Aww, thanks for the kind words everyone - Pickle’s quite rightly feeling very sorry for herself, but she should be fine after an operation on the 30th. Meanwhile I’m making the most of flying solo by reading in the bath in the afternoon with an absolutely enormous Baileys 😂 Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! Weird one this year as our ancient cat Pickle has chosen the last few days to acquire an extremely painful and expensive to treat dental issue 😅 So I’ve just waved the family off to see relatives while I stay home solo to give her medicine. Will get to party a bit 2mrw tho!

Game designers who "can't draw" but want art for prototypes... beyond the wealth of public domain stuff available (there's lots) there are artists who make stuff that's VERY affordable and Itch has a ton on sale right now. #NoGenAI itch.io/game-assets/...

Board game publishers Stonemaier, CMYK and Eurydice Games on how they’re utilising – and paying to include – fan designs in their releases: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20... Thanks to @stonemaiergames.com @jacksonpope.bsky.social and @cmyk.games for taking part!

Italy-based Ares Games has expanded its distribution operation again, signing a deal with five other board game publishers to help get their games into the hands of European players: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...

💼 I’m looking for work as a board game designer. 🌎 I’m open to in-person, hybrid or remote work. ⭐ I’ve previously worked at the Uzzle and made Abandon All Artichokes, Starry Night Sky, and other board games.

Italy-based Ares Games has expanded its distribution operation again, signing a deal with five other board game publishers to help get their games into the hands of European players: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...

Board game publishers Stonemaier, CMYK and Eurydice Games on how they’re utilising – and paying to include – fan designs in their releases: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20... Thanks to @stonemaiergames.com @jacksonpope.bsky.social and @cmyk.games for taking part!

Today's video is about pitching to multiple publishers at the same time, and what to do if you get an offer from one of them. 🎲✂️ youtu.be/KVqfMec6YCM

Fantastic video by Pam Walls on the increasing use of AI in board games, and the need (more than ever) to support artists, illustrators and graphic designers in the industry. youtu.be/Ci5pOjyJknI?...

We're Hiring! Are you our next Executive Director of Operations? Check the listing and see. ledergames.com/pages/careers

Root and Arcs publisher Leder Games has axed its next Kickstarter campaign just a few weeks before its expected launch, after the game’s creator abruptly left the publisher and took his design with him: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...

Root and Arcs publisher Leder Games has axed its next Kickstarter campaign just a few weeks before its expected launch, after the game’s creator abruptly left the publisher and took his design with him: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...

A criminal investigation against the business has also been closed after a failure to find fraudulent behaviour, misappropriation of funds or suspicious financial movements by company management:

Mythic Games, formerly one of the most successful crowdfunding-focused board game publishers of all time, has officially been liquidated after a financial collapse which left it unable to fulfill millions of dollars-worth of Kickstarter projects: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...

A criminal investigation against the business has also been closed after a failure to find fraudulent behaviour, misappropriation of funds or suspicious financial movements by company management:

Mythic Games, formerly one of the most successful crowdfunding-focused board game publishers of all time, has officially been liquidated after a financial collapse which left it unable to fulfill millions of dollars-worth of Kickstarter projects: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...

Hey board game designers, it's nearly that time again: Get your prototypes and pitches ready for the 2026 Cardboard Edison Award! Submissions open January 1! cardboardedison.com/award

“There’s more to historical board games than just hex-and-counter WWII”: Candice Harris on turning her video talents to making historical wargaming more accessible after her surprise BoardGameGeek exit: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20... @candidrum.bsky.social @gmtgames.bsky.social

“There’s more to historical board games than just hex-and-counter WWII”: Candice Harris on turning her video talents to making historical wargaming more accessible after her surprise BoardGameGeek exit: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20... @candidrum.bsky.social @gmtgames.bsky.social

Hugely useful, thoughtful and well written resource for any aspiring - or experienced! - tabletop designers here. I link to one of these in basically every BoardGameWire newsletter, always super insightful stuff:

Last RT of the day on this and your reminder to support journalism any way you can because solid, well-researched, and engaging reporting is how we amplify voices, hold people and corporations to account, and hopefully showcase the stellar work of developers around the world.

Chris kindly printed a lot of my impassioned words about independent media. I stick by them and choose every day to remain optimistic about my career. Us and you, folks. Sustainability or bust. Write free or die.

The latest BoardGameWire newsletter is flying into inboxes, featuring all our recent industry coverage you might have missed from this week and across the Thanksgiving break. Plus design advice, new job openings - and it's free! New paid subs always welcome though ❤️ buttondown.com/boardgamewir...

A thread about ExCel feeling "too big" or "empty" as part of Dragonmeet 2025, or at least my understanding through attending the convention for 10 years and founding its #PodcastZone, with a sprinkle of my professional experience with London real estate and exhibition centres planning. 1/x

There was a post on the Board Game Reviewers & Media Facebook group about a big channel taking a stance on not covering games with generative AI art. Most replying said 'Hey, good on them, that's a great stance to have", and I have the same stance. Some of the replies though... 🧵

The latest BoardGameWire newsletter is flying into inboxes, featuring all our recent industry coverage you might have missed from this week and across the Thanksgiving break. Plus design advice, new job openings - and it's free! New paid subs always welcome though ❤️ buttondown.com/boardgamewir...

Czech Games Edition trials Hachette for UK distribution through exclusive Wispwood deal, after a decade of Asmodee as sole UK distributor: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20... @hachettebguk.bsky.social @czechgames.com

Czech Games Edition trials Hachette for UK distribution through exclusive Wispwood deal, after a decade of Asmodee as sole UK distributor: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20... @hachettebguk.bsky.social @czechgames.com

Updating some game design sell sheets this week. I have a lousy hit rate with selling stuff I've just designed on my own, most likely because I'm a lousy salesman, but every so often the stars align. Most of my freelance work is people coming to me for licensed designs. Doesn't mean I stop trying.

Tomáš Holek’s space exploration eurogame SETI continues to sweep 2025 board game awards with Gouden Ludo win, Faraway and Sky Team also pick up prizes: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20... @czechgames.com @scorpionmasque.bsky.social @hachettebgusa.bsky.social @hachettebguk.bsky.social

Board game maker Panda signs deal with tabletop design project management platform Boardssey, says organisation is ‘critical factor separating successful game creators from struggling ones’: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20... @pandagm.com @boardssey.bsky.social

Hobby game trade organisation GAMA has named veteran leadership consultant, past-lives regression hypnotist Zaria Davis as interim executive director as it hunts for a permanent replacement for John Stacy: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20... @gamaofficial.bsky.social

Senior Asmodee veteran Steve Buckmaster to step down as head of its vast distribution operation, deputy Marjolein Lubberman to take on role: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...

Tomáš Holek’s space exploration eurogame SETI continues to sweep 2025 board game awards with Gouden Ludo win, Faraway and Sky Team also pick up prizes: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20... @czechgames.com @scorpionmasque.bsky.social @hachettebgusa.bsky.social @hachettebguk.bsky.social

New subscriptions to Rascal News will be rising by $1 in 2026. If you've been waiting to support us, we're currently running a holiday sale where the first two months of our entry tier is only $1/month! Independent journalism on the cheap? Yippee-Ki-Yay, Anklebiters!

Board game maker Panda signs deal with tabletop design project management platform Boardssey, says organisation is ‘critical factor separating successful game creators from struggling ones’: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20... @pandagm.com @boardssey.bsky.social

Hobby game trade organisation GAMA has named veteran leadership consultant, past-lives regression hypnotist Zaria Davis as interim executive director as it hunts for a permanent replacement for John Stacy: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20... @gamaofficial.bsky.social

Senior Asmodee veteran Steve Buckmaster to step down as head of its vast distribution operation, deputy Marjolein Lubberman to take on role: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...

Just posted a big handful of new job openings in the Tabletop Game Jobs group. Wide variety of jobs posted in the last week, from game design with D&D and Warhammer, marketing & event jobs, plus a handful of project management. Tabletop Game Jobs FB Group: www.facebook.com/groups/Table... 🎲🧵

Let's talk about board game boxes and their role in selling a game, framing and contextualizing the experience, and creating meaning. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgfV...

Finally sharing my sizzle reel! If you're in need of video production work (or pretty much anything creative), hit me up, esp. at #PAXU! I don't ask for this much, but if you're in the #boardgames industry and like what I do, consider sharing this! I'm looking to book up 2026! linktr.ee/jcw.gay

Rascal News! Rascal News! Rascal News!

Money where my mouth is: I’ve just bumped up my support of Dan over at Space Biff to five bucks a month, and I heartily urge you to both check out his frankly unparalleled work, and throw him some cash, if you’re able. www.patreon.com/c/danthurot/...

Money where my mouth is: I’ve just bumped up my support of Dan over at Space Biff to five bucks a month, and I heartily urge you to both check out his frankly unparalleled work, and throw him some cash, if you’re able. www.patreon.com/c/danthurot/...

Some less self-serving suggestions (but honestly, BoardGameWire does need significantly more financial support 😂) are the excellent: @rascal.news @danthurot.bsky.social @wyrdscience.bsky.social @aftermath.site Support your hard-working independent media types! ❤️

*cough* buttondown.com/boardgamewir... Or! www.patreon.com/BoardGameWire

*cough* buttondown.com/boardgamewir... Or! www.patreon.com/BoardGameWire

I had a brilliant conversation with Dominic Crapuchettes from North Star Games. It's a BTC special episode! We cover capturing a game’s intended experience, the role of playtesting & the creative tension between fun vs. marketability. Listen here: thegamedesignroundtable.com/episode/btc-...

Koegler also said Asmodee is still in the market for acquiring other publishers, but added they had to see potential and believe in a project, rather than just opportunistically snatching up distressed assets from struggling companies: