iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 3h

"Storm" by Yung Lean is "Golden" but for football lads. In this essay I will...

Reposted by David Masnato 🔜 PAX U

Liz Davidson @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

This week's podcast interview with @ludoliminal.bsky.social was a delight to record, and hopefully a delight to listen to! youtu.be/6uUE-x43m1A?...

youtu.be

Beyond Solitaire Podcast 249: Sabrina Culyba on Transformational Games

YouTube video by Beyond Solitaire

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 22/09/2026

Probably one of the easiest recommendations I'll ever make. Color Jam is something truly special.

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 20/09/2026

Oh. Y'all weren't kidding. Wingspan Pocket is CLEAN. I'll always love the original, but Pocket is a wonderful addition to the lineup.

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 18/09/2026

I'm currently grilling dinner in my front yard. A humming bird appeared about 2 ft away from me. Maybe a Black-chinned hummingbird? Very dark coloration. I've never seen one in my yard before, but every time I see one in person it feels like magic. They're just impossibly beautiful creatures.

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 17/09/2026

Robyn and Angine de Poitrine? In the same week? Wild.

A photo of Robyn performing. She's lit under two gigantic box lights with a piano player behind her.

A photo of Angine de Poitrine performing. Both members of the band are wearing black and white polkadot costumes. One is playing a double neck guitar and bass. The other is playing the drums.

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Reposted by David Masnato 🔜 PAX U

JC @jcw.gay · 16/09/2026

Heya Bluesky! 🔥 🎲 I'm JC! I'm a freelance creative in the #boardgames industry looking to fill up my fall/winter season this year with cool projects! Hit me up! Check out my latest sizzle reel with the sick custom track I made 🔊

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Reposted by David Masnato 🔜 PAX U

Hawk and Dove Games @hawkanddovegames.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I want to spend some time today talking a bit more about this game, and why I think it's so important. Small Steps to Fight Fascism is a unique game in several ways. It covers a very recent and particular bit of United States history, but its model is applicable to many different circumstances.

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 16/09/2026

Story time! I helped run one of the music venues at my college for the last 3 years I was there. During my senior year, we hosted an up and coming rapper named Macklemore. He had some goofy songs and some blog buzz. Seemed like it would be a fun show so we booked him.

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 15/09/2026

Does anyone have a place I can store these until December?

A cardboard box full of copies of a board game called Pax Playground.

The box has been opened and the top layer of 10 copies of the game is revealed.

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 10/09/2026

I gifted this test print of Pax Playground to a good friend at PAX West. There's only one copy of this game currently in the world right now and it doesn't belong to me anymore. While I know it's in good hands, it's pretty wild feeling the thing you made slowly become increasingly less "yours."

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 08/09/2026

I'll be the first to admit that Nintendo has had me in a chokehold for 30+ years and I'm a sucker for most of what they put out. But y'all sure do hate how this remake is looking, huh? I dunno. I'm really excited!

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 08/09/2026

My first ever PAX West is in the books! Feeling incredibly grateful for the Unpub team, PAX Enforcers, and all the old and new friends I spent time with. You all made this weekend very special. 💛

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 05/09/2026

After being at PAX West for a day, I absolutely agree that a second Unplugged event would be a valuable addition to the roster. But I'd much rather see it serve a west coast audience that currently lacks a dedicated major tabletop con. And have it held in a state my friends can visit safely.

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Reposted by David Masnato 🔜 PAX U

Unpub @unpub.org · 04/09/2026

Unpub at PAX Unplugged reserved tables are now available for purchase! These tables are for designers to save a spot; playtesters never need a reservation 💙 f.mtr.cool/v19f27pvc5

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 04/09/2026

This conversation with Ryan was a highlight for me in an especially chaotic August. I'm super grateful for the invite and conversation. If you have any interest in Pax Playground or learning about how and why I make the things I do, check it out!

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 02/09/2026

Seattle! I'm here! Are we pre-PAX hanging out or what?

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 31/08/2026

*record scratch freeze frame as I hit the Block button* Hey. You're probably wondering how I found myself in this situation. Well it all started when I gave an art bot on Discord the benefit of the doubt even though I fully know what comes after "Can I ask you a question?"

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 31/08/2026

I'm so grateful for the work Amabel has done researching and sharing the stories of forgotten designers and their games. I found this one particularly moving.

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Reposted by David Masnato 🔜 PAX U

Dan Thurot @danthurot.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

For today's Space-Cast!, I chat with Connor Wake @connor.alwaysawake.games about the ups and downs of both mainstream and indie publishing, some jerk's nasty review, and the wonderful world of Out of Sorts. Listen: spacebiff.com/2026/08/28/s...

spacebiff.com

Space-Cast! #59. Mostly Awake

For today’s Space-Cast!, we’re revisiting some jerk’s nasty review from five years ago, investigating some excellent indie games, and discussing the ups and downs (but mostly ups)…

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 27/08/2026

I've got to say I feel a little insane watching people who have told me to my face that there's no audience for the games I make excitedly sharing today's "Make art you love" discourse. I obviously agree with the sentiment, but where was that energy when you were telling me to shelf my projects?

