iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 02/10/2026

Turns out I will be making it to PAX Unplugged after all!

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 23/09/2026

It's that title. It has like that same font and border Animorphs had.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 17/09/2026

Did a play of Cat Paper Scissors this past weekend! We're not done with the game quite yet, so expect some more news coming soon. 😉

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 16/09/2026

I still play it! It's THE best polyomino game imo, and probably in my top 10 games of all time.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 14/09/2026

In fairness it was only a few groups of people. Tricked Out admittedly is more non-traditional than complicated (it's an expansion for ANY trick-taker which I think is weird for a lot of people). But I can see being wrong about complicated vs simple. (A good sales pitch goes a long way too.)

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 12/09/2026

Played Wingspan Pocket last night. I reallt liked it! The original Wingspan never quite clicked with me, so I was pleasantly surprised. It hits a good balance between the simplicity and the crunch. You also are constantly running your engine, which is very satisfying.

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Reposted by Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU

Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 10/09/2026

Now that I've attended every (in-person) indie game market at least once, I wanted to share my thoughts on each of them. I sold Propaganda, Coupon Clipper, and/or Tricked Out at each market. Coupon Clipper is a more typical game, while Propaganda and Tricked Out are more out there.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 10/09/2026

Should mention "Hearing of your game beforehand" often just means they saw it on the market's preview page. Takeaway: If you have a game, and are local or already going to the con I think they're always worth signing-up for. But note I don't think I ever made enough money to cover flight + hotel.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 10/09/2026

PAX Unplugged Probably the one where everyone buying understands the core "these games are weird" premise the most. If you have a good hook or good marketing best market for sales. Unfortunately last years layout really hurt Impulse Buys. Also the most competitive market to get accepted into.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 10/09/2026

PAX West Pretty crowded. Definitely more Impulse Buyers than Indie (I had to explain what a trick-taker was a few times). Games that are psuedo-TCG or social deduction would probably do well here, since it's a more casual video gamer-esque crowd. Con where I sold the most of Coupon Clipper.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 10/09/2026

LFG Con Not much to say about this one. It's a small local con, and didn't even have enough sign-ups this year, but was very convenient for me last year so I can't complain.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 10/09/2026

GenCon A lot of people, and jnterestingly more Indie Buyers than Impulse Buyers (I suspect due to the location). A lot of people who bought Tricked Out were looking for it, specifically. It being at GenCon wasn't the be all and end all though, sales were pretty comparable to the other markets.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 10/09/2026

Game Market West A standalone event. Propaganda sold pretty poorly here, but I suspect more accessible games would do well. Downside is the event is longer than the night markets, and there's no attached con to partly justify the trip.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 10/09/2026

Dice Tower West Smaller con so less overall sales. Mostly Impulse Buyers. Trick-takers and other cheap small box games do well since they're easy to pick up and play. Games that can be played immediately also do well due to the market being 2 nights (at least this year).

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 10/09/2026

Quick note to start with - I broadly divide customers into 2 types: Impulse Buyers who want a more typical gaming experience and are more price sensitive. Indie Buyers who are looking for more unique experiences. These are the buyers who're also more likely to have heard of your game beforehand.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 10/09/2026

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 09/09/2026

The indie night market went well. I did slightly better than expected. A lot of people, and logically more casual buyers. Several people didn't even know what a trick-taker was (which fair). A huge thanks too to @connor.alwaysawake.games for putting on the event!

My table at the PAX West Indie Game Market, including displays and signs for Coupon Clipper and Tricked Out.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 09/09/2026

Also it was kinda shocking how few big companies were at the board game side. Mostly it was a lot of indie Kickstarters. I get the con doesn't have the reputation of GenCon or Unplugged but there were still a lot of people playing and checking out board games. It seemed like a missed opportunity.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 09/09/2026

Had a great time at PAXWest over the weekend. It was my first time ever going, so I spent most of it just wandering the convention and checking everything out. Logically a lot of video game stuff, though it was interesting how it was almost entirely indie. You can tell the industry's been hit hard.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 08/09/2026

I was going to post about PAX West today but ended up sleeping for 15 hours instead 😴. Suffice to say it was good; more details to follow tomorrow.

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Reposted by Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU

Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Today is the day! Come swing by the PNW Tabletop Game Market at #PAXWest tonight at Summit 0. You'll find 20 uniquely indie tabletop games that you can only get directly from these designers! A lot of loving care and craft goes into these games. So come check it out after the expo hall closes! ♥️🎲

Poster that says PNW Tabletop Game Market at PAX West from 7 to 10 pm.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 05/09/2026

Colder weather and lack of availability of heart boxer jeans.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 05/09/2026

The fact it's a rebrand of PAX South (as a few comments mentioned) is really interesting to me. It's a sign of both the (ongoing) decline of the video games industry, and the continued success of the tabletop industry. I don't think I would've ever predicted PAX South would've become an Unplugged.

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Reposted by Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU

Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 03/09/2026

I'm going to be at PAX West in 3 days! Come by the PNW Tabletop Game Market at 7:00pm to pick-up a copy of Tricked Out or Coupon Clipper (and of course to check out all of the other awesome games on sale).

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 03/09/2026

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 29/08/2026

People liked the Clank one. I think the issue was more people were optimistic about their ability to play the same game with the same people a dozen times.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 24/08/2026

Get a rotary cutter. Guillotine cutters will tear the paper if you do too many sheets at a time, but rotary cutters can handle a ton of pages at once. I have a CARL and I swear by it.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 22/08/2026

I watch a tons videos of people talking about video games that I have no intention of playing. I don't see why the same can't go for board games. Often I'm interested in the history or analysis, but truthfully too sometimes I'm just curious about things that I know I wouldn't enjoy playing.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 20/08/2026

This is how it used to be! I remember buying a bunch of 4-packs for games back in the day. I'm not really sure why the trend stopped. Only thought is trying to get people to split a 4-pack and then hand out games was too much of a hassle compared to people buying it themselves.

