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Matt Kelly

@bymattkelly.bsky.social
125 followers 126 following 70 posts

Latest Game: Battle of Mackinac Island, SNAFU | Latest Writing: Small Worlds, Senet magazine I All my stuff: bymattkelly.com

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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
Just a quick but heart-felt thank you to everyone who has downloaded Jug Bitten. Would love to get your comments and feedback on the supplement and mini-system when you have a second. Thanks! 🥂
bymattkelly.itch.io
Jug Bitten by By Matt Kelly
A simple system for inebriation and its resolution in TTRPGs.
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
I just published a new supplement for Into the Odd and Cairn: Jug Bitten. A simple system for when player characters or NPCs decide to imbibe during an adventure – because such consumption is not without its consequences in play. Cheers! 🍻 @bastionland.bsky.social @yochaigal.bsky.social
bymattkelly.itch.io
Jug Bitten by By Matt Kelly
A simple system for inebriation and its resolution in TTRPGs.
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 15/03/2024
Grant @playersaidblog.bsky.social released his unboxing (unbagging?) video of the Battle of Mackinac Island this week. 🙌 Glad to see the game had you interested right out of the bag! 👍 @snafustore.bsky.social
youtu.be
Unboxing | The Battle of Mackinac Island | SNAFU | The Players' Aid
Noble Knight Games: https://nobleknight.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/theplayersaid Tee Shirts: https://teespring.com/stores/the-players-aid Website: https://theplayersaid.com
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 09/03/2024
It's an absolute joy discovering the world of Beyond Corny Groń from Kuba Skurzynski. The people, beasts, landscape from Polish folklore are fascinating. The artwork is rich and authentic. And the book is a comprehensive guide and tool. Great addition to the solo TTRPG I've been playing.
Image of Beyond Corny Groń book on table with papers, dice, pen.
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 08/03/2024
There's a brand new game available from the @snafustore.bsky.social team: Berestechko 1651.👇 And I got to make the promo video for it. 🤘 @marcfigueras.bsky.social @ivanprat.bsky.social
vimeo.com
Beresetechko 1651 - Trailer
Berestechko 1651 is a game for two players simulating the third day of the battle of Berestechko, fought on 30th June 1651 between the Zaporozhian Cossacks, led…
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 07/03/2024
Lol! 🤣
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 25/02/2024
✊
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 20/02/2024
This past weekend I rediscovered Starflight! Anyone else play this game from 1986? A vast universe to explore, aliens to encounter, resources to manage, mysteries to solve. From a game design perspective, I'm finding Starflight has a lot to admire and learn from.
Image of Starflight interstellar nav screen.Image of Starflight planet-side screen.Image of Starflight alien communications screen.
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 19/02/2024
This is one of the reasons I enjoy working with @snafustore.bsky.social: They're always playing and figuring out what works and what doesn't. And then we come up with cool solutions that makes the game even better for players. These mini cards are such a great option for our Mackinac game!
Screen shot of post showing the mini card faces.
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 01/02/2024
👀 🤘 Look what's in the works from Nicola Saggini, Nils Johansson @zweigefuhle.bsky.social, and the SNAFU Team @snafustore.bsky.social... 👉 www.snafu.cat/w-bollebank....
Promo image of Operation Bøllebank showing map and counters.
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 29/01/2024
Checking in on the Battle of Mackinac Island's BGG page today -- that's a pretty nice rating. 👍 Thank you to everyone who has rated and reviewed. I really appreciate your support! 🙌 @snafustore.bsky.social
Image of Battle of Mackinac Island BGG page.
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 26/01/2024
The success of the Opportunity rover was ultimately due to the humans who designed and controlled the mission. Human ingenuity and creativity is always essential. This includes game design and artwork – which is why my Opportunity game carries the Human Made logo by @hinokodo.com. 1/2
Image of rover silhouette and the Human Made logo.
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 25/01/2024
Twenty years ago today, NASA's Opportunity rover successfully landed on Mars. This tense, dramatic moment was just the beginning... 1/2 youtu.be/Uv3Zg4Pff2s?...
youtu.be
NASA's Spirit and Opportunity Mars Rovers: 20th Anniversary of Landing
In January 2004, two robotic explorers – the Spirit and Opportunity rovers – landed on the Red Planet for a 90-day mission. Spirit ended up operating for six...
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 24/01/2024
The Opportunity and Spirit mission to Mars was expected to last 3 months – but instead continued for almost 15 years! See how long you can survive and explore. 👉 bymattkelly.itch.io/opportunity
Image of game board with counters and dice on it.
