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Zach Gage

@stfj.net
5.7K followers 85 following 482 posts

artist game maker co-created puzzmo

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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 08/09/2026
I was talking to Bennett about this who had the same pushback, but I do think there is a meaningful distinction --
Two things that I think will be different, but again, who knows, is 

1: I think a lot more people will make games for their friends that are really good that they all play together as a group in a similar way to how a lot of people start bands with their friends in school

2: I think the general quality of games is gonna go up substantially, and we will have A lot more truly great games. that don’t have the player counts that they deserve
[10:37 AM]But yeah, we will see. I think I wanted to put a stake in the ground here so that we could find out if I’m right in a couple years.
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 11/08/2026
Thank you ego but I already know my microwave-less life is a misery I don’t need it rubbed in at breakfast
Oven: preheat, bake
Microwave: place, heat, laugh, enjoy
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 03/08/2026
Um omg is this Jeeves???
Alibaba and ask Jeeves logos
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 01/08/2026
the main goal for me was making it so each project i work on doesnt span across several apps on my computer. i frequently have 3-6 projects open at any given time so if they're in terminal/safari/vscode/finder/tower etc, it's a mess. now they live in one window each that i can close and resume.
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 24/07/2026
it's not a straight clone. here's what i wrote in the discord about it. sorry that where i landed with it doesn't make feel unique enough though.
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 13/06/2026
did a 1.1 release that adds a adds magic wand + scrollwheel to select only objects under a certain size threshold (vtrace leaves a lot of extra little bits and pieces. Also added a slider for reducing the number of colors in the resultant svg (by combining similar colors)
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 12/06/2026
Today I built my dream bmp->vec tool. You can paste or drag in an image, it upscales it w/ upscayl, traces it w/ vtrace, and then you have an interface to remove bits, and even apply smoothing to reduce control points to individual shapes then copy or save out. mac app-> github.com/stfj/VectorC...
A screenshot of the interface showing sliders.
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 22/05/2026
Today we launched Ribbit — An Anagram game where you'll find every word — live to everyone! Letters are only linked if they're used in a word. As you find words, the grid prunes itself. By the end, there's just one word left. Then frogs sing to you. Play here: www.puzzmo.com/puzzle/2026-...
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 21/05/2026
I reverse-engineered the closed source firmware of my op-1 to add scale/type quantization (I know the quanted scale is starting at the wrong note on the keyboard I’ll fix that tomorrow). Literally cannot believe this was possible to do i am over the moon.
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 25/03/2026
In Knight Hike you're trying to eliminate all the numbers on a chess board — but — you can only step on numbers. It's harder then it looks, but also not too much. Nice for a quick brain break
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 25/03/2026
for the past few months Andy Hull and I have been revamping some of my older iOS games, starting with... Really Bad Chess! We shipped the first of several planned updates a few days ago on iOS. it includes bug fixes, prestige mode for ranked (with leaderboards) and a new daily puzzle: knight hike
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 03/03/2026
We shipped Bluesky support on @puzzmo.com! Not only can you use it to sync who you follow, but you can also get these cool little badges to figure out who else out here in the bsky-verse plays (you can see em on me and anyone else if you follow our labeler). connect up at puzzmo.com/bluesky
screenshot of my username with my profile badges under it
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 25/02/2026
im getting some pushback on my snowman
a picture of a really great looking snowman
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 01/01/2026
Happy New Year everyone! I hope this year gives you some moments of tranquility. New Years is my absolute favorite holiday, and to celebrate we launched a new word game to subscribers: Ribbit! Play here: www.puzzmo.com/play/ribbit
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 11/10/2025
still feeling like beast claw is the most underrated crest in the game
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 28/08/2025
This isn't even mentioning Circuits Royale ( royale.circuitsgame.com ), which so many members of Puzzmo contributed to (both design and building), especially Gary and Saman but also Andrew and more. I'm just so blown away by all the amazing work everyone put in to make Circuits a big launch.
