iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 03/10/2026

I don't feel like I have enough time to engage with my hobbies, so I'm starting a new one!

The start of a cross stitch with a red thread looped through white fabric

Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 02/10/2026

I am obsessed with the froggies and fwooogs in POND. This game just has so much style, it's hard not to fall in love #boardgames

Pond game with 3 cowboy frogs holding the centre pond

POND frogs with a Wizard frog and epic wizard frog. The difference is a gun strapped to the wizards staff

Biblically accurate frog with 6 wings covered with dozens of eyes

POND game with the pumpkin frogs going head to head with the cowboy frogs

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Reposted by Alex McKenzie

Molotov Cockatiel Games (Bill) @molotovcockatiel.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

If you ever feel bad about yourself, just remember there are grown men that throw tantrums online because the little plastic figures in their board games aren't the "same skin color" as the ambiguously-described fictional characters they represent.

static.klipy.com

The Simpsons: Principal Skinner - Pathetic

ALT: The Simpsons: Principal Skinner - Pathetic

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 30/09/2026

A great read on a subject that's been bouncing around in my head since I played Marrakesh last week. I don't collect games, I don't chase completeness, or care about pristine condition. Games are meant to be played, and the scars they bear represent memories. #boardgames

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 30/09/2026

I've played Final Fantasy XII twice before, both times I ended up dropping it after about 20 hours, and I'm at that point again The narrative is so politics driven. So many moving shadows and bold proclamations of empire, its such a departure from the more character driven stories that preceded it.

Balthier and Fran from Final Fantasy XII

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 29/09/2026

My wife and I both agreed that the short play made us more inclined to play the main game out again soon. I will say I am much more likely to bring Wingspan Pocket when travelling or camping though. It gives the same vibes but is much better suited to travel.

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 29/09/2026

I liked Wingspan Pocket in a vacuum. It was super quick to get started, and I felt like I built an engine REAL fast. But inevitably I'm going to compare it to proper Wingspan, and compared to the full meal, this version feels just a bit anemic. #boardgames

Wingspan Pocket row of bird cards on a wooden table

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 27/09/2026

Played Marrakesh last night. I feel like it's been a while since I learned and played a economic euro, especially one by Feld. Man it scratched an itch that I didn't know needed scratching. Just the decisions of which actions to do, together with the resource management, I really enjoyed it.

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 26/09/2026

The second game we played we flipped the board over to the pool map with the 2HQs, and I won really quickly by having a 2 and a 7 and just jumping on the hq. The middle path was real short on that map!

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 26/09/2026

Got to play toy battle the other day! Simple rules but plenty to consider. I really enjoyed it! #boardgames

Toy battle game with the red cardboard pieces

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 23/09/2026

My new job took me to an office half a block away from the local board game cafe, and suddenly I was walking out with Wingspan Pocket! #boardgames

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 22/09/2026

I introduced The Mind by @pandasaurusgames.com to my extended family a year ago, and every time we go to visit now, they always ask "didja bring The Mind!?" It may not be the new hotness, but quality doesn't fade. #boardgames

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 19/09/2026

My favourite part of a ferry ride is the majestic views

Ocean and island views obscured by the fog djj

Ocean and island views obscured by the fog

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 19/09/2026

Apparently I stress out my 5 year old.

A letter from my 5 year old that says it is okay dad I still love you you just stressed me out

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 18/09/2026

Thinking about onimushas Mega Man Pedigree, I can see how that gameplay loop would lead into souls-like combat. Mega man is all about memorizing the bosses attack patterns and dodging. I can see how parrying is the next logical step

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 17/09/2026

My ticket notes were teeming with records of the clients deception

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 17/09/2026

AND IT WAS A WORD DOCUMENT! EXCEL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 17/09/2026

Why do IT people have trust issues? Today I got sent a ticket that said "I can't open excel documents" and the actual problem was that they couldn't open a single specific file 🙄

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 12/09/2026

Played Keyflower with The Farmers expansion. I overcommited on sheep and came in second. 🎉 #boardgames

yellow red and blue meeples inside a cardboard house

Keyflower tiles with pink pigs and white sheep dotting the farmlands

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 07/09/2026

Close out the night with sky team. Glad to have finally played it

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 07/09/2026

I had such plans for my monorail system, but alas. It was not meant to be.

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 07/09/2026

The fellowship of the rings the trick taking game!

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 07/09/2026

Board games on the patio to close out the summer #boardgames

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 04/09/2026

Hmmm, do I play Final Fantasy XII next, or Dissidia? Decisions, decisions...