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 23/01/2024
NASA's Opportunity was amazingly successful in its Martian mission: to analyze rocks and soils for signs of past water activity. These signs are evidence that Mars might have been able to support microbial life in the past. Want to try the mission yourself? 👉 bymattkelly.itch.io/opportunity
Images of game counters (clays, hematite, pure silica, veins of gypsum) on Martian background of craters.
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 22/01/2024
This month marks the 20th anniversary of Spirit and Opportunity's landing on Mars -- and the start of one of the most exciting space missions of all time! I have a tight little board game that captures the tension and excitement of Opportunity's exploration of Mars. 👉 bymattkelly.itch.io/opportunity
NASA poster of two rovers on Mars.
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 17/01/2024
Great read about some fun research. 👍
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Cardboard Edison @cardboardedison.com · 06/01/2024
Submissions for the 9-Card NanoGame Print and Play Design Contest on BoardGameGeek are open through March 16. Prizes include GeekGold.
boardgamegeek.com
Site Maintenance
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 05/01/2024
I just started publishing on itch.io last year, and it's pretty exciting to see people buying and downloading my boardgames -- sometimes adding on a large donation to boot. Wow! Thank you very much for your support! Glad so many of you are enjoying these games. bymattkelly.itch.io
Image of Matt's itch.io page.
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Hinokodo @hinokodo.com · 04/01/2024
Posting to 3 social medias feels silly. makes it feel like work. I like it when it feels like spontaneous sharing. Anyways, for the third time today, I'm sharing my human made icon pack after someone commented on the page and reminded me i should share it more often! hinokodo.itch.io/human-made
hinokodo.itch.io
Human Made by HINOKODO
An icon pack made by humans
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Hinokodo @hinokodo.com · 03/01/2024
oh hey. Look who's KS page got approved. www.kickstarter.com/projects/mim... Follow the KS page for MIRU 3. (launch is Feb 20) (the past 2 campaigns I gave the first 100 backers a free enamel pin and i'll do the same again for the last Miru) Following should notify you when we launch.
kickstarter.com
Coming soon: MIRU 3: An Analog Defense Game
Defend your village from an onslaught of machines as an AI god attempts to unalive you in this solo hexcrawling adventure.
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Senet magazine @senetmagazine.bsky.social · 29/11/2023
Issue 13 is out now! Including previews of Harvest, Defenders of the Wild and Kelp: Shark vs Octopus. Go to senetmagazine.com to order your copy or subscribe. #boardgamesarebeautiful
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Senet magazine @senetmagazine.bsky.social · 27/11/2023
Issue 13 is out now! Featuring a brief history of the microgame by Matt Kelly. Interviewees include Steve Jackson, Jason Tagmire and Jun Sasaki. Go to senetmagazine.com to order your copy or subscribe. #boardgamesarebeautiful
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Senet magazine @senetmagazine.bsky.social · 25/11/2023
Issue 13 is out now! Including an exclusive interview with Adam Kwapinski on his design philosophy and his book Board Games on My Mind (portrait by Ian Wright, interview by Alexandra Sonechkina). Go to senetmagazine.com to order your copy or subscribe. #boardgamesarebeautiful
Adam Kwapinski
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Senet magazine @senetmagazine.bsky.social · 26/11/2023
Issue 13 is out now! In which British artist Alex Crispin showcases his grungy-retro work, from Escape the Dark Castle to the highly anticipated The Last of Us: Escape the Dark. Go to senetmagazine.com to order your copy or subscribe. #boardgamesarebeautiful
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 24/11/2023
I'm pretty excited for Issue 13: I wrote the feature on microgames... my first piece for @senetmagazine.bsky.social 👍👍
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 17/11/2023
Hey boardgaming friends! I'm thrilled to announce another new game: Opportunity! A solo strategy game in which you control the famous NASA rover on Mars. Explore, survive, and make discoveries. Available as PNP on itch.io. Let me know what you think! 👉 bymattkelly.itch.io/opportunity
Minimal illustration of rover on surface of Mars. Text: Opportunity. Explore, survive and make discoveries on Mars. A solo strategy game.
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 15/11/2023
The Battle of Mackinac has been translated into Catalan! Marc Figueras and @snafustore.bsky.social did the hard work of translation -- I just made it look pretty. Available for download from the SNAFU store. 👉 www.snafu.cat/w-mackinac.h...
