iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Michael Sprague 🎲✂️

The Seahorse & The Hummingbird @thinkdeepplaylight.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

🔮✨ Selected as a part of Kickstarter's Witchstarter creator spotlight, Rune Rite is launching on October 13th. www.kickstarter.com/projects/sea... Why follow now? Because you'll like Rune Rite. It's fun. Also: • 20% off retail • A free mini-expansion #boardgames #kickstarter #crowdfunding

Kickstarter
Rune Rite
Witchy Thinky Fun
Your Next Favorite Flip & Write
Launching 10/13

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Is there a good email I could send to in order to coordinate a meet up?

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

The modified Dr. strange quote made me laugh pretty hard. I hope this does well buddy!

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

@dnlnwmn.bsky.social are you going to be (or maybe you already are) in Maine this summer? I'd love to set up a Playtesting day! I have a buddy with an interesting trick taking project that I think you might dig.

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

I never liked cribbage, didn't have anyone in my life who regularly played. But I playtested a cribbage based co-op game with a very unique astronomy theme and absolutely loved what the co-op aspect did to make cribbage more interesting to me. Felt kinda like the Gang in that respect.

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

I have gone somewhat dormant on here, figured I'd pop in with an update for sign of life. When I'm not coaching 🥎 I am basically just sleeping. But I often dream of games so that's something. I will be back on the wagon again soon.

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

That's exactly why Silver was my favorite for so long. I grew so attached to that gen it was hard to adapt 😂

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Oh man! All over the board. I love it. Sword is my favorite of the more recent releases. I'm not too keen on Scarlet/Violet. I never owned the 3DS so I missed all of those generations. I'm looking forward to eventually going back to play what I missed. My next nostalgia buy will be Diamond.

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

might be the coolest thing about Pokemon, the ability to connect generations of gamers and/or anime fans. I had the cards, I watched the show, and while my family couldn't afford for me to keep up with every generation, I had friends who lent me the games. FR/LG is a great launch point!

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

It's been a while since I became this invested in a video game. But these re-releases have been a huge dose of nostalgia that I desperately needed with the current state of affairs in the world.

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Reposted by Michael Sprague 🎲✂️

Matthew Rodela @muse-and-mettle.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Playtesting a new co-design with @backwardscapgames.bsky.social called Interstellar Influence at Unpub this weekend. You take on the role of competing alien societies influencing humanity through history. A fresh twist on traditional civ games featuring hidden agendas and shared track manipulation.

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Reposted by Michael Sprague 🎲✂️

Game Makers Guild @gamemakersguild.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

🚨 New Meetup Alert 🚨 Are you looking for a new place in #boston to test your mettle, show off your latest #prototype or just play cool new games? Then hit up Tavern of Tales on Tues 3/3 Let's continue to prove that #boardgamedesign is alive and well in the Boston region. meetu.ps/e/PQj2h/ZXbQ...

Meetup page screenshot with details for an upcoming Playtest event!

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Reposted by Michael Sprague 🎲✂️

Game Makers Guild @gamemakersguild.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

2️⃣ #playtesting meetups this week. Each averaged 10 attendees and 4 games. We also spotted GMG member @backwardscapgames.bsky.social #newrelease on a retail shelf! Greater #boston area #boardgamedesign 🎲 ✂️ continues to thrive. Check our bio for links to stay up to date on where to find us next.

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Reposted by Michael Sprague 🎲✂️

Grumpy Spider Games @grumpyspidergames.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Well well well, looks like Rucksack made the highlights list alongside Pyrotechnics, by @backwardscapgames.bsky.social and @thinkdeepplaylight.bsky.social! If you haven't checked out @natewarren.bsky.social's Break Up Gaming Society, you really should. www.breakupgamingsociety.com/blog/indie-t...

breakupgamingsociety.com

Crate Digging: January 2026 — Breakup Gaming Society

Find out what's in my Rucksack, get 50% off tickets to Indie Boardgame Showcase, plus six other indie tabletop nugs.

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Reposted by Michael Sprague 🎲✂️

Game Makers Guild @gamemakersguild.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Attention all #boston 🎲✂️ #boardgamedesigners SAVE THE DATE! 4/18/2026 After the last successful All-Day #Playtesting event we are ready for another round. Please join us at Church on the Hill in Boston.

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Lot of iterative design work and graphic design overhaul for #rockout my rockband themed tableau builder. Now it's time to get #crafty and assemble this baby. Once this is out of the way and ready for the @gamemakersguild.bsky.social #allday #playtesting I can move to @cardboardedison.com prep! 🎲 ✂️

Print n Play of cards, bagged tokens and a box

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Reposted by Michael Sprague 🎲✂️

Tabletop Game Designers Association @ttgda.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Pyrotechnics by TTGDA member @backwardscapgames.bsky.social is a 2 player head-to-head card game that's quick and easy with just the right spark of strategy. It's currently available for pre-sale with delivery expected before the end of January 2026! www.seahorseandhummingbird.com/shop/pyrotec...

seahorseandhummingbird.com

Pyrotechnics - The Seahorse and The Hummingbird

Pyrotechnics is a fast, two-player card duel packed with strategy and sparks—easy to learn, quick to play, and endlessly replayable.

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

@elizhargrave.bsky.social as one of those playtesters you mentioned I can attest that I am extremely excited for that Wingspan small box game! 2026 looks like it will be exciting! open.substack.com/pub/elizharg...

open.substack.com

January 2026: New Year, New Games

Happy New Year!

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

Night Soil is such an intriguing game to me. I'm looking forward to my opportunity to play it in 2026.

