iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I discovered granola butter is a thing, and it's delicious

Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

In the waiting room at the optometrist. Guy just walked in and said his name was Johnny Hazard. Can't wait to see what happens next!

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Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I went and made a 2-player abstract for the first time. This one's tentatively called Path of 7's.

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Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Just learned A Message From the Stars is now available in Russian! Side note - shout out to content creators who dress thematically for their videos.

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Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Got a 2nd game into Barnes & Noble - Beasts!

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Elizabeth Hargrave @elizhargrave.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

One major purpose of TTGDA is to help tabletop game designers negotiate better publishing contracts. We just released the rubric of what we look for -- and info on how different publishers scored on the rubric. Soon we will also release a model contract. More at www.ttgda.org/contract-bas...

Tabletop Game Designers Association (TTGDA) Releases Scoring Rubric and Tabletop
Market Contract Analysis to Promote Equitable Industry Standards

Bridgewater, NJ – The Tabletop Game Designers Association (TTGDA) today announced the
launch of their Contract Scoring Rubric and publication of its Tabletop Market Contract Analysis
– 2026, a comprehensive industry report designed to share information about contract practices
and advocate for fair treatment, intellectual property protection, and designer involvement in the
tabletop game publishing process.
The report, developed by the TTGDA contract & grievance committee—led by industry veterans
Geoff Engelstein, Elizabeth Hargrave, Matt Leacock, and James Lowder—seeks to address the
wide disparity in publishing agreements across the industry. With many first-time game
designers accepting terms that may be disadvantageous, the TTGDA has developed a rigorous,
objective scoring rubric to evaluate publisher contracts.
“Our intention is to shine a light on these industry practices and lead to more equitable
standards,” says TTGDA Vice President Sen-Foong Lim. To assist in this effort, the TTGDA will
be releasing model contracts that adhere to the criteria established in the scoring rubric.
The full report can be downloaded at www.ttgda.org/contract-basics.
Key Industry Findings
The analysis of contracts from over 50 publishers reveals several critical areas where many
standard publishing agreements fall short of fair practices:
● Advances: Only two-thirds of publishers offer a baseline advance above the
TTGDA-recommended minimum of $1,000, while 20% offer no advance at all.
● Designer Involvement in Expansions: 40% of publishers retain the right to create
expansions without consulting the original game’s designer.

Intellectual Property Rights: 75% of publishers retain the rights to a game’s name after
the publication agreement concludes and rights to the design revert to the creator.
● Financial Transparency: One-third of publishers deny designers the right to audit their
books, and 10% include non-standard deductions to revenue before royalties are
calculated.
Moving Toward Standards
The Tabletop Market Contract Analysis includes aggregate results, with summary scores for
each individual publisher available to TTGDA members. However TTGDA would like to highlight
the top five scoring publishers (alphabetically): 25th Century Games, Fireside Games, Lunar
Punk, Plaid Hat Games, and UP Games.
“These results are not a call to avoid specific publishers,” says TTGDA President Geoff
Engelstein. “Rather they are a tool for designers to negotiate terms that include fair payment,
intellectual property protection, and a meaningful role in the final product.”
The organization plans to release semi-annual updates to the Tabletop Market Contract
Analysis as more contracts are reviewed and publishers revise their standard agreements.
About the Tabletop Game Designers Association
The Tabletop Game Designers Association is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization dedicated to
supporting designers of all types of tabletop games, including board games, role playing games,
card games, miniature games, and others, whether mass market, specialty, or hobby. Learn
more about us at www.ttgda.org.

Contact:
Geoff Engelstein
President
Tabletop Game Designers Association
president@ttgda.org
www.ttgda.org

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Sticky Doodler 🖍️ Color Jam @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Games by winners of the Diana Jones Emerging Designer Program from previous years, including @stoichamster.bsky.social, @moreblueberries.bsky.social, and @ratwave.uk

Merchants of Magic by Clarence Simpson, Rebuilding Chicago by Quinn Brander, Rom Com Drama Bomb, Project Ecco, and Somethings Wrong with the Chickens by Elliot Davis, I'm with the Damned and other Games by Kayla Dice, the Wolves by Ashein Kamath and Clarence Simpson

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Jacqui Davis - Newsletter now up! @logicfairy.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

t's #GenCon week! I won't be there, but in the run up to the show I'll be sharing board-game art from my portfolio. This evening we're going with the cover and some characters from @25thcentury.games's Mr Oswald's Puzzle Society #illustration #boardgame

A victorian study is lit at night by candlelight, it is set up for a night of cozy puzzle making

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Game Designers of North Carolina @gdofnc.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Ahhhhhtention Gen Con attendees! This year we have 8 releases from group members. 🧵

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Alderac Entertainment Group @alderaceg.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Designers coming to Gen Con? Drop by Big Game Night for 15 minutes, see what the event is all about! Introduce yourself to John Z and let him put you on the clock (1 Minute elevator game pitch) Friday, 8-12PM Lucas Oil Stadium, East Club Lounge Post your name in this thread to get on the list. 🎲✂️

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Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

After reading Tap 4's rules I didn't think I'd like it at all. I've now played once, but I already think it's brilliant. We had the most dramatic game ending I've seen in a while - a final play that made people scream and walk away in disbelief. The mechanics are mundane, but create amazing moments.

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Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Got a full panel of allergy tests for the first time. They tested 40 environmental allergens on me and I'm allergic to every tree, grass, and weed on the list. And yeah... that sounds about right. 😅

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Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Back home from our now biannual design retreat at The Tabletop Inn! Lots of work, lots of play, and they serve an absolute top-tier breakfast every day. Amazing time all around!

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Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

First day of my first Mojo Pitch event is over! I'm still super inexperienced with the mass market side of the industry, but I'm curious to see where this goes, if anywhere. Pitched 16 different designs to 7 publishers so far. Got 42 rejections and 11 requests for prototypes or more info.

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Connie @connievdc.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Almost exactly a year ago, I left my (stable!) job for full-time game design. Some reflections 1/ 🧵

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25th Century Games @25thcentury.games · 02/07/2026

🎆 Our BIGGEST SALE EVER is LIVE! 🎆 ⭐ 50+ games 💥 Up to 90% OFF Celebrate the Fourth with unbeatable board game deals through July 6th. Quantities at these prices are limited so you do not want to miss those blowout savings! Shop the link below! -TV

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Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

My oldest had several of his high school friends over to hang out. I overhear this: "Let's play a boardgame!" "We've got 100s in the basement!" (Walk to basement) "Wow! You do! Let's play Monopoly!" "Umm... We don't have that one." "Oh..... Ok, let's watch Netflix." 😭😭😭

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25th Century Games @25thcentury.games · 21/06/2026

Discover these great games at Origins booth #1808 before the show wraps! 🌻 Three Sisters: Harvest Edition - strategic roll-and-write about backyard farming 🎭 Take a Seat - build the ultimate Broadway production 🚗 VNTYPL8S - match vanity plates to their owners for hilarious reveals -TV

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Governor Josh Stein @ncgovernor.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

To all those who've been up celebrating the Canes – you’re officially excused from your duties this morning.

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Sticky Doodler 🖍️ Color Jam @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Tabletop enthusiasts, we need your help putting an event together for PAX Unplugged. Which of these event names would catch your interest? Assume no context; all you see is the title. Please share / repost -- we don't have any other way to poll people! ("We" = @tonytran.bsky.social & me & others)

A grid with four choices: 1. Tabletop Fringe Fest; 2. Impossible Games Gallery; 3. These Games Are Not For Sale; 4. Exhibit of Priceless Games

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The Diana Jones Award @dianajonesaward.org · 01/06/2026

We’re excited to announce the three winners of this year’s Diana Jones Award Emerging Designer Program: @classicalglaiza.com, @yesnogoodbye.ca, and @jaztice.bsky.social!

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Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Do I have any mutuals that would be interested in doing some async digital playtesting for an upcoming 2-player 20-minute wargame? Free copy of the game on release. DM me for details!

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Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

I feel this so much. I've spent the past year or so working on my network in a variety of ways, and I've made a ton of progress because of those efforts. But even so, wrangling playtesters is still often the biggest bottleneck in my process.

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Going Analog @goinganalogshow.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

The best of the best games of this last year! We chat with @whatsericplaying.bsky.social to discuss 2026's The American Tabletop Awards: how we voted, the winners and runners-up, and more. www.goinganalogshow.com/article/326/... #boardgames @theattas.bsky.social

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Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

DT reviews the expansion for A Message From the Stars: "I will always want to play with this expansion" "I think this is a perfect expansion for this game" "Extinction Protocol - where the person who's trying to kill everyone is the designer" 🤣🤣🤣 youtu.be/aNKwhMLBBS8

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Going Analog @goinganalogshow.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

The game: VNTYPL8S by @25thcentury.games

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James aka "Baldy" @justabaldguy.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

#BoardGame fans need to check out VNTYPL8S by @stoichamster.bsky.social! Kids home from college didn't want to quit! We had an awesome family game night.

A family playing VNTYPL8S at a kitchen table

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Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Got to catch the inaugural show of Grant Lyon's (@grantsgamerecs.bsky.social) Board Game Comedy Tour in my hometown! After a great comedy set, he led the crowd through a game of Blob Party that we narrowly won. It was lots of fun! Check him out if he's coming to your town!

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Taylor Shuss @drawnonward.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

One piece of advice I would give to all non-self publishing designers: Reach out to other designers your potential publisher has worked with in the past. Hearing about how smoothly the process went, how well they communicated, and things they wished they'd had in their contracts can go a long way!

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Unpub @unpub.org · 09/05/2026

Check out @stoichamster.bsky.social's design diary about VNTYPL8S that proves that sometimes you just need an Unpub table without a game idea to make a great game: boardgamegeek.com/blog/1/blogp...

boardgamegeek.com

Designer Diary: VNTYPL8S | BoardGameGeek Blog

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Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

My game about creating and deciphering vanity license plates, VNTYPL8S, is now available online and at your local game store. And it has a commercial! youtu.be/kETkQ-2B49c

youtu.be

VNTYPL8S Party Game Trailer (EN)

YