Free-range thoughts about design, writing, and play
Cities of Splendor has been sitting on the shelf waiting to be played, so I was thrilled when Asmodee started releasing the expansion in their apps. One buck later I fired up a Cities game and wondered: how big a difference can swapping three pieces of cardboard make?
Last night I stayed up too late finishing Torment: Tides of Numenera. The ending is worth the lost sleep, but the narrative left me and my character in the same place: conflicted and wondering about what we had done.
When Civilization VI was announced, I sent a note to my friends and family: “Will be unavailable for several weeks after October 21”. But thirty hours into the game, I was wondering if I’d made a mistake.
Many years ago, I was one of several redshirts who created a Star Trek drinking game. Since old friends and the Internet never forget the sins of your youth, a friend asked me this morning, “Do you have time to put together a “Drunk Debate” game before 9:00 pm EDT tonight? Please and thank you.” Ashley, this is YOUR fault.
Fitbit has a new feature this month, which is kind of a big deal. While the leading fitness wearable company does all the usual tweaks to its software, it doesn’t roll out a lot of new content. So how do Fitbit’s new Adventures measure up?
We’re replacing a 22-year-old air conditioning system today, and the salesman did a fine job of reassuring us and explaining our options. When he learned I was a game designer, he also told me to check out something new and interesting: a multi-level marketing sports game from an outfit called United Games.
I’ve never been much of an real-time strategy (RTS) gamer. I like building up bases, but smashing opponents doesn’t excite me and I hate having to do everything in a hurry. So it took a lot of rave reviews before I tried out Offworld Trading Company, but now I’m hooked on the twists and turns of its…
Last week I ran an “Awesome Games” event for the San Marcos Public Library, turning twenty kids loose with buttons and construction paper to design their own board games.
Zombie or monster-themed video games are all the rage right now with big titles like Dying Light on the market and Dead Island 2 on the horizon. The Flock is an asymmetrical multiplayer with an interesting twist-the game includes a built-in shut down timer.
Orange Is the New Black is famous for its huge cast and rich narrative. The show would be a hard act to follow as television, so how crazy would it be to try to apply OITNB’s storytelling to games? Maybe not as crazy as you think.