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

It’s an honour to have Ellie in our pages!

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A new episode of my podcast - Behind the Cardboard - has landed. This week talk to Peter Hayward about naming games. We discuss the process of naming games and how the name can affect the way a game is received by publishers in pitch meetings. thegamedesignroundtable.com/episode/btc-...

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My son Alfie's game - That's Crypto Bro - has been nominated for a Gift of the Year Award. Part of the process includes the 'People's Choice' Award. That's where you come in! I'd love it if you could vote for him. Just enter & verify your email. www.giftoftheyear.co.uk/categories/g... Thanks ❤️

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There's a big interview with me in current issue of Senet Magazine. It's a bit of a 'pinch me' moment. Thanks @danjolin.bsky.social and @dustytulip.bsky.social

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There's a common phrase in the business world - Always Be Pitching. But what does this mean as a game designer? And is pitching always appropriate? Always be pitching... but not always. www.thedarkimp.com/blog/2025/02...

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

My son, Alfie, has been interviewed by Mojo Nation about his game, That's Crypto Bro! The interview has come about because the game is nominated for Gift of the Year in the games and puzzles category. I am a very proud Mum. www.mojo-nation.com/thats-crypto...

submitted 7 days ago • 1 comment

Look! Here's the second episode of Behind the Cardboard. In this show I talk to @senfoonglim.bsky.social about the motivation behind getting games published. Do listen! thegamedesignroundtable.com/episode/btc-...

submitted 15 days ago • 0 comments

I'm busy judging Cardboard Edison competition entries. I really wish people wouldn't put music as backing to their videos. It makes it sooo hard to concentrate on what is being said. I can't be the only person who struggles when two sounds are being played at once.

submitted 20 days ago • 0 comments

Oooh look. A video review of A Midsummer Night's Fayre. A Midsummer Night's Fayre is my family dice game with Gamewright. It's all about playing mini games at a fairy carnival and hoping that you can manipulate them to your advantage! www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6R3...

submitted 23 days ago • 0 comments

What is your personal brand as a game designer? A clear personal brand helps you to attract and choose the right sort of opportunities and makes you more recognisable in the industry. Here's the article: www.thedarkimp.com/blog/2025/02...

submitted 23 days ago • 2 comments

Cardboard Edison Award Judge: Ellie Dix is an independent board game designer specializing in mass market family games. She is owner of The Dark Imp, which houses her blog and self-published games. cardboardedison.com/award

submitted 27 days ago • 0 comments

So many interesting topics for 🎲✂️ in "BtC - @boardgame.bsky.social on Generating Ideas": ~ Ideas are bubbles ~ Posture of playfulness ~ Keep the heart or throw it out? ~ Tell a granny. Or the dog! ~ Come up with 100 ideas, not one.

submitted 27 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 28 days ago • 7 comments

Found Roughly in German!

submitted 29 days ago • 1 comment

Some things I found in my walk around the halls at Spielwarenmesse yesterday that I liked.

submitted 29 days ago • 2 comments

Visiting my friends on the Ginger Fox stand... And seeing Bangarang and Topp Secret Briefs on display

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A Midsummer Night's Fayre is sitting proudly on the Buffalo/Gamewright stand 😁

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Great to see Karate Grannies on the @outsetgames.bsky.social stand. Looking fabulous.

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I'm in Nuremberg at Spielwarenmesse! Loads of pitch meetings this week. Some with new contacts, some with old friends. Looking forward to it all.

submitted 30 days ago • 2 comments

This evening was the Toy Inventors Dinner on board HMS Belfast. Our table won the team game and we each left with (literally) armfuls of swag. I have no idea how I'm going to transport it all (to Toy Fair then home on the train) tomorrow. Going to need to be creative about fashioning some bags.

submitted 35 days ago • 1 comment

Roughly was on the Hachette stand. The packaging is so bright that the game stands or beautifully on the shelf

submitted 35 days ago • 0 comments

Had a great day at London Toy Fair today. First sighting of my new game Karate Grannies from @outsetgames.bsky.social It's looking most excellent. Love the graphics and colour.🩷

submitted 35 days ago • 0 comments

Tested some new game designs from Ellie Dix at London Toy Fair today, including this one about bumper cars. She is on Bluesky if you want to follow her. @thedarkimp.bsky.social

submitted 35 days ago • 1 comment

I'm so honoured to be named as one of the Mojo 100 for a 2nd year. The Mojo 100 is a listing of the 100 most influential figures in the toy and game industry. I'm in the Independent Creatives category. Thanks to @MojoNationUK & those who nominated me. Download: mojo-nation.com/read-mojo-na...

submitted 37 days ago • 0 comments

I've just received an advance copy of new party game, Roughly - published my Laurence King. It's so exciting to see a proper copy of this. I can't wait for people to be able to play it. Another one for the Ellie shelves 😁

submitted 43 days ago • 0 comments

Designing a game for a brand (a non-game company) is very different from designing a game for a game publisher. I've had such mixed experiences that I thought it might be helpful to pull together some practical tips for designers who embarking on these projects. www.thedarkimp.com/blog/2025/01...

submitted 43 days ago • 2 comments

I've been looking back at highlights from 2024 in my end-of-year roundup. Happy New Year everyone :) www.thedarkimp.com/blog/2025/01...

submitted 57 days ago • 4 comments

My blog has been named the Best Board Game Design blog of the year by Cardboard Edison... for the second year running! What a great way to end the year! www.thedarkimp.com/blog/

submitted 57 days ago • 6 comments