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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged

@fanfactories.bsky.social
695 followers 514 following 754 posts

Seattle board game designer/dev. Posts about game design, playtesting, art, and crowdfunding. Credits: Fantastic Factories, Honeypot, & Frenzy Falls. Flatout Games CoLab dev for Knitting Circle, Cascadia: Alpine Lakes & more. www.josephzchen.me

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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Flatout Games @flatoutgames.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
We're beyond excited for Cascadia: Alpine Lakes to hit retail shelves. Making a follow-up to such a beloved game is always tough, but we are really proud of our entire team for crafting what we think is a worthy sequel to Cascadia! Have you played yet? We'd love to hear what you think of it!
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 21/09/2026
Only two days left to back Out of Sorts! www.kickstarter.com/projects/alw...
kickstarter.com
Out of Sorts - Second Edition
Work together to sort the strange books in an alien's library
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Another amazing game from Flatout! While I didn't do development on this one, I did playtest it a few times and the spatial drafting and crunchiness is quite unique. Check it out if you like puzzly games!
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
I finally did it. In the first time in my life I used the last check in my checkbook.
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 08/09/2026
And we've funded!!! Thank you so much to everyone who's backed and supported me along the way! Now I think I'll take a little rest
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 08/09/2026
Out of Sorts is live on Kickstarter! www.kickstarter.com/projects/alw...
kickstarter.com
Out of Sorts - Second Edition
Work together to sort the strange books in an alien's library
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 07/09/2026
Also, tomorrow Out of Sorts is launching on Kickstarter!! It’s been a lot of fun watching all the demos this weekend and I cant wait to share it with you all. So here’s one last plug to give it a follow and hopefully I’ll see you there tomorrow! www.kickstarter.com/projects/alw...
kickstarter.com
Coming soon: Out of Sorts - Second Edition
Work together to sort the strange books in an alien's library
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Quick selfie with the Always Awake booth crew plus Gary! Be sure to check out all the cool games Connor has. I recommend them all! @connor.alwaysawake.games
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Hollis makes games @hollis.computer · 06/09/2026
DAGnabbit! at the PNW Tabletop Game Market: postmortem time! I sold 28 copies of the game, just under 60% of what I brought to the market. That’s 28 people who were as excited to play my weird little math game as I was to make it!
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
The PNW Tabletop Game Market at PAX West last night was crazy! The line to get in was so long but it seemed to be moving quickly. Thank you to everyone who showed up and checked out the games!
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
PAX @officialpax.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
One Unplugged just isn’t enough. We’re launching a second PAX Unplugged in Houston: June 25-27, 2027! See y’all in Texas next summer 🤠🧡
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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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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 04/09/2026
If you’re at PaxWest come swing by booth 4504 at Summit Level 2! (I’m tucked away in the back but just look for all the teal)
A selfie of me in front of my teal Always Awake Games booth background so TJ a matching teal shirt on
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Here's what I'll be selling w/ my son this Saturday night at the PNW Tabletop Game Market at PAX West. Brick Brick Go, a brick building party game of creative prompts. Beyond Klask, six unofficial new days to play Klask!
Top down view of a bunch of cards and legos around a drawstring bag that says "Brick Brick Go".Five booklets that say Beyond Klask.
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
A very color focused builder made these abstract art pieces in Brick Brick Go.
Two Lego creations next to two cards describing what to build.
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Brick Brick Go is now brick brick DONE and ready for the market! Only 28 copies will be available at the PNW Tabletop Game Market this Saturday.
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Some late night cutting, stapling, and folding to prepare these booklets for the PNW Tabletop Game Market. Niche product but my son designed these alternate games for Klask and wanted to make a booklet for the market this year!
Stack of 10 unfolded but stapled booklets on top of a paper cutter next to a long stapler.
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Having just the right pieces for Brick Brick Go is integral for the experience so I went and got enough to make 30 identical sets for each copy that I'm selling at the PNW Tabletop Game Market! Sorting them out took all afternoon.
Close up of many piles of legos on top of drawstring bags.29 drawstring bags laid out on the floor with identical piles of legos on each bag. A kid is leaning over and placing legos into each pile.
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
BTS! Ironing on the Brick Brick Go logo onto the drawstring bags. Rinse and repeat 30x. Labor of love for the PNW Tabletop Game Market at PAX West next week!
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 29/08/2026
Just finished recording the Out of Sorts playthrough. Big thanks to Blue Highway Games for letting me record there. If you’re in Seattle, check them out, they’re the best!