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

Hey everyone! Pyrotechnics will be pre-launching on 12/31. Publisher: @thinkdeepplaylight.bsky.social You can register for a launch email here: www.seahorseandhummingbird.com/shop/pyrotec... This is a tight little 2-player, resource management game. Thanks! #cardgames #boardgamedesign

seahorseandhummingbird.com

Pyrotechnics - The Seahorse and The Hummingbird

Pyrotechnics is a fast, two-player card duel packed with strategy and sparks—easy to learn, quick to play, and endlessly replayable.

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

🎲✂️ New website, who dis: www.seahorseandhummingbird.com/shop/pyrotec... Publisher of my first published game did a little revamp of their site. Check it out and consider signing up for notifications on Pyrotechnics, officially launching (pun intended) on 12/31/2025. @thinkdeepplaylight.bsky.social

seahorseandhummingbird.com

Pyrotechnics - The Seahorse and The Hummingbird

Pyrotechnics is a fast, two-player card duel packed with strategy and sparks—easy to learn, quick to play, and endlessly replayable.

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Reposted by Michael Sprague 🎲✂️

The Seahorse & The Hummingbird @thinkdeepplaylight.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

new logo who dis?

The silhouette of a seahorse over the silhouette of a hummingbird over the outline of a circle. All of it washed in a gradient from green to blue to purple.

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Reposted by Michael Sprague 🎲✂️

Phil Gross @mistergross.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

Pyrotechnics is as tightly wound as a classic abstract. Excellent trade offs and tension. Feels like a beefier game than its smol size. Great work by @backwardscapgames.bsky.social and @thinkdeepplaylight.bsky.social

Cards with fireworks and tokens with sparks

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

Idk what it is yet or if it's even a game but yesterday I put some square holes in some coasters and we are drafting some dice in a strange fashion. Maybe it's something. 🎲 ✂️ #boardgames #dicegames #gamedesign

4 white coasters about 4 inch in diameter with multiple colored dice places in dice shaped holes on the coaster.

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

Thanks for checking out Pyrotechnics! This week we tabled Fort, Just One, Tapple (my first time) and Point Salad. A lighter week. Looking forward to a heavier (for me) game day coming up in two weeks.

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

My boardgame heart is filled with joy and gratitude this weekend. My co-design w/ @muse-and-mettle.bsky.social was tabled for the 1st time with the pull print. Production copy of @thinkdeepplaylight.bsky.social's 1st release #pyrotechnics hit the table. And I picked up 4 sweet newish to me games.

Table presentation of Interstellar Influence

First play of a production copy of Pyrotechnics

Sunday's boardgame purchases, including Stamp Swap, No Loose Ends, Fort and Faraway.

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

Very happy to share, that barring unforeseen circumstances, my card game #pyrotechnics will receive it's full release on 12/31/2025 courtesy of @thinkdeepplaylight.bsky.social Just got my designer production copies today, and oh boy does it look great! 🎲 ✂️

Games in box for with publisher's business card

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

I tried it at 6 once with the expansion, would not recommend. 2-4 it's one of my favorite game play experiences.

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Hey now, let's not go trying to get people sued...lol

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

#sneakpeak at my current 🎲✂️ project "Level Playingfield". An asymmetric 2-player only game where one player is the hero, using deck building to traverse a level and the other player is the level master, using tile-laying to try and stop them. #boardgames

Game map with a 4x8 grid, blue sky and ground reminiscent of an early Super Mario level.

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Reposted by Michael Sprague 🎲✂️

NestFresh Eggs @nestfresheggs.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

#DIDYOUKNOW? Eggs aren’t just for humans 🥚🐶 — they’re a nutrient-packed treat for dogs too! ✨ Protein for 💪 ✨ Vitamins & minerals for 🦴 ✨ Healthy fats for 🔋 We want the best for our dogs — so reach for the #BetterEgg from #NestFresh 🍳💛🐕 #HappyHens #HappyPups #EthicalFarming #HumanelyHatched

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Reposted by Michael Sprague 🎲✂️

Game Makers Guild @gamemakersguild.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

Attention all #Boston based #gamedesign 🎲✂️! GMG next all-day Playtesting event will take place in about 3 weeks on 10/18! Don't miss out on a great opportunity to test and connect with other gamers/designers. #boardgames

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Reposted by Michael Sprague 🎲✂️

NestFresh Eggs @nestfresheggs.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

#NestFresh™️ is proud to introduce #HumanelyHatched egg products to the U.S. Visit nestfresh.com/humanely-hat... to find out more on how we help reduce the need to hatch millions of male chicks. #animalwelfare #certifiedhumane #freerange #pastureraised #bettereggs #int-egg-rity 🧑‍🌾🥚🐤🐣

NestFresh Humanely Hatched cartons in grass. Includes info about humanely hatched and a QR code to the website.

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Reposted by Michael Sprague 🎲✂️

The Seahorse & The Hummingbird @thinkdeepplaylight.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Today, the first #boardgame by The Seahorse & The Hummingbird is born. No more tweaking. No more editing. No more testing. No more feedback. Pyrotechnics *is*. 🎆 To celebrate, I'll share the Pyrotechnics design diary by @backwardscapgames.bsky.social. It's a good read. Have a look. #gamedesign 🎲✂️

seahorseandhummingbird.com

Pyrotechnics: Design Diary - The Seahorse and The Hummingbird

The following design diary was written by the designer of Pyrotechnics, Michael Byron Sprague. Hi, I’m Mike, and I’m the designer of the two-player resource-management dueling card game, Pyrotechnics....

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Michael Sprague 🎲✂️ @backwardscapgames.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

First opportunity to buy a copy of my first game! Come support Indy game design!

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