iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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theoldlibrarian.bsky.social @theoldlibrarian.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Kickstarter post arrival day! New boardgame featuring terrors from books escaping into a library, and librarians having to wrangle them under control. Seems my sort of thing. Thanks @dissentgames.bsky.social (More info on their website: dissentgames.com/litl/ )

Picture of the outer box for the board game "loose in the library" from Dissent games

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Luke 🦆 @aethercorp.games · 27/12/2025

Strong start in the 'must play more games' game with Gingerbread Towers by @dissentgames.bsky.social

A tower of folded playing cards with pictures of sweets on them balancing on the back of a board game box on a carpeted floor

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Packing up copies of The Smugglers’ Secret. It’s a story-based, text-heavy, cold case adventure puzzle in an envelope. Basically, imagine a whodunit and an escape room had a baby. So much fun to design! 🎲✂️

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Rule 101 of small print run game design: do not design things which take FOREVER to assemble. On the plus side, it looks fabulous. 🎲✂️

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S-Curve Economics @scurveeconomics.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

As policymakers meet at #COP30 in Brazil, #cleansteel must move up the agenda. We propose a new approach: diplomacy focused on market creation. Report: Making Clean Steel Competitive in International Trade 🔗 www.scurveeconomics.org/publications... @iges-en.bsky.social, @regassistproj.bsky.social

scurveeconomics.org

Making Clean Steel Competitive in International Trade: A Positive-Sum Agenda for Policy and Diplomacy | S-Curve Economics

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S-Curve Economics @scurveeconomics.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

We are thrilled to have been selected as a partner of the EEIST Project to have our video shown at the UK Pavilion throughout COP! www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqHg... #cop30 #climate

youtube.com

EESIT | Showcased at the UK Pavilion, COP30

YouTube video by UK COP Pavilion

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

New game design 🎲✂️ just gone on Kickstarter! This is my super quick no-frills Christmas KS. I have a puzzle treasure hunt kit for kids, and a story-based cold case puzzle for teenagers/adults. The puzzle hunt can also come as PDFs only! Delivered in the UK by 1 December. Yes, really.

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S-Curve Economics @scurveeconomics.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

The energy transition can seem like a daunting challenge: how can we transform the polluting machines in so many parts of our economy in such short order? Today we’re launching our report "First build, then break: a policy framework for accelerating zero-carbon transitions".

Cover of our report: First build, then break.

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 12/10/2025

Unsurprisingly, it was an interesting experience. A week later and I’m not sure my eardrums have fully recovered. (Another reason why I am not a teacher.)

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 12/10/2025

This is my “I have 10 minutes and some paper” prototype. 🎲✂️

Some very rough green and blue bits of paper with crosses and wiggles on them. One says “most iced”.

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Today I’ve been mainly writing a front page for a fictional local newspaper. This is part of my escape room style puzzle!

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Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · 10/10/2025

“Winning is getting to a point where Daybreak feels possible” We were honoured to have Matteo Menapace as our special guest at Playfest London this year, giving a talk on co-designing Daybreak and answering questions on his experiences. 1/3 #BoardGameDesign 🎲✂️ #BoardGames #BoardGameSky

A photo of Matteo Menapace speaking into a microphone at Playfest London. A copy of his board game Daybreak is on a table beside him.

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S-Curve Economics @scurveeconomics.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

We're here on BlueSky to bring you a clearer view of the #cleanenergy transition. Follow us for analysis that informs action on that low-carbon transition, using economic concepts and tools consistent with the context of rapid innovation and deep structural change. #climatechange

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Chris - Unfringed @unfringedthings.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

🦚 It's live!! 🦚 Grab both a copy of Fetching Feathers & D.O.T for only £25 (save £4) and the option to pick up for free from UKGE26! www.kickstarter.com/projects/unf...

kickstarter.com

Fetching Feathers & D.O.T

Attract fancy flocks to your seasonal sanctuaries in Fetching Feathers & Duel with a Difference in D.O.T.

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

This week in 🎲✂️ I’ve been making a very large board. Tomorrow I’ll be using this board with 60 children. It’s going to be an interesting experience…

A white bed sheet (flat, not fitted) with different colour squares hand painted. Very messy and rough.

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Puzzle adventure game (for ages 9-12) is in the final stages of design. Big playtest on Sunday. Actually, this will be the first playtest of all the pieces together.

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

New game thoughts! Rising like the tide.

A road going into a pebble beach at high tide. Steel fence.

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Chris - Unfringed @unfringedthings.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Our good friends from @dissentgames.bsky.social have launched and already funded the excellent Loose in the Library on Kickstarter! Literary terrors in a cursed library, what's not to love! www.kickstarter.com/projects/dis...

kickstarter.com

Loose In The Library

Build a team of inspirational women from history and fiction to capture literary terrors in a cursed library.

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Wooohooo, we’re at 100 backers on the Loose In The Library Kickstarter!