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 28/08/2025
What I didn't realize at the time, was that Circuits was Jacob's *first game*. He designed it, learned how to program, built it, and then made over 400 days of puzzles, on his own. Not only that, but until we started working together, he had only ever played a handful of Circuits puzzles himself!
A photograph of Jacob Land
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 28/08/2025
This monday we launched Circuits, designed by Jacob Land, on Puzzmo ( www.puzzmo.com/play/circuits/ ). Circuits is an amazing game that was first shared with me by Josh Wardle. As soon as I played it I knew that Puzzmo would be perfect to help get the news out about this incredible game.
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 26/08/2025
proudest moment
screenshot of circuits Royale. the word is popular. I am scoring 18 points for 'soooo popular'.
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 25/08/2025
To celebrate the launch of Circuits on Puzzmo we designed and shipped massively multiplayer live Circuits game called Circuits Royale! Play now: royale.circuitsgame.com
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 25/08/2025
I was gonna post a thread of some of my favorites, but the configurations are too long for Bluesky, so here's a video of one of them
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 20/07/2025
big news day for uranus
news article from sciencealert: “confirmed: uranus really is hotter than it has any right to be”news article from futurism: “scientists say that uranus appears to have a girlfriend”
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 25/05/2025
this is the only time the use of smart quotes has been acceptable
picture of a dog with smart quote eyes from where is spot
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 22/05/2025
Well this is very exciting to see!
Puzzmo banner at the top of the games section in the Apple App Store
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 19/05/2025
The @puzzmo.com iPhone app is officially out! It has all the games and features you know and love plus so much more. Download it here: apps.apple.com/us/app/puzzm...
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 30/04/2025
Hah, Zynga just ripped off my game Typeshift (www.puzzmo.com/game/typeshift). Undoubtably their version will be way more addictive and manipulative. Totally legit to take inspiration, tho I do wish they hadn't ripped off the lock aesthetics. Typeshift is playable on Puzzmo if you want to try it!
Promotional card for Typeshift, Anagrams with a literal twist — showing the game board with a move in progress to spell the word Smart
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 04/04/2025
crossword con is live rn on twitch! twitch.tv/puzzmo
photo of our wonderful speakers at crossword con!
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 28/03/2025
p.s. we will have stickers
several stickers in a pile. some are shiny
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 25/03/2025
Then I realized hey actually there are some other annoying clipboard things. So the app also converts all smart quotes to dumb quotes and all rich text to plain text. you can grab the source or the binary here: github.com/stfj/TIFFtoPNG
A screenshot of the dropdown from my app
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 15/02/2025
amazing new deity just dropped at the deity statue store. anyone know who this winter hat wearing fellow is?
a few ceramic statues. jesus, death, a man in a green suit with money on a chain
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 03/01/2025
these little $1-for-an-imperceptible-improvement purchases are all the rage now that every one has reached “squeeze the customer”. it’s wild. waiting for a weather app where i can improve tomorrows temp range by 1 degree for a buck
delivery speed:
40-55 min or 45-60min
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 19/12/2024
i am unreasonably proud of my 3yo’s videogame skills so i’m posting them here. we worked hard figuring this all out (as you can see by our post-100% coin count)
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 18/12/2024
We did the wrapped thing for Puzzmo Year one! This is my #PuzzmoRapt for 2024. Get yours here: www.puzzmo.com/rapt
You're a 
Rainbow Chaser
We see you. You go for our most colorful games.
47 no core word solves - Typeshift
5 25-tile solves - Bongo
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 11/12/2024
Trying to get my homespun AI email sorting program to do a better job with differentiating actual support requests from other kinds of spam and it got a little too real.
AI Check email Subj: Fake entries
Classified as: Support request
*Double checking if it's really actually a support request*

My reasoning is that the tone and language used in this email are quite vague and don't convey any sense of urgency, frustration, or specific request. The sender simply states a problem they've encountered without providing much context about what exactly is happening or how it's affecting them.

