Profile avatar
gengelstein.bsky.social
Boardgame enthusiast, podcaster, books: Building Blocks of Tabletop Game Design, Universe Explained with a Cookie games: Versailles 1919 and Super Skill Pinball. He/him https://open.substack.com/pub/gametek
691 posts 3,519 followers 240 following
Prolific Poster
Conversation Starter

Misprint on this year’s Mahjong card sends players into a tizzy. For those who don’t know, each year the scoring combos change to keep the game fresh. This year some errors slipped through. www.wsj.com/lifestyle/a-...

A bunch of Super Skill Pinball games are on sale for only $12.50! That’s only $3.12 per table! A great way to get into the series. shop.wizkids.com/collections/...

May I Enter: A Vampire Game by TTGDA member @highlevelgames.bsky.social is currently live and funding on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/hig...

Today's video is about 10 common ways to improve your game design, things I find myself giving as playtesting feedback again and again :) youtu.be/px1sdjwL-z4 🎲✂️

Thanks to Mensa for adding designers to their list of the 2025 Mensa Select Games! TTGDA and Mensa had a productive conversation leading to this update and future collaboration opportunities. www.mensamindgames.com/about/winnin...

Congratulations to TTGDA members Jonah Kagan for 2nd Place and @thejaybell.bsky.social for 5th Place!

Baby Party from @imcraig247.bsky.social is currently funding on @kickstarter.com through June 20 www.kickstarter.com/projects/cra...

The Rehearsal Season 2 is absolutely brilliant.

Isaac Shalev and I completely support this new way to announce a game. 😆😎

A data point about the tabletop game industry: Each week TTGDA usually has 1-2 contracts submitted to for review. We have had just one over the last eight weeks, since the April 2nd tariffs were instituted.

It feels like game publishers have basically stopped signing new designs. 🎲✂️

Celebrating the first birthday of the Tabletop Game Designers Association! 🎲✂️ gametek.substack.com/p/tabletop-g...

Officials resigning after doing something embarrassing or scandalous? How quaint.

Once again, if this was fiction it’d be laughed off as being too far-fetched.

Congratulations for TTGDA members @fertessa.bsky.social & @rf-seattle.bsky.social on their nomination for Cascadia Junior!

My book goes on sale in the USA tomorrow and wow that is incredibly strange, awesome, scary and weird all at the same time. When my game came out I was far more comfortable, because I had tested ir. I know stuff about games Writing a book is a whole different thing. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

h/t to @ericlang.bsky.social 🎲✂️

Join the infamous Harley Quinn as you hit bumpers, drop targets, gain skill shots, and play minigames on the backglass! Challenge your friends or play solo to try to beat your high score! It's DC Super-Skill Pinball: Harley Quinn Ball available now! wizkids.io/SuperSkillPinballHarleyQuinn

This may be the best thing I've seen in May.

Congratulations to TTGDA member @marcelineleiman.bsky.social one being named to the Diana Jones Award Emerging Designers Program for 2025! Learn more about the award and the program here: www.dianajonesaward.org

Remember, it’s only a mini-expansion if it comes from the Minneapolis region of Minnesota.

US CONSTITUTION: no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State. SEEMS CLEAR TO ME.

Partnership between Mariott and Games Workshop just dropped.

Watching S2E2 of The Devils Plan and frustrated with players make MAJOR TACTICAL MISTAKES.

So what is the least comfortable game to sleep on?

The TTGDA and GAMA guide to tariffs has been updated to v2. We corrected some terminology, expanded the section on game pricing, added new information about Bonded Warehouses and Duty Drawback. irp.cdn-website.com/2b6905d0/fil...

Back in the 70's/80's I was a rabid fan of Games Magazine, entering so many contests with a single honorable mention to show for it (and a t-shirt to prove it!) So it was an absolute delight to be interviewed by them for an article about the GHQ. The issue just dropped so please check it out!

Cardboard Ghosts, by @amabel.bsky.social, is a Top Read of 2025! Purchase at this link or wherever fine books are sold. www.routledge.com/Cardboard-Gh...

New Jersey cosplaying as Seattle.

Glad to see the media starting to find their spine.

New GameTek! I propose a Design Pattern for "gateway-style" games. gametek.substack.com/p/grand-unif... 🎲✂️

Physics! At the International Museum of Dinnerware Design (yes).

Finca with friends! I love this game. So simple yet subtle.