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Andrew Brassleay @brass2000.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

This week's newsletter: Loose in the Library We spoke with co-creator Jessica Metheringham of @dissentgames.bsky.social on pitting historically significant women against literary terrors, and dissenting through playing tabletop games. thegenerationsgames.substack.com/p/loose-in-t...

thegenerationsgames.substack.com

Loose in the Library: The card game pitting robots from Mars against Ada Lovelace

Co-creator Jessica Metheringham on pitting historically significant women against literary terrors, and dissenting through playing tabletop games

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Tabletop Games Blog - board game reviews and discussions @tabletopgamesblog.com · 17/09/2025

Yay! Well deserved! Check out my review and then head over to the crowdfunding campaign to get yourself a copy, if you think this game. 😀👍 tabletopgamesblog.com/2025/09/06/l...

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

It’s on Kickstarter! Loose In The Library is finally live! Please do go check it out. We only need four more games backed to fund… www.kickstarter.com/projects/dis...

Advert showing a girl playing Loose In The Library, a card game. Text says: 4 ways to play, 10-30 minutes, 1-5 players, age 8+.

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

This photo is called: Where Is The Cumin? It’s brought to you by gram masala. But not by cumin.

A box of many, many, many spices in mixed up bags and unlabelled jars. A complete mess.

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

Bad move to be in Lidl just when the downpour started. Now I’m stuck.

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

I have so many fingers in so many pies that it feels like I’m wearing gravy-filled gloves. Anyone else?

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

I’m looking for the best absurdist, tragic, weird stuff at Edinburgh Fringe. What would have starred Tim Roth (back in the day)? Where’s the new Berkoff or Brecht? Any Fringe recommendations?

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

I’m watching Star Wars with my kids. It’s their first time. I expected it to be magical. I did not expect child no.1 to ask questions incessantly.

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

I don’t like crossover games. I’ve just realised this. I like resource-heavy euros, and I like party games, and I like abstract classics, and I like bidding games… but actually I don’t really want something to span more than two genres. I think I like to know what I’m getting. 🎲✂️

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

Scoring my playtest yesterday — we just tucked our player cards under the contracts we’d won, and then added them up at the end. Worked beautifully.

Cards with a stripe of colour at the top tucked underneath other cards which say things like “most iced biscuits: £1.50”

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

Clarity! If you’re testing a new prototype you want to know if people like it. What works? What’s fun? You definitely don’t want players getting confused over your icons. The key message is simple: maximum clarity in prototypes means maximum testing of the actual gameplay. 🎲✂️

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Tabletop Games Blog - board game reviews and discussions @tabletopgamesblog.com · 28/07/2025

Yay! I received my prototype copy of Loose in the Library from @dissentgames.bsky.social today. I previously reviewed Library Labyrinth and this game is in the same "universe", but a very different game. Can't wait to review this in due course. 😃👍 #boardgames #prototypes

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Today in game design 🎲✂️ Rule books. Very small rule books. I don’t mind writing rules. I do mind creating four A6 booklets. Argh, just put me out of my misery. Why did I create the game like this? Why?

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

Today we have mainly been making badges…

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

These photos are called “Jess has done lots of experimenting for the solo mode, but still not come up with answers, and so she definitely needs more tea”.

Cards haphazardly on a table. Plus a cup of tea.

Cards on a grid, too zoomed out to see any text.

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

General reminder for political people in the UK (particularly England and Wales): we don’t know how many seats any political party would get under a PR system, because polling data only asks about a single vote. Under STV, how many people would put Green first and Reform second, or vice versa?

Text says: we have very little idea how many seats each political party would get under a proportional system such as STV, because polling data doesn’t ask people who would get their second vote.

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UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

The House of Lords is now debating the amendment from Lord (Terry) Burns, which would cap the size of the Lords at 650 members and thereby limit prime ministerial appointments. Read the amendment 👉 bills.parliament.uk/bills/3755/s.... And use our thread to get up to speed 👇

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

Forbidden Jungle: a metaphor for headlice. They spread, they lay eggs, they hatch, just when you think you’ve got rid of them they pop up again…

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Let me tell you about some of my current board game projects/experiments, and how they’re turning out… 🎲✂️

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

Today I’m going to visit a primary school to discuss creating a game with Year 5. (That’s children who are 9 or 10.) I did a similar project with Busy Buses, but this year it’s a two form entry… yep, that’s right, 60 children! Bring on the creative chaos! 🎲✂️

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

Ok, people in the USA — I missed something last week (or the week before) and now I’m confused. What’s the taco thing? No Kings I get, and I’m very much approving, and I see photos of protests and they look great! But somehow I missed how the reference to tacos came about.

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

My youngest is 7 tomorrow. Here’s the board game birthday card I’ve made for him. 🎲✂️ (If I’d started earlier, it could have been more than a rough draft. Might have time this afternoon to make it prettier before I print it.)

What looks like an A4 piece of paper with a game of “finger twister”. Played similar to Twister, but only fingers. Players need two dice, and roll on one for all four fingers, plus any finger, plus take fingers off, and on the other dice for red, blue, yellow, green, spots with hearts, spots with stars.

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

I’m designing a birthday card for my (soon to be 7) son. It’s his birthday tomorrow. Yes, this is as organised as I get these days.

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Jess at Dissent Games @dissentgames.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

Ok people, new game design time. The theme is BISCUITS. (By which I mean British biscuits.) Simple mechanics. Needs to be playable by 8-year-olds. Can be anywhere from 54 to 120 cards, but cards only. What games should I be looking at for inspiration? 🎲✂️

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