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 20/08/2026

If you've been waiting for CGE to follow through on their promise to donate 100% of net profits of Harry Potter Codenames, they quietly gave an update in February. So quietly no one knew it happened. www.czechgames.com/news/annual-...

czechgames.com

CGE | Annual Report of CGE Donations (2025)

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Reposted by David Masnato 🔜 PAX U

Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 19/08/2026

Out of Sorts is launching on September 8th and now it has a trailer! No flashy animations here though, just some low budget nonsense. Hope you enjoy! youtu.be/F3Nrsr8m9w4?... Follow on Kickstarter: www.kickstarter.com/projects/alw...

youtu.be

Out of Sorts Kickstarter Trailer

YouTube video by Always Awake Games

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 19/08/2026

The thing I come back to at the end of the day is that if generative AI wasn't evil, people wouldn't be bending themselves into pretzels coming up with nonsense hypotheticals about why they should be allowed to use it without feeling ashamed.

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Reposted by David Masnato 🔜 PAX U

Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 14/08/2026

Doing a test for some ks video props. My favourite part of game design is still getting to do all sorts of random crafts

A prop version if a book from Out of Sorts. It’s a small “book” all blue with a weird symbol on the front. It’s being held above a cutting board.

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 14/08/2026

In last night's Big Walk session we found a puzzle (no spoilers!) that immediately had us laughing. By the end of solving it, we were reflecting on how nice the experience was. I'm continually impressed by how thoughtfully designed this game is.

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Reposted by David Masnato 🔜 PAX U

Travis D. Hill, Ph.D. ☕️ @travisdhill.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

I began collaging tonight for the first time, and this felt great (?), appropriate (?) Either way, it was a fun first foray.

A collaged image of a trash heap that reads THE END on it

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 11/08/2026

Woah! Big week for Pax Playground news. I’m super excited to share that it's been selected as one of the games at the PAX Unplugged Indie Game Night Market! This will be the first time any of my games are publicly available. I’m aiming to bring 50 copies for $35 each. One copy per person.

A digital rendering of the box for Pax Playground with the logos for the Indie Games Night Market and PAX Unplugged overlaid.

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Reposted by David Masnato 🔜 PAX U

Amabel Holland @amabel.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

whether or not you have a smooth submission process depends entirely on which volunteer admin gets hold of your submission I've actually had really good luck with my own games - there was no opposition to Six Moons or Swords Against despite a, shall we say, "obscuring" of victory conditions (1/4)

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Reposted by David Masnato 🔜 PAX U

Lunarpunk Games @lunarpunk.games · 10/08/2026

Games can be games without a hierarchical result. We must broaden traditional definitions of tabletop games to give designers the agency and opportunity to express themselves in new, exciting, and challenging ways. We should be creating new ways to explore artistic mediums, not shutting them down.

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Reposted by David Masnato 🔜 PAX U

Board Game Blitz @boardgameblitz.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Color Jam (review copy from @lunarpunk.games ) is way more of a hit than I expected it to be! I played it with my 6yo kid the other day and today he wanted to play it with my husband and is teaching him! He hasn’t been enjoying many typical board games recently so this is the perfect game for him!

My kid with Color Jam and some various coloring materials. My husband is sitting next to him.

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 09/08/2026

After almost 2 months waiting in the pending queue and a contentious submission process, Pax Playground is finally on BoardGameGeek. Despite having a ruleset and player objectives, BGG didn’t want to list the game because the ending doesn’t explicitly identify players as winners or losers.

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Reposted by David Masnato 🔜 PAX U

Marceline Leiman is Racing Dinos @marcelineleiman.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Hello!!! 👋 With Ordinary Magic finally being announced to the world, it’s finally time to update my intro post!! My name is Marceline Leiman, an award-winning full-time game designer at Ordinary Magic ✨ You may be familiar with my prior work High Tide, Dino Racer, Wildberries, or Nebular Colors!!

Splash image for the gamefound campaign announcing Ordinary Magic

Caption of image: “Ordinary Magic”

Centered is a happy griffon character carrying books across a busy town square, filled with many other mythical creatures including a dragon and a kitsune

Cover image for High Tide

The title rests inside of a tidal pool with corals, shells, and seaweeds surrounding it

Reads: “Marceline Leiman's
HIGH TIDE
A cozy stacking game for two players”

Cover image for Dino Racer

Depicts a race between multiple dinosaurs with a large red T-Rex front and center

Cover image for Wildberries

Many wacky berry-shaped cereal characters are splashing out of a wave of milk

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Reposted by David Masnato 🔜 PAX U

jo kelly @miasmacorp.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

I'll take any opportunity to talk to Liz, but this was a particularly fun one! We talked about three books that informed the design of Molly House.

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 05/08/2026

Played Big Walk for about an hour last night and now all I can think about is how much I want to play Big Walk again.

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 04/08/2026

I take my final sips of morning coffee and let out a deep exhausted sigh. It's another Tuesday in the life of a community manager. The sign beckons. And it demands to be tapped once again.

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 31/07/2026

I've actually got a pretty clear and straightforward answer to this one. Yes.

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 30/07/2026

I know all eyes on are Gen Con right now, but I figured I'd share a quick and exciting update on Pax Playground. The test print has arrived! Let's unbox it! youtu.be/zWLdZ9KzANE?...

youtu.be

Pax Playground - Test Print Unboxing

YouTube video by David Masnato

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 24/07/2026

Hey so remember when @boardgameghee.bsky.social made one of the best doodling party games out there? I was thinking about it yesterday. What's going on with that?

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 24/07/2026

I started designing my first game in 2019 shortly after Wingspan came out. It felt like permission for games like this to exist. The things I wanted to play and make were cool now. Dunking on games that make people feel welcome isn't the "honest critique" you think it is.

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 20/07/2026

It's been a weird week and it's that time of year where I get in my head about whether or not any of the stuff I make is cool. But my mom played Pax Playground and she liked it so much she asked to play it a second time. So that was really nice!

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 15/07/2026

I'm David! I'm a graphic designer, illustrator, community manager, and game designer. Most of my graphic design and illustration work in the tabletop world has been for my own projects, but I'd love to get serious about changing that! 💼: davidmasnato.com ✉️: hello@davidmasnato.com #PortfolioDay

The box cover for my game Pax Playground. The illustration shows a child in a yellow coat standing at the top of a slide. The title of the game is in big bold red letters below with my name nearby.

The cover for another game called Pax Penning. The words "Pax Penning, Game Design by Matilda Simonsson, Graphic Design by David Masnato" are surrounded by a detailed and colorful border.

A digital render of my game Tiers of Joy. Colorful tokens are spread across a playing area. Some of them are stacked to resemble miniature cakes.

Some cards from my game Oar Deal. Some cards are laid out in a playing area while another card is off to the side. The cards have a watery blue background with some iconography and numbers.

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 12/07/2026

I shelved Tiers of Joy over a year ago because I felt like I hit a dead end on the design. Last night, inspiration struck out of nowhere and I think I maybe found a path to fix it? At the very least, this game is fun to work on again. Lil cakes are back on the menu!

A photo of the prototype of Tiers of Joy set up for a three player game. Multiple colorful tokens are laid out on a wooden table in a setup that resembles tiny layer cakes being assembled on plates.

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 11/07/2026

Just bought my flights to PAX West! Super excited to attend this one for the first time and meet a bunch of the Seattle folks I only know from the internet!

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 08/07/2026

There's tons of tabletop game design advice out there now. Some is valuable. Much of it is well intentioned but unhelpful "best practices" served as gospel. The most recent video from @beyondsolitaire.bsky.social feels vital in a way this space rarely sees. www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRFY...

youtube.com

This is What Separates Great Games from the Rest

YouTube video by Beyond Solitaire

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Reposted by David Masnato 🔜 PAX U

Unpub @unpub.org · 07/07/2026

📣 Calling Tabletop Game Designers 📣 Are you heading to Gen Con later this month? We have three (3!) speed pitch opportunities for underrepresented groups to get their games in front of publishers! More info at f.mtr.cool/dgjijlevjs #gencon #gamedesign 🎲✂️

Tabletop Game Designers Speed Pitch at Gen Con, apply: Unpub.org/GenCon; publishers: SpeedPitch@Unpub.org

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 05/07/2026

It's 2026 and I'm in too many game design Discord servers.

A three panel edit of a sequence from Watchmen. Dr Manhattan sits alone on a planet making the same statement, but with a different year each time.

It’s 2020 and someone in a game design Discord is asking “What is a game?”

It’s 2023 and someone in a game design Discord is asking “What is a game?”

It’s 2026 and someone in a game design Discord is asking “What is a game?”

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Reposted by David Masnato 🔜 PAX U

Marceline Leiman is Racing Dinos @marcelineleiman.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

We are hitting close to the anniversary of @czechgames.com releasing this statement. We are still looking for actual results. We want to see actionable progress made public. Pay attention to more from @blockcollectives.bsky.social as time gets closer, until we get official statements from CGE.

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David Masnato 🔜 PAX U @davidmasnato.com · 01/07/2026

This game is so chill and good! Keep an eye on this campaign!

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