I often get a lot out of the playtest just from experience of explaining the rules.

A rematch was requested today, which seemed like a good sign...a clear loss of interest halfway through, less so.
We abandoned the play. Want to value testers' time.

Making a game that plays well once can be a big leap to one that stands up to repeat plays. Lots to work on here.
🎲✂️

Colourful, large Euro-style board game with various wooden and plastic cubes around. Fields, alpacas, and cotton icons can be seen.

Playtested the newest design tonight with Jane. I'm not a fan of when it feels like a game is forcing close scores, but understand why they do. It was very satisfying and dramatic to finish 139-139. 🎲✂️

Thanks. I like the tone-appropriate art they've gone for.

Re. distribution in the UK...that is a good question to which I don't know the answer. For Expo, SYNKA or their partner Moaideas will be there I presume selling directly.

Certainly prefer when cities don't seem so reliant on it. To call on our shared touchpoints, it has always been a big part of the appeal of Glasgow and London to me.

Green City Build a shared network and connect your commuters more efficiently than the others.

designed. We hope it will work well for families, as well as gamers who enjoy a decent dose of luck in their strategy.

It will release at Japan Game Market Spring and will be at UK Games Expo shortly after. See more info on BGG (boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/46...) or feel free to ask anything.

Bright, cartoon-style box cover showing a simplified city with a pedestrian, cyclist, tram, and bus as well as various landmarks. The title in the centre (both in Japanese and English) reads 'Green City'.

Pleased to see the official announcement of my next game with @flopiano.bsky.social, Green City.

The game is about improving public transport. Building infrastructure and, at the end of the game, you are penalised for everyone that still drives. It's the lightest game Fabio and I have...

How to pitch games to Taco Cat Games and what we’re looking for | Notion We’re thrilled you’re considering pitching to us! First we’ll describe what we’re looking for, then how to submit your game and what to expect after.

Taco Cat Games is now taking pitches from outside designers.

We've sold over 13 million games, through all major US retailers.

Read about what we're looking for and how to submit here: bit.ly/pitch-taco-cat

This thread also covers it so you don't have to click through.

🎲✂️(1/19)

We need a better way to talk about game design YouTube video by Matthew Dunstan

Big Pasti's latest video, entitled "The 7 Deadly Sins of Board Game Design", had a real effect on me, and today's video is a response to his. I think there is a better way we can talk about game design.

youtu.be/BY7TeikZcBw

🎲✂️

Never stops being a thrill seeing your games enjoyed in the wild.

Aye. A good chunk of the design will be on TtS since co-designer and I don't live in the same country. Particularly keen to get this one to the table though as I fear some of the physical elements will be too fiddly in real life but not so bad on TtS.

Photo showing tiles (the board game component type) of various shapes and colours on a cutting mat.

A night on the tiles. Getting the prototype ready 🎲✂️ on a new design in time for AireCon this weekend.

This took quite a while so hopefully the design is perfect on its first outing.

I finally playtested the game and it was terrible. Irredeemably so.

Time well spent. I regret nothing. 🎲✂️

Actually that is not true. Once, it was not but at least co-designer and I were in agreement and publisher was happy to change it.

*New artwork samples day is almost always a good day.

New artwork samples day is always a good day.

Now booked for Airecon and looking forward to it. Let me know if you want a playtester one of the days (not on Sunday though, which will be dedicated to playing 'proper' games).

Reviewers: if something doesn't seem right about a game, please take a moment to re-read the rules or even reach out to the publisher or designer for clarification before publishing a review. That extra step can save heartache and damaged reputation on both sides.

I forget sometimes how nice it is to just noodle on a design. To have a wee break from the rest of one's obligations, from the world, and just enjoy sitting in that design space where it is all possibility and no failure.

But mostly 'wrong' in my approach. I've been failing very slowly – spending ages theory crafting, deliberating over presentation, and making all the components before I’ve tested any of it. I've still not playtested it and it's been weeks. I don't really expect it to go anywhere.

Been really enjoying designing a game all 'wrong' recently. I mean against general advice; it doesn't have a distinctive hook, low market appeal, restrictive player count etc. 🎲✂️

Board game prototype. Picture of a llama with lots of little triangle components.

Prototype board game showing various geodes on hexes and lots of wee triangle tokens.

Yip. Went through a phase when other designers told me it was my 'thing' to have triangles in my games but really I was just trying not to waste all those bonus off-cuts.

Yes...and no. I feel it would make me a bit more selective about which game nights I attend.

Likewise, and if I'm about I always enjoy a bit of playtesting.

Wooden Male and Female Inca pieces smooching.

Also playing at 2p, there is a variant rule I recommend; when the Ayar reunite in the night phase, smooch your opponent.

After complaints from Jane that she never gets to play my published games, have played Ayar a couple of times recently. Have enjoyed revisiting it, and trying out a new strategy.

Nothing booked...however, it is on my to do list today to look into it. Hoping to go.

Maybe start by getting to know some of them better, meet up with them in real life, and just see where things go.

Probably something gay but a .5 extra just in case it's not?

Excerpt of a BoardgameGeek's user ratings giving 1's to games with overt queer themes (The Queer Agenda, Love Letter Princess Princess, Cards Against Humanity: Pride Pack) and a 1.5 for Sankoré: The Pride of Mansa Musa.

I'm very amused by the idea that this guy has rating bombed Sankoré: The Pride of Mansa Musa as part of his anti-Pride agenda.

Well maybe there is a positive way to view it. That these perceived shortcomings are going to shine anyway so better to accept that and cast them into the light regardless. Least that way they have a chance.