playtesting new pages for Inkwell. Close to finished!

We have turned the page to September, so time to start looking ahead to the rest of the holidays of the year. And with that we are looking at a spooky #boardgame and a festive game this week. Along with an array of other fun things.

You can tell things have changed when the ‘Don’t tell me summer weather is over?’ folks I know haven’t said as much in a few years now…

Making progress on the files for Inkwell as we head towards the PPC phase!

Cooked up something fun with @mistergross.bsky.social for PAX Unplugged and the Indie Game Night Market. Huzzah!

Let’s gooooooo Jerry v Jono beaching it in High Tide by @marcelineleiman.bsky.social