iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Here's the second half of my articles on the RECON Game! This one talks about adaptive design—how to create and plan for an event of this scale, and why flexibility is essential.

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I wrote a pair of article for Room Escape Artist about creating large convention games, focusing on this year's RECON game. Please check it out, and then again next week for part 2! roomescapeartist.com/2026/10/04/r...

roomescapeartist.com

The RECON 26 Game: A Walkthrough - Room Escape Artist

This article walks through the goals of the large format ARG style game in RECON 26, plus its puzzles and interactions.

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Another episode of PG's Playhouse I was on! This was so fun to record - give it a listen!

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

" Things that were unremarkable are suddenly given attention."... Are David and Peih-Gee trying to tell me something..... 🤣 In all seriousness, this episode was so fun to record! Thanks for having me on again!!!

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I finished a puzzle game jam! Scoo Scoo! is a set of 48 puzzles, no instructions, focused around programming. I have ideas for more content and commands, but this was what I was able to accomplish during the jam. I'd love for you to take a look! mrklrsn.itch.io/scoo-scoo

mrklrsn.itch.io

Scoo Scoo! by mrklrsn

A rule-discovery and programming puzzle book.

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

CONGRATS!!! This is awesome!! So excited to see what you make with them!!

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Just saw credits on #BigWalk. What a phenomenal masterpiece. If you haven't played it yet, find 1-7 friends who you just want to vibe and hang out with for 10-20 hours playing a video game. One of the most beautiful, unique, and down-right fun games I've played ever. A masterclass of design.

My 6 friends playing Big Walk, one AFK in a golden head, and the other 5 forming a stack of people looking out into the horizon.

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

The current mnemonic of HOMES to remember all 5 great lakes (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior) can now be SHAME if we change Ontario to America. So fitting! (/shakes head)

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Sending you hugs, my friend. ❤️

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

This... is wild. Please tell me the result!!!

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

So, a crazy thing happened a while ago. I consulted for this fun little show called Game Changer...

A screen shot of closing credits of Game Changer. This is the first episode in the most recent season, Season 8. In the credits, my name listed under contributing writers.

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Reposted by Mark Larson

The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 21/02/2026

"Minnesota, especially the Twin Cities, has been—and still is—under a paramilitary occupation in which the federal government is at war with the population. 'War' is the operative word here." @jvl.bsky.social on what he saw in Minneapolis: lnk.thebulwark.com/46kVMuT

lnk.thebulwark.com

Special Saturday Triad: What I Saw at the Battle of Minneapolis

The national media has moved on. Minnesota is still under siege.

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Thank you to everyone who has reached out to check in on me these past few weeks. Seeing the outpouring of support across this country and around the world means so much to all of us in Minneapolis. I'm so immensely proud of my city. Abolish ICE. Prosecute ICE. Get rid of this fascist trash.

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

I got the best response in my meeting today. We were discussing different input methods for a immersive game I'm developing, and one of the clients asked, "Can we get one of those pull things on a pinball table and use that?" Mind blown. Never would have thought of that. Brilliance.

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Reposted by Mark Larson

Fight in a Box @fightinabox.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

Here's what moving forward looks like for our Minneapolis based tabletop games company. #gamepublisher #lgbtq #tabletopgames #minneapolis #protest #bipoc

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Reposted by Mark Larson

max nesterak @maxnesterak.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

It’s -9 degrees. Downtown Minneapolis is packed for the anti-ICE rally and the crowd keeps growing

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

I love having meetings with clients from across the country during the winter. I get to hear how cold it is for them. "It is supposed to get down to 40 tonight! And we might get an inch of snow!" Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, I'm just giggling cause that'd be shorts weather!

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Shh. Don't tell anyone I'm using Tinkercad in a weird way, with entirely the wrong units.

A mock-up of a room layout, with toothpaste green counters, in Tinkercad.

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

To my fellow art makers - what you do is more important that ever. Show the beauty that we see around us. Create things that allow others to disconnect or find comfort in frivolity or entertainment. Your work is *vital* right now, as it always is. Be the weird, creative, joyous reflections you are.❤️

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

I had some conversations in the past week of people feeling guilty that they can't do more to help. But, make sure you take time for yourself. Unplug from the news - you need it. Not giving in is a form of protest. Being a pillar of support for your friends and neighbors is so important right now.

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

The MIT Mystery Hunt this weekend was outstanding - a perfect hunt for a small remote team like Luigi's Death Stare! And, it was a wonderful distraction from the events happening in my city. To my fellow neighbors - take time to recharge and please take care of yourself. It's so important.

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

It’s MIT Mystery Hunt weekend! So far, we’re loving the hunt!!

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

Thank you to all my friends from across the country and around the world who have checked in on me in the past few days. It means a lot.

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

I love Minneapolis. I love this city. I love this community. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. And, I'm so proud of how our community comes together in times of crisis. It gives me hope. I'm angry, and I'm tried of our lovely city again being the focus of national political theater.

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

Despite sleeping horribly, a brainstorm meeting with creative people first thing in the morning is magical.

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Starting to write rules for a game, no mater how large or small the game, is the worst. It's a hurdle I have to force myself to get over every time.

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

What's happening in Minneapolis is horrifying right now. I love my community. I love my neighbors. And I'm tired of our city being the target of national political games. I'm going to keep making fun things. They recharge our batteries. They give us a moment to recover.

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

There's something fun about dreaming up a concept for a game, and then testing the first version and seeing both how spectacularly bad it is and how much potential it has. Prototype fast and try things!

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

While battery life on devices can be frustrating, it also serves as a great reminder for me to take a break! Can't work on my iPad when it runs out of power, so I guess I'll stretch and stare out the window for a while...

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

We’re starting day 2 of King’s Dilemma and one of our players got everyone the perfect accessory.

The cover of the game The King’s Dilemma.

On top of King’s Dilemma, a Burger King cardboard crown.

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

Those of us that enjoy multiplayer solitaire are just a quiet bunch! Give me more parallel play games with my friends!! Wear that “multiplayer solitaire” badge with honor, games!

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

It’s almost like splitting up my writing sessions with other tasks helps me keep up my rhythm and not get overwhelmed with how much writing is left… Will I learn this lesson and apply it to my life? Tune in next time…

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

It's a 4-meeting day, so I put a couple of personal tasks on my list and decided to take a day off from writing. Ended up writing 3k words in between meetings and other tasks. The solo RPG is coming along nicely!

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

I'm writing a solo journaling RPG and I have the last 10% of the rules to write. It's amazing how much other work I can get done to justify putting off tackling this last bit! Extraneous graphic design, editing and reworking other parts, brainstorming...

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Playing Cubemelt - such a delightful push-your-luck roller. Simple, cute, lots of yelling at dice. Basically perfect!

Cubemelt - a game about finding adventure and love as an ice cube… before you melt.

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

THIS IS A GAME!?! ITS SO SILLY!! Game: Yubibo. We were terrible at it. So much fun. So silly. Do recommend. Thanks @proptartmn.bsky.social for bringing it!!

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

Basically. Each one is still themed to a country.

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Started my semi-annual board game retreat last night and we’ve already played Money! twice. I love this game!

The box of the game Money!, published by AllPlay , designed by Reiner Knizia.

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

A pair of sixes is known as box cars, and I think I assumed that they were little train cars, wheels on the bottom and roof on the top. I have seen the error of my ways - I shall repent and forever more denote my pipped sixes using a pair of vertical columns!

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

To all who were wondering, I drew the horizontal dots on a prototype I'm working on, not even considering there was a world where vertical was correct. I'm now seeing that vertical is the standard almost everywhere. I shall learn to adapt and change my ways, I promise!

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

A reminder to check out the Ministry of Lost Things Kickstarter, if you haven't yet! I'm really delighted with how this one turned out - it's a tabletop puzzletale suitable for all skill levels. I promise you'll love it! www.kickstarter.com/projects/pos...

kickstarter.com

Ministry of Lost Things - Case 2: Finders Keypers

Embark on a whimsical tabletop adventure full of beautifully illustrated tactile puzzles.

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

And here I was, thinking I had the wildest take on this one. 😂 I hadn't seen the multicolored dice for Roll Player - those look awesome!

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

Hot debate topic from a design jam last night: Which way do the dots on the 6 go on a standard d6? Vertically or horizontally? I didn't realize that I had such a strong opinion on this, and that my opinion was so abhorrent to others! 😄

Two six-sided dice showing the six face. The left die has the dots arranged in two vertical columns, while the right die has the dots arranged in two horizontal rows.

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Mark Larson @mrklrsn.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

I make fun things, not because I think it's unimportant to reflect on the world, but rather to give distance to those horrors so it's easier to reflect and act. Despair is all around us, wanting to draw us in. Please fight against it by having some fun today. (3/3)

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