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 04/09/2026

I adore the pure, unbridled fury of this cute li'l froggie Thanks @brotherminggames.bsky.social for sending a copy of Pond! Looking forward to it! #boardgames

Pond game cover with lots of cute green frogs. The frog in the centre is holding up a sword and shouting

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 04/09/2026

Finished Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles today. The in game timer says it only took 12 hours. It was probably closer to 25 hours with all the resetting due to dying I did. 🎮

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles final boss in a white ethereal plane

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles character walking against a starry night sky

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles The End screen

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 04/09/2026

Man, no one told me Ubuntu was @eizebasa.baby flavoured.

Picture of a Microsoft surface tablet with Ubuntu installed, showing a icon of a raccoon

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 03/09/2026

Interesting that ff7 remake is a "on rails" experience. I've mostly heard the 2nd entry is too wide open with too many distracting side quests. Sounds like they overcorrected!

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 03/09/2026

It feels so sketchy locking up next to a graveyard of bike locks.

6 black u locks hang abandoned on a blue bike rack.

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 03/09/2026

Won #Concordia on 2026-09-02 with 3 players, winning score: 123 #bgstats #boardgames

Concordia board with yellow, black, and red houses littering the map

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 02/09/2026

It's really strange seeing Dwights angry face juxtaposing such a positive message.

Meme of Dwight from the office with text saying "you did a good job." and "false. You did an awesome job"

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 29/08/2026

PR will do you just fine, Esp with the hacks if you happen to find it being a slog. I prefer the GBA or SNES versions, I find the PR and PSP versions look a little too smooth and it grates on my nostalgia googles, but that's definitely personal preference. I like pixels, what can I say?

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 29/08/2026

I hope you like it. FF4 was a childhood favourite of mine on the SNES.

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 29/08/2026

It's a great game from 2007 by Michael Kiesling. Very puzzly and dynamic.

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 28/08/2026

Couldn't summon the willpower to learn a new game, so broke out Vikings, an old favourite! #boardgames

Vikings board game player area, a series of islands with meeples standing on them

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 23/08/2026

It's remarkable, I also did not particularly enjoy Dungeon Crawler Carl, and yet, I'm still reading the series. It's that addicting entertainment that feels like empty calories. Never feel satisfied, yet keep going back for more.

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 23/08/2026

I wonder how big the Venn diagram is of 1. Butterfly aficionados, 2. Stamp collectors, and 3. Puzzle people.

Puzzle box with a collage picture of stamps featuring butterflies

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 22/08/2026

Hey look, after 40 GAMES I finally achieved a victory in Through the Ages: A new Story of Civilization! Turns out those culture points I've been neglecting were actually important. Who knew? #boardgames

BGA achievement notification indicating that I won in Through the Ages: A new Story of Civilization for the first time.

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 16/08/2026

I miscounted the posts I had scheduled before I went on vacation and ruined my posting streak. :( Oh well, time to get back on the horse! Today blog post is covering For the King and Me, a colourful reimplementation of Biblios! meepleandthemoose.com/2026/08/15/f...

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 13/08/2026

Working in the provincial government offices is giving me severe 🎉 imposter syndrome 🎉

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 10/08/2026

First day of a new job. Haven't had to be in person since late 2024, and I've only just realized my old work shirts don't fit anymore 🤦

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 08/08/2026

The smoke covered sky and red sun against a rusted clown in Golden gives some silent hill vibes

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 07/08/2026

I really enjoyed Evolution, but never played Oceans or Nature. Enjoyed this discussion! I do kind of like the idea of modules so you can craft the experience your group will prefer, but part of me would always wonder what the "best version" of the game would be.

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 07/08/2026

Sorry to hear that, Daniel. Glad you get a little but of time to spoil Ted. Sending love 💙

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 07/08/2026

Conversation with my 5 year old "guess what, dad?" "what's up, kiddo?" "sometimes um, sometimes um, sometimes I um, sometimes um sometimes I um sometimes I get hungry" "are you hungry now?" "no. I just wanted to let you know"

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 06/08/2026

I've played enough Photosynthesis to know that this tree isn't going to catch much sunlight. #boardgames

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Alex McKenzie @meepleandthemoose.com · 06/08/2026

Mountain Goats, Poetry for Neanderthals, and Dropolter got played in my last game night in Saskatoon. I'm very excited to go home and reconnect with my usual game group! #boardgames

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