Three people sitting at a table in a game store playing out of sorts while a camera on a tripod records.
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Step complete! Ironed on all the logos for Brick Brick Go, the brick building party game I'm going to be selling at the PNW Tabletop Game Market at PAX West!
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 24/08/2026
The Filigree & Follies playing cards are finally here! I’ve also been working on a little zine of games to go with them and those just arrived too! There’s a discount if you get both, so check them out! www.alwaysawake.games/product/fili...
A custom deck of playing cards box in the middle of a grid of cards from the deck. The cards are all decorated with swirling patterns. A zine standing upright titled The Hand You’re Dealt. The design in the cover matches the deck of playing cards.
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
This is probably the greatest feeling a creator can have!
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
My 9yo son, his friend, and I came up with 6 new ways to play Klask and are selling an unofficial booklet at the PNW Tabletop Game Market at PAX West. We call this game mode, Pinball Battle!
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Proud to be taking part of the PNW Tabletop Game Market again this year. Bringing 2 games but today I'll talk about "Beyond Klask", which is an idea my son wanted to do. It's a booklet of 6 new ways to play Klask! Ranging from Capture the Flag to Battleship to Pinball Battle! More details later.
Kid's drawing of two people playing Klask.
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Good Time Hat @goodtimehat.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Due to unfortunate timing, I was out of town when Overgrown arrived at the warehouse last week. I finally got to open a case for myself today, and it’s overwhelming to finally see the end result of this long journey. Now help me get rid of them! Get a copy at goodtimehat.com/overgrown#Bu...
The side of a case of Overgrown copies. The Good Time Hat logo is printed above text reading "Overgrown Deluxe EN 1st, SKU: GTHOG0202, GROSS WEIGHT: 7.6kg, SIZE: 42.4x36x22.7cm" The bottom of the box is wrapped by the Panda Game Manufacturing logo.The top view of an open case of Overgrown copies. 10 copies of the game are arranged into 2 rows.
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
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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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
BoardGame Animal 🐕 @boardgameanimal.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
A long time coming, reshoots, & many other challenges later…it’s here! Revisiting the 2025 IGNM games… Here’s to 2026 🍻 youtu.be/9D2_2vfzN2w?... Ft games from @nickferris.bsky.social @fanfactories.bsky.social @cardboardedison.com @drawnonward.bsky.social & more~
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 17/08/2026
PaxWest is gonna be here in a few weeks and I’ll have my first booth! It’s tucked away in the back corner and the text is too small, but it’s there! Come say hi at booth 4504!
A map of pax west summit level 2 zoomed in on the back corner with the always awake games booth highlighted.
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 10/08/2026
“It just felt like magic” “One of the games I played of this was probably my top 10 board game experiences of all time” @kovray.bsky.social I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Always love hearing people’s stories. youtu.be/Vc3-9x6vBNs?... Follow on KS: www.kickstarter.com/projects/alw...
youtu.be
Our Top 10 Games of Gen Con 2026 | Highlights, Haul & More!
YouTube video by kovray
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Great Honeypot review from Rolling with the Beard. He captures the essence of the gameplay perfectly! youtu.be/Az0wTXFsLr4?...
youtu.be
Don't Get Stung! Honeypot Board Game Review
YouTube video by Rolling with the Beard
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
What was my highlight of Gen Con? 700 people playing my game, Honeypot, at the same time at AEG's Big Game Night!
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
This is what 700 playing the game you designed looks like! So many people playing Honeypot. What a crazy moment for me at AEG's Big Game Night at Gen Con!
Big room of tables filled with people playing board games.
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Daniel Wynter @boardgamefeast.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
If I go to @raincity.games and squint hard enough I can pretend I'm at Gen Con 🥹 @flatoutgames.bsky.social @fanfactories.bsky.social
Board games Forage and Honeypot
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
I'll be at th AEG booth at 3pm today (Friday) signing copies of Honeypot if you want to stop by and say hi at Gen Con!
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Going to Gen Con for the first time this year. I hear it's crazy big & busy so I made a shortlist of games to check out. In no particular order: - Sky 5 - Dino Racer - Lairs - Jibber Jabble - Shelfy
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Sen-Foong Lim @senfoonglim.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
✂️🎲 Big shout out to all the content creators and publishers in the hobby gaming space that attribute the designers and artists who worked on the games we love to play. I, for one, appreciate it.
