mandelafg.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Received 'Brilliant Bugs' insect cards from Quarto/Kaddo. I was a consultant entomologist for these. A fun wee job where I got to choose some cool insects for the game, did some fact checking, and text wrote for the accompanying booklet. It came out very nicely.

submitted 29 days ago • 2 comments

A new episode of Behind the Cardboard landed last week - I'm late to share it. In the show I talk to my co-designer @mandelafg.bsky.social about co-designing! We cover the benefits & process of co-design, co-design challenges and how to get a co-designer. thegamedesignroundtable.com/episode/btc-...

submitted 29 days ago • 0 comments

In this week's video, I take a look back at the steps that led to me becoming a full time game designer, starting some 15 years ago! youtu.be/Q0-5qr6lhfc 🎲 ✂️

submitted 31 days ago • 0 comments

Some nice insight, with numbers, into 11 years of design from a great ambassador of the UK design community.

submitted 30 days ago • 1 comment

If you're interested in hearing some thoughts and tips 🎲✂️ from me and @thedarkimp.bsky.social about co-designing, please have a listen here as I was treated to be being a guest on her excellent podcast series: thegamedesignroundtable.com/episode/btc-...

submitted 36 days ago • 1 comment

Wonderful day spent playtesting and sketching out new design ideas with @thedarkimp.bsky.social in the delightful Wellcome reading rooms. 3 new games to prototype, 3 cleaned up for pitching/playtesting. 🎲✂️

submitted 41 days ago • 0 comments

I designed a game called Adventures in Friskies World for Purina. It's not often that you get flown across the Atlantic for a launch event... complete with visiting cats, crazy well-know influencers and life-size game components, or that your game gets an article in Cosmopolitan. Quite surreal.

submitted 44 days ago • 2 comments

Jane observation after a playtest 🎲✂️ session: "Sometimes all the designers seem too focussed on 'designing' the game and forget that it should be fun"

submitted 76 days ago • 0 comments

I'll be at AireCon tomorrow and through the weekend. Don't know who is all going but will be nice to see some folks. Will of course be carrying some prototypes 🎲✂️ (pictured) if anyone wants to test let me know. Always happy to playtest others' games. Maybe even play some 'real' games.

submitted 77 days ago • 1 comment

Cutting about London carrying Torres and walked past someone clutching a copy of Carcassonne. Gave each other a mildly confused look then the slight nod of acknowledgement.

submitted 88 days ago • 0 comments

I think you're much more likely to design good games from having a wide experience of existing games but there is a very high risk approach of ignoring everything and in very rare cases this leads to outstanding and highly novel games.

submitted 89 days ago • 1 comment

Steak and ale suet pudding with a spot of playtesting. I suggested pausing when food arrived but the request to play on feels like a good sign. Clear improvement on the game with a new mechanism which means the more conservative your play, the more your opponent is rewarded.

submitted 89 days ago • 1 comment

Playtest bookings are now open for UK Games Expo, as well as a call for volunteers (organised by @playtestuk.bsky.social). Have a look here... playtest-london.blogspot.com/2025/02/regi... 🎲✂️

submitted 90 days ago • 1 comment

Day off work for a bit of fun travel and time for a wee playtest over a coffee break. Have had this wee racing game for a while. Think this was the worst play of it so far...but also feel it sparked some solid good ideas that could give it life. Look forward to changing and testing.

submitted 94 days ago • 1 comment

I'm excited to announce that I have a new podcast series called Behind the Cardboard, under the banner of The Game Design Round Table. Episodes will be going out every other week on TGDRT feed. In each episode I speak to a guest about the business & practicalities of being a board game designer.

submitted 119 days ago • 7 comments

What a pleasant surprise and honour to see Sankoré nominated for a Cannes As D'Or. Seems we did well @flopiano.bsky.social @ospreygames.bsky.social @ianotoole.bsky.social and SuperMeeple for the VF.

submitted 121 days ago • 0 comments

We're so proud that our game Sankoré made the final shortlist for the @expert-game-award.bsky.social 2024: bit.ly/4gjIwbY A huge congratulations to the whole team behind the game, especially @flopiano.bsky.social, @mandelafg.bsky.social & @ianotoole.bsky.social 👏👏

submitted 121 days ago • 0 comments

Fabio @flopiano.bsky.social and I have just signed a contract for a new game. Always a thrill to sign but also a wee bit special: when I started designing games I made a wish list of dream publishers. The goal, which seemed lofty at the time, was 1 off the list. With this signing that is the 3/6.

submitted 122 days ago • 0 comments

Here are all of our 2025 board games in one place for the first time! We can't wait to share them with you... 🐻Katmai 💥Line of Fire: Burnt Moon 🕯️Ofrenda ⚔️General Orders: Sengoku Jidai ☀️Ayar Read more: bit.ly/4h0SNLm Join our newsletter: bit.ly/3MEQbVT

submitted 122 days ago • 0 comments

For the first time in a long time, it's Gloomhaven day. Last session was 2022.

submitted 130 days ago • 0 comments

Just finished the first day of my new Saturday job on this bright and frosty day - teaching game design to young people. Fun and fulfilling. It's in Kew Gardens so additional bonus of this view from the classroom

submitted 138 days ago • 1 comment

A random mix of some of my favourite new-to-me media I enjoyed in 2024: Board games: Ra, Underwater Cities, Nova Era, Saltfjord Films: Dune 2, Anatomy of a Fall, The Menu TV shows: Smoggie Queens, Dopesick, Baby Reindeer ...

submitted 148 days ago • 1 comment

Tonight we are mostly increasing the prestige of Timbuktu University in the 14th Century (in Sankore, one of our fave games of the year).

submitted 161 days ago • 0 comments

I'm always interested in seeing what @adaminwales.bsky.social has to say so was absolutely chuffed to feature in his 'Designer Spotlight' for 2025 along with @thedarkimp.bsky.social. youtu.be/KEtCGhCXy3g?...

submitted 163 days ago • 0 comments

Good bit of prototype making at the weekend. Most demanding prototype I've ever made. 🎲✂️

submitted 163 days ago • 2 comments

Track down Fabio at PAXU if you want to check out one of our latest co-designs.

submitted 176 days ago • 0 comments