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Reposted by Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU

Going Analog @goinganalogshow.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

We ran a 10-player game of The Gang at LFG CON. It initially sounded like a bad idea to us, but the tweaks to the gameplay make it work (the 7-10 player expansion adds zero and exit chips). w/ @panda8ngel.bsky.social @silvermedaltavern.bsky.social

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 18/08/2026

Had a great time over the weekend at LFG Con. It had about double the people as last year, which is a good sign. LA really needs a good con. (I love Strategicon but it has... issues.)

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 18/08/2026

@marcelineleiman.bsky.social Was talking to some friends over the weekend, and one of them mentioned how he really wanted to try Dino Racer. It was cool hearing about your game in the wild!

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 16/08/2026

It doesn't help the Internet as a whole has an issue with people seeking out opinions that largely already agree with their own (which is a big issue for any kind of in-depth critique). Some critics have escaped this of course, which is great, but I think it makes getting started so brutal.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 16/08/2026

People are talking about how we need better board game critics, but I'm skeptical people would actually watch anyone who was routinely critical. I think they would be seen as mean and just dismissed out of hand.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 07/08/2026

There were so many Carl cosplayers 😵‍💫

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 06/08/2026

Check out my and Amanda's playthrough of Growing Groves tomorrow on Twitch! We're nearing the final few days of the Kickstarter, so if you're curious about the game and wanna learn more before the Kickstarter closes now's your chance.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 05/08/2026

An interesting thing about seeing all the GenCon haul photos is just how few games overlap between them. There are just so many games out there you guys.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 05/08/2026

Just took inventory of everything post-GenCon. Looks like I sold all but 4 copies of Tricked Out! But don't worry, I'll get another print run done in time for PAX West! (And needless to say the Indianapolis Game Market went well. Such an amazing opportunity to get my stuff out there.)

A photo of 4 copies of my cars game Tricked Out.

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Reposted by Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU

Amanda Panda 🔜 BGG Con, PaxU @panda8ngel.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

🔴I'm back!!! I'm so tired but I miss you all too! Lots to talk about and see from SDCC and Gen Con. Chris Lawrence will join me to teach his game, Growing Groves on KS. Fri is BGA games w/ Mr. Peebles! See you soon! 📺 www.twitch.tv/panda8ngel 📺 www.youtube.com/@Panda8ngel

Amanda Panda's Twitch Stream Schedule

SDCC & Gen Con ReCap (No Haul)
Pictures and Chatting
Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026
3 PM PDT / 6 PM EDT / 10 PM UTC
Twitch.tv/Panda8ngel
Youtube.com/@Panda8ngel

Growing Groves w/ Chris
(KS Preview)
Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026
12 PM PST / 3 PM EST / 8 PM UTC
Twitch.tv/Panda8ngel
Youtube.com/@Panda8ngel

BGA games w/ Chat
MPeebles Co-stream
Friday, Aug. 7, 2026
11 AM PST / 2 PM EST / 7 PM UTC
Twitch.tv/Panda8ngel
Youtube.com/@Panda8ngel
Twitch.tv/MPeebles

SDCC & Gen Con Haul
Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026
12 PM PDT / 3 PM EDT / 7 PM UTC
Twitch.tv/Panda8ngel
Youtube.com/@Panda8ngel

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 01/08/2026

Site of the Indy Game Market in 9ish hours. Er, well I think at least. It's the 3rd floor of the JW at least.

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Reposted by Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU

Elizabeth Hargrave @elizhargrave.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

GAME DESIGNERS AT GEN CON: please join us tonight and help spread the word. 6pm downstairs at the JW. (It should be easy to pop up to the Indy game market - that starts at 7pm, 3rd floor. Both go til 10!)

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 01/08/2026

My flight to GenCon got delayed. As is tradition.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 28/07/2026

August 1st at 7:00pm, in the 3rd Floor Foyer of the JW Mariott. sites.google.com/view/gmindy/... www.gencon.com/events/325961

sites.google.com

GMI

Game Market Indianapolis at JW Mariott: 3rd Floor Foyer August 1st at 7pm

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 28/07/2026

Getting ready for GenCon! I'm briging a ton of copies of Tricked Out and Coupon Clipper, so fingers crossed 🤞 the Game Market goes well.

A photo of a several copies of my game Tricked Out and my game Coupon Clipper.

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Reposted by Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU

BoardGameWire 🔜 Spiel Essen @boardgamewire.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Valor Mountain Games says it is challenging hobby game publishing’s “safe bet” mentality - with owner Christopher High wagering his company can succeed by taking chances on the kinds of titles other publishers are passing over: boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...

Head and shoulders image of a bearded man looking at the camera. He wears a blue baseball cap and clear rimmed glasses, and a purple polo shirt. Christopher High, owner of board game publisher Valor Mountain Games.

Four strange illustrated characters on a path in a green, leafy environment, with a couple of geese in front of them. They are on the cover of a board game box which reads Pilgrims Curious Adventures, on a brown wooden table.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 16/07/2026

I 100% agree but for a completely different reason. I think the box size sets expectations for the game's complexity, so when a tiny box has tons of complexity it makes me go "hey this isn't what I signed up for!" and I get frustrated.

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Chris Lawrence 🔜 PAXU @chris.eternalstudios.com · 15/07/2026

If you're at PAX West I'll be selling both Tricked Out and Coupon Clipper there, so come by the PNW Tabletop Game Market and check them out!

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