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 14/11/2023
Check this out, Belters: Secured myself a brand new physical copy of Dead Belt from @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social - one of my favorite games to play in 2023. Been waiting a good long time for this. 👍👍
Image of Dead Belt book, dice, tokens and deck of cards on table.
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 16/10/2023
Look what arrived in the mail today... My first copies of my first game, The Battle of Mackinac Island. Pocket Battle #1, I might add. So great to be part of the family, @snafustore.bsky.social! 🙌
Image of games and game components laid out on table.
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 06/10/2023
My first published board game – The Battle of Mackinac Island – is now available! Game no.1 in the Pocket Battle series from @snafustore.bsky.social. 👉 snafustore.com/en/napoleoni...
vimeo.com
Battle of Mackinac Island - Trailer
The Battle of Mackinac Island is a solitaire and two-player game designed to be played in 30 minutes or less. The player takes on the role of the American commander…
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 01/10/2023
It's Solotober! I'm starting this month of daily solo boardgaming with one of my favorite games of 2023: Measure of the Earth from Marc Figueras, @zweigefuhle.bsky.social, and @snafustore.bsky.social. Trying to determine the shape of the Earth while managing resources and squabbling team members.
Image of game board with counters on it.
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Team Snafu & SDT @snafustore.bsky.social · 30/09/2023
Snafu Design Team. On the back of the The Battle of Mackinac Island map, our next to be published game, we have included a small infography with visual information about the battle. We learn by playing, we play to learn.
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 29/09/2023
It's almost here: The Battle of Mackinac Island – my first published board game. Available from the awesome folks at SNAFU. Here are some photos from the most recent printing test. 🤘
Image of front cover of game.Image of back cover of game.Image of game components laid out.Image of game components laid out on their opposite sides.
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 19/09/2023
I just backed this series from Postmark Games. Loved the original Market Garden game. Artwork by @zweigefuhle.bsky.social 🤌 as always. @djackthompson.bsky.social @rorymuldoon.bsky.social 🙌 www.kickstarter.com/projects/pos...
kickstarter.com
Battle Card
A series of print at home micro solitaire games from legendary wargame designers David Thompson and Nils Johansson.
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 14/09/2023
Been playing Azione Violenta su Barcellona from Nicola Saggini, Eduard Altarriba and the SANFU Store. Excellent postcard game – and a reminder of the brutal fascist airstrike that occurred during the Spanish Civil War. 1/3
Image of postcard game being played with dice and game pieces.
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 13/09/2023
Hey friends! I have discovered the secret to a successful Bluesky profile banner: Take your image, square it to 1500 x 1500 pixels at 300 dpi, and make sure the portion of the image you want displayed is centered in that square. Voilà! (Or am I just telling everyone what they already know?)
Ink drawing of soldiers charging with sunburst design in background. From the cover of "The Battle of Mackinac Island" by Matt Kelly.
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Elizabeth Hargrave @elizhargrave.bsky.social · 12/09/2023
Hasbro just announced a WOMEN INNOVATORS OF PLAY award with submissions due Oct 12. Please share and encourage the creative women you know to submit any mass-market-friendly toys or games that they're working on! 3 winners get $10k and a visit to Hasbro. Toward the bottom of this page:
spark.hasbro.com
Women Innovators
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 06/09/2023
I have discovered Rob Turpin's @thisnorthernboy.bsky.social Weird Field World. And it is wonderful. Spaceships, spaceships, spaceships, and a story reminiscent of the classic TTA books. thisnorthernboy.gumroad.com/l/wfwbook
A collection of Weird Field spaceships.
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 05/09/2023
Very excited to see the next games in the Battle Card series from these two designers! 🙌 Highly recommend checking out the first game, Market Garden, for free. (Part of the #pftf2023 design jam, by the way.) djackthompson.itch.io/battle-card-... #boardgames #wargames
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Cardboard Edison @cardboardedison.com · 01/09/2023
The third Traditional Deck Game Design Contest, for games made with a traditional deck of playing cards, is open for submissions through November 30
boardgamegeek.com
2023 Traditional Deck Game Design Contest | BGG
Hello acolytes of the traditional deck! Welcome to the third Traditional Deck Game Design Contest! This contest aims to encourage the creation of games accessible to anyone who has one or more decks ...
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Matt Kelly @bymattkelly.bsky.social · 01/09/2023
Hey everyone. Thrilled to finally join you on Bluesky.👋 Question... What are the correct dimensions for the profile banner? 🤔
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