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Randy Flynn 🔜 PAX Unplugged @rf-seattle.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Honeypot is unique, and fun, & quick to play! I highly recommend checking it out if at Gen Con next week. I loved working on this game with Joseph, @boardgameghee.bsky.social, & the @flatoutgames.bsky.social CoLab! Art & design from @kwanchai.bsky.social & @brigetteidesign.bsky.social is awesome!
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
I do have one house rule that I play with that didn't make it into the rulebook. When you pass your folder to the next player, you can also deliver an accompanying cryptic message. For example, "the sweetest honey is at the bottom". It's a fun way to mess with people's minds.
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
My game, Honeypot, is debuting at Gen Con next week! Come check it out! I'll be working at the Flatout Games booth (#403) 4 hours each day. Honeypot will also be one of the featured games at the AEG Big Game Night where 700+ people will get a chance to play it for the first time!
Honeypot game cover featuring a collage of bears holding honey and doing secret agent stuff.
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 15/07/2026
Excited to announce the games for the PNW Tabletop Game Market at PaxWest! There’s a lot of really exciting stuff this year. The market opens at 7pm on 9/5. Hope to see you there! www.alwaysawake.games/pnw-tabletop...
The logo for this years PNW Tabletop Game Market. A evergreen forest at night with my ranier behind it and a pawn and dice peeking out from the trees.
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 09/07/2026
Almost at 100 followers! I’ve been working to get more details on the preview page and there’s an updated rulebook too, so check it out! www.kickstarter.com/projects/alw...
The Kickstarter preview page for Out of Sorts 2e showing 97 people following the campaignA section of the preview page explaining how the game works. There’s a mess of cards at the top with a caption “so take this mess of books..”. Then an ordered line of cards with a caption “…and come up with a way to sort them!”  Finally a confused person with the caption “just make sure you can remember how to find them”
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Daniel Newman // New Mill Industries @dnlnwmn.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
You've got one month left to submit your application to be a vendor at the Indie Games Night Market! Submissions close on August 1! Get to it! www.newmillindustries.com/ignm-app
newmillindustries.com
IGNM App — New Mill Industries
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Randy Flynn 🔜 PAX Unplugged @rf-seattle.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Hey now! I'm doing an interview with some truly awesome people on Sunday. Tune in on YouTube.
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Ted Mann Schaller @tedmannschaller.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Only 48 hours left to back Counterpoint and help make this game a reality! Come explore this whimsical world of classical chamber music and trick-taking! 💛🎻🎶 Link in bio! #boardgames #cardgames #chambermusic 🎲✂️
A glam shot of the Counterpoint box and the text: “Only 48 hours left! Kickstarter”
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Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 20/06/2026
December feels like so long ago…but now I’ve got the final approval copy from the factory! No matter how much it tried to kill my hand, I loved working on this project. Make sure to follow or sign up for my newsletter to get a copy when they go live! always-awake-games.kit.com/6e660f3e7a
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
My #bgstats for May! My youngest, Zoe (4yo), has taken an interest in board games so we've been playing more games like Hot Streak, Illusion, Cascadia Junior, Art Robbery, and Durian!
BG Stats 4 x 4.
Landmarks;
YUBIBO;
Art Robbery;
Durian;
Hot Streak;
Illusion;
Star Realms;
Cascadia Junior;
Club Spooky;
Dice Forge;
A Fake Artist Goes to New York;
High Society;
ito;
Just Wild;
OffShoots;
Spots.
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Ted Mann Schaller @tedmannschaller.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Do you love classical music?! Me too! 🎻 Do you love card games?! Me too! ♣️ Do you love cute animals?! Me too! 🐷 Wow! Look at everything we have in common! 💖 Counterpoint is live on Kickstarter right now. Go back it! www.kickstarter.com/projects/squ...
The game box for Counterpoint, surrounded by sheet music, a violin, and a copy of Johann Joseph Fux's The Study of Counterpoint
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Reposted by Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged
Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU @connor.alwaysawake.games · 29/05/2026
Should probably add, if you like this sort of silliness, you can follow the Kickstarter here! www.kickstarter.com/projects/alw...
kickstarter.com
Coming soon: Out of Sorts - 2nd Edition
Work together to sort the strange books in an alien's library before time runs out!
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Joseph Z Chen 🔜 PAX Unplugged @fanfactories.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Ted's KS is live now! This is a wonderful cooperative trick taker. I've played a couple times, and it's very well executed and the thematic ties are very apt.
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