Looking forward to the review

I'm working on getting Dawn Chorus finished for release (perhaps with a Kickstarter involved 0.o) so watch this space 😁🐦

Dawn Chorus logo

🎲✂️ Well, the BGG 2025 Roll & Write Comp has wrapped up. It was a lot of fun and taking part helped me get over the line with Dawn Chorus's design. My best awards were 3rd place for best multiplayer game, and 4th place for best overall game. I'm absolutely chuffed with that!

Logo for the 2026 Cardboard Edison Award

Just a few days left to submit your board game design to the 2026 Cardboard Edison Award! Submissions are open through January 31! cardboardedison.com/award

Dawn Chorus Screenshot

Work on Dawn Chorus is going very well in the BGG R&W contest. The contest is approaching voting time, so I'm trying to get the game in as dope a state as possible 😎 check it out if you want to print and play it: boardgamegeek.com/thread/36188...

No sexy fat birds

Yes sexy fat birds

🎲✂️ I've just finished making a major update to my roll & write game, Dawn Chorus. The rules have been updated, and I'm really chuffed with the visuals! If you want to have a play you can find the files in the BGG thread here: boardgamegeek.com/thread/36188...

Ahh yes ok this is much more info! It looks great. I am only looking on mobile at the mo, but it seems to flow nicely and has all in information I would want 👍

Some playing cards and a notebook where I'm attempting to make a card game work

🎲✂️ Working on making stacking cards imitate stacking the washing up. Trying to make that into a not unfun thing...

I've had a bit more of a poke around and I do think if people are purchasing from the store they would want more information on each game. Like players counts, time to play, reviews (super important), what's in the box etc. I'm not sure I'd buy a game from just a description and some pics

It looks awesome, lovely design 👍 a couple of broken thangs that I/eye saw:
- On the store items pages it says 'a portion of profits go to good causes' twice.
- The Rucksack link on your front page is broken.

A logo for my roll and write game Dawn chorus

I've entered a roll and write design contest with my design Dawn Chorus. You can download the files and play it yourself 😁 boardgamegeek.com/thread/36188...

🎲✂️ I've entered my roll and write game 'Dawn Chorus' into this years BGG R&W competition. It's a very accessible (just print one sheet!) lightweight fun lil game. So if you're a bit curious, you can get to the PnP files from this 👇 thread 🐦🦜🐦‍⬛
boardgamegeek.com/thread/36188...

That would be great!

A baby 1 year crown

My baby girl turned 1 yesterday 🥹 It has been a wonderful and extremely busy year. I am hoping to focus 2026 on myself just a lil bit. A sprinkling of exercise 🥋 and a dash of board game design ♟️ and it should be an absolute b@nger!

I've been crafting my print n play game Dawn Chorus for a little while now. I'm very happy with it so far and have just entered it into the BGG R&W design contest 😁 boardgamegeek.com/thread/36188... from there you can download it and have a lil play

If the videos are taking too long to make, perhaps you could consider ways to be more efficient with making the videos. Or maybe other designers would be interested in talking on your channel, taking some of the load off you.

I've found your videos really great to watch, and they've sort of filled a void left by BGDL not making podcasts anymore.
I guess you've got to consider your motivations, because you are definitely providing the education factor that you're aiming for.

That certainly puts you in the 'has designed a game about birds' category

🎲✂️ Raise your hand if you have never started to design a game about birds

This looks awesome! 👌

Toddler making a sick board game out of many pieces

🎲✂️ Who says toddlers can't design board games!

I pray all these pieces survive 😆

Yes exactly, and it sort of happens naturally as a consequence of playing, helping it all feel part of one puzzle. In games where this isn't the case, and you lose if you 'have 3 of this tile', then it just feels bad because you know you could continue playing if it weren't for that.

An 'elegant design' consideration I came up against recently is around losing the game. Instead of creating some arbitrary way for players to 'lose', instead consider making it so players can no longer win. That way the lose condition writes itself through the gameplay.

Love the design doctor series idea! This will be really helpful and interesting to see what designers are getting stuck on. Look forward to watching it 👍

Custom mouse pad picture

I'm working on branding and graphic design when I can here and there. And I needed a new mouse mat. So I thought it might be good to design one and get it printed. I think it's dope 👌

I would be definitely interested in watching that video!

Playtest UK coming to Bristol Friday 21st February 2025 Left-handed Giant Brewpub BS1 6EU 12:00-17:00

If you're within reach of Bristol (UK) please consider going to this! Helpfully set up by @mintynoodles.bsky.social @miasmacorp.bsky.social @playtestuk.bsky.social

(I can't actually go this time but will likely be a regular in future!)

I really enjoyed the first episode, it was very insightful especially for newer designers. Looking forward to listening in again 👍

Future Past Prepping for the Public Domain

New GameTek: Future Past! What's coming into the public domain in 2025 through 2028 that might be interesting for game designers.

open.substack.com/pub/gametek/...

This is some of the best advice for starting out in board game design. Like I was mentioning yesterday, "Tools, not rules".

Thanks for putting this together, Matthew!
🎲✂️