Oh wow this is beautiful, Mark!
05.03.2026 20:04
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Oh wow this is beautiful, Mark!
Amberspire, our dice driven science fantasy city builder, will release MAY 6!
Roll dice, grow a city, forge alliances, interact with an ecology, and read a history of the future.
PC, Mac, Steam Deck - May 6!
s.team/a/3350750
Just out of shot in a cupboard to the right!
This week's video was a bit tough to make, reflecting on a few things that have happened in the last few weeks in the wider board game design community. Hopefully some folks find it useful.
youtu.be/y3P0gg8dBrs
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A chair and desk against a window. To the left is a hook wall with various papers and objects attached. On the desk is a plant and a lamp.
Where I make board games
Box and design diary booklet for the game Operation Barclay.
I love that Operation Barclay comes with an actual printed design diary in the box. Such a nice way to learn more about the game. Great work from @writegameread.bsky.social @saltandpeppergames.bsky.social and Meeple Foundry.
Start with disappointment and the day can only get better!
I love that there’s only one die in this game. Gives it real villain vibes, and a nice solitary focus for your ire.
I think I’ve played it once as a two player game, but it’s much certainly more enjoyable for me as a solo experience. I wonder if it’s because there’s not a lot of mental load to ‘spread out’. It’s usually fairly obvious turn to turn what each needs doing.
Cards laid out in a column depicting armour clad terminators. More cards on either side show terrain and aliens.
A bit of Space Hulk: Death Angel to start the day.
I once panic emailed a heavily NDA’d document to a friend with a similar name instead of the person I was working for (who was sat next to me and watching my screen)
I’ve never played the original but the card game is in my top ten of all time. I really dig it
I thought it was great! Only one game but I’ve been thinking about it quite a bit since. Maybe not one for folks that like building the perfect engine as the chaos of it all means that kind of thing is fleeting.
A board with central wheel motif on a green table. Cards are arranged around the board.
Small white cards scattered across a black cloth printed with illustrations of birds.
Fun evening of games last night. Moon Colony Bloodbath, Corvids, and Medici the Card Game (which I forgot to photograph)
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
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Game manual and cartridge for ESPN International Winter Sports for the Gameboy Advance. The cover depicts a medal and a photo montage of skiing action shots.
Enjoying the Winter Olympics, so picked up one of those newfangled video games.
Nope, not the Olympics. Just a once every four years international competition across multiple disciplines with bronze, silver and gold medals awarded.
Game manual and cartridge for ESPN International Winter Sports for the Gameboy Advance. The cover depicts a medal and a photo montage of skiing action shots.
Enjoying the Winter Olympics, so picked up one of those newfangled video games.
Yep, we flamed out with about 4 cards to go. I thought I was doing so well but that’s when the game gets you 😅
A board with central wheel motif on a green table. Cards are arranged around the board.
Small white cards scattered across a black cloth printed with illustrations of birds.
Fun evening of games last night. Moon Colony Bloodbath, Corvids, and Medici the Card Game (which I forgot to photograph)
This is rad
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
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Oh wow congrats, it really is great. I’m in the UK but not in a big city so perhaps that’s why the showings have been so sporadic? (my local cinema only had two showings of each of the films as far as I’m aware)
I caught Fellowship but missed Towers. It’s a shame they’ve had such a limited run. Such good cinema films.
I saw the extended edition of Return of the King at the cinema last night. I’m not usually up for long films, but seeing that masterpiece in full on the big screen was such an experience. Definitely some nostalgia bias but it really holds up as a theatrical marvel.
Well deserved! I’ve been enjoying it solo and had a good time playing with a couple of friends last weekend too.
Commonwealth is one of the finest and most unique games I've played. It is pushing at the boundaries of ttrpg design, it was a treat to work on. Please check it out!
I love the creativity in the print and play scene. This is undeniably rad.
Agreed. I like the current theme but it’s more about what the game offers in the amount it takes to play. I would probably buy it again if it was rereleased with a different setting.
Definitely. It’s best at two or three
