In today's video I share some insights from judging entries from this year's @cardboardedison.com award, and some tips that you can apply to your own games, whether you enter them in a contest or not! youtu.be/9_5Wv6CaHKY 🎲✂️

Very fun game day, mostly card games. 12 hours, pretty much straight.

In the last weekish, I've seen a burst of board game design posts here that seem unusually thoughtful and effortful. I want to encourage more of this. Imo our communities are only as good as our contributions, and we undervalue how useful a platform like this could be with high care/effort. 🎲✂️

In today's video I go over what I earnt as a full time game designer in 2025, comparing my income over the past few years and how it varies from game to game. My aim has always been to increase transparency in the industry and help newer designers with what to expect. youtu.be/avLL2siSmyc 🎲✂️

Yesterday morning kids were sent running from their bus stop in panic because ICE showed up. This guy at today’s ICE Out of Lindenwold protest is a must watch 😭. @maddow.bsky.social

Something I’ve seen repeatedly in tabletop game design is designers mistaking a "situated experience" for a marketable game. It looks like this: 🎲✂️(1/19)

Today I delve into the topic of balance in games, and discuss why there might be some much more important things to do than optimising for a perfectly balanced game. I also look at feelings that players might ascribe to imbalance, but that are actually caused elsewhere. youtu.be/7fpbTsZI3EI 🎲✂️

My dog sleeps like a cat

Things I have been paid for include: - Newspaper delivery - Flyer delivery - Mowing yards - Shoveling snow - Performing on trumpet - Video rental clerk - Grocery clerk - Systems and Network Administration - Web and Software Development - IT Manager - IT/ERP Consulting

They're lying!

As a game designer, you may have to fall in love with what you're making to make it well. But then remember there's a broad distribution of opinion about each game, and now you're likely on its positive tail. Now you're at risk of going blind to what folks elsewhere in the distribution think. 🎲✂️

In this week's video, I answer game design questions from my viewers, including how to stay motivated with a design, pros and cons of self publishing, and why I don't design complex games. youtu.be/dDHXlHvcAEU 🎲✂️

SUPER BOWL BOUND The New England Patriots are headed to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2018 season.

Game Night drip

In today's podcast episode we feature Echoes of Time and also discuss some recent plays of Sanctuary and Fearsome Floors. Then we discuss a poll about collecting board games. Listen here: spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/eWALgdZ12Zb #boardgames

Looks like we're headed to WW3, against our allies no less, because orange baby didn't get an award from an organization that isn't in charge of Greenland

Minneapolis feels like a war zone.

A split test is a playtest where players play two games back-to-back and then compare their experiences. It’s now my default testing method. This thread explains why it’s been transformative for me and how to do it well. 🎲✂️(1/18)

FOX: Where’s the protest against the regime that's killing people in the street right now? Trent: They are doing those today. It’s called the ICE protests FOX: Are they talking about Iran at the ICE protests? Trent: No, I think they are talking about the regime that is shooting people in the face

Heiser wants nothing more in life than for someone to be interested in chewing up his toy with him

4-player Lost Ruins of Arnak with all the stuff last night. Came away with a 1 point win and really enjoyed the balance changes to the new board research track. I got magnifying glass and journal to top, but 2nd place didn't come close, and 3rd got 1 to the top.

If players touch the pieces too much in a game, it'll often feel fiddly. It'll also add cognitive burden: using our hands requires surprising brain power (I was once a neurobiologist). Protip: count touches-per-turn in tests 🎲✂️(1/4)

The year of Distilled

My final video for 2025 compiles the lessons I learnt about games design this year, from rethinking how I work, what I want to design, and the people who I couldn't have done without. Thank you everyone who has supported the channel this year, and have a wonderful 2026! youtu.be/62zLZONQc4Q 🎲✂️

At the end of this year we want to thank everyone using our app, sharing stats and supporting us! Please enjoy our End of year overview. This marks the fourth year in a row where all new updates were free! More to come in 2026. #bgstats #boardgames #brettspiele #brettspiel #j2s

After Matthew Stafford's three-interception showing in a loss to the Falcons on Monday night, there's a new MVP betting favorite in town. And his name is Drake Maye. www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootb...

another robot highlight for 2025: man wearing humanoid mocap suit kicks himself in the balls

Relax everyone, we found the Golden Book and saved Christmas!

It's a Christmas miracle! Guess what's hitting the table for game night tonight?

Played This is Not a Game About a Pipe, Pies, Pinatas, Dualis, Venusian Vegas, and I'm Out. Fun day. Pinatas and Pies were highlights, but Pipe was my #1 of the day. It's so good! @macaroobanzai.bsky.social

It's so cool seeing people play a game you've designed. But when they also really like it? The best! 🥰

Some Santa's Workshop tonight (plus Ghosts of Christmas) to get into some holiday spirit @hokiestone.bsky.social

I don't know how he manages to play so many games and then write such engaging reviews about them all, but I thank @danthurot.bsky.social for spending a slice of that time with my first little indie game Venusian Vegas and for all his support of the Indie Games Night Market this year! ❤️

Hello, my name is Chris, and I have a problem... Already told my family I don't want any new games for Xmas (except Pacts), so hopefully this is close to the peak.

🎲✂️ I've been working on a Texas Hold 'Em based game that revolves around auctioning poker prop bets rather than betting on the best hand. Here's the list of my prop bets so far. Any fun ideas I'm missing? Note: supplement cards are a second deck that you can draft from to augment your hand.

Had a lovely week, even if it didn't go totally as expected. What did you get to the table?

In today's podcast episode we feature Ada's Dream. We also discuss a poll on multi-player solitaire games and discuss some games that have been on our tables including Lords of Vegas, Ticket to Ride, and Nokosu Dice. Listen here: spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/7rlhIzxB6Yb

🚨🚨🚨🚨 Fresh New Mill delivery *straight from Tokyo Game Market! *with a stop in NY @dnlnwmn.bsky.social

Venusian Vegas sighting 🥰

I'm down to about 30 copies of Venusian Vegas The Card Game (from 100 printed)! Let me know if you'd like one before they're gone.

Check out your 2025 Bluesky Harvest from @anisota.net! anisota.net/harvest/

Pats take over the top spot.

Building the Game did an episode talking with @ericdittmore.bsky.social about his experience with the Indie Games Night Market www.buildingthegamepodcast.com/episode-705-...

November in-person plays, mostly at #paxu

If you didn't make it to #paxu #ignm and would like a copy of Venusian Vegas The Card Game, let me know! I have some copies left and am shipping in small batches until they're gone!

Six of VIII deserving of wider distribution and that's some neat looking cover art for the new printing

This is my daughter Addison and she drew the characters for Venusian Vegas. I wanted her at my #PAXU booth, but she gets overwhelmed with crowds and noise so she chose to stay home instead. I love having her art in my game and since she wasn't at the market I wanted to recognize her here. 🥰🥰🥰

Someone in a Discord playing my game tonight. Meanwhile, I'm playing This is Not a Game About a Pipe