Answer: no

Move to: -> HOLE
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 01/12/2024
mac lc lowendmac.com/wp-content/u...
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 28/11/2024
currently what me and my 3 year old are giving thanks for
starfox on a crt tv
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 24/11/2024
Finally got a bunch of my glaciers up and running at my house
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 21/11/2024
These might be the most honest stretch goals I've ever seen I am so stoked for this game. 868-hack is one of the all time greats and so is Michael www.backerkit.com/c/projects/m...
€20,000 - minimal budget.
€30,000 - comfortably finish the game and make it nice.
€56,000 - also pay tax and social security so I don’t get in debt.
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 20/11/2024
Play bongo here: puzzmo.com/play/bongo
Bongo. Five words. Infinite strategies.
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 20/11/2024
Bongo also gave me an opportunity to really act on one of my frustrations with Scrabble — all the dumb (smart?) words that top players memorize! Bongo's clever mechanic: a bonus for familiar words — so when you look at the best board of the day, you'll feel like you could have come up with it.
The top board from a Bongo a few days ago: SCALE, SHAHS, LEMON, UNFIT, RAISE, with a bonus word of CHEF
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 20/11/2024
When you play Bongo you can share it in progress, not just at the end. Here's what my Bongo thread with a friend looked like this morning:
A short text thread with a friend. I am saying the board is very hard today and then I post my score. My friend replies with their score. The scores are in beautiful little illustrations featuring the puzzmo characters and showing each of our best words and total board scores.
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 20/11/2024
Today we released Bongo — our newest @puzzmo.com game and our first outside collaboration — with Seth Godin, renowned author, entrepreneur, speaker, and writer. A lot of people send me games they're working on, but Seth's was special for one very specific reason:
A bongo board. 5 rows of words and one bonus word on an offset line that covers the grid.
QUICK
ASIDE
CLEAN
RESET
and MODE
are the words in the grid.
USES is on the bonus line
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 03/10/2024
Today Puzzmo, Jack, and I launched a new take on Sudoku. Memory + Sudoku + your weather forecast — 🌩️ Weather Memoku 🌩️ It's a meditative way to turn your daily weather check into a little moment for yourself. Play it here: www.puzzmo.com/+/weather/pu...
A grid with different icons on it. A juicebox, books, a banjo, a cloud, some ramen, and a bunch of questionmarks.
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 14/08/2024
i guess it’s pretty earth-shattering to discover ‘check’ for the first time
support email I recieved: 

Subj: asshole
Body:

deceptive developers, 

Tonight I downloaded your game "Really Bad Chess". In daily play I have many opportunities to kill multiple pieces, but your game "breaks" and I can't move the piece until it makes me "checkmate". How convenient for you, clever little boy. 

asshole. You are angry with me. I have trust issues and everything is a joke to you. I no longer believe God is real, but I’m not worried. Your own eyes project disappointment onto your spirit. Victory without honor is no victory. I can't imagine any greater punishment than knowing this about yourself.
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 07/08/2024
two days ago i made this rule in apple mail and it has radically changed email for me
Mail rule called “The Hole” that sends email to a folder called “The Hole” if it isn’t from someone in my contacts or from someone i’ve previously written.
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 01/04/2024
puzzmo.com
screenshot of puzzmo.com. a chess board laid out like checkers
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 23/03/2024
for World Meteorological Day we collaborated with The Weather Channel on a special crossword. Their CEO and Brooke clued it together! www.puzzmo.com/link/crosswo...
screenshot of a crossword shaped like an umbrella
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 02/06/2023
blink twice if this is a cry for help
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Zach Gage @stfj.net · 07/05/2023
there are a billion tree-pits with signs begging dogs to stay out in Brooklyn. this is the first one i’ve ever seen where instead someone just opted to solve the problem themselves
tree pit with a net of strings over it to prevent dogs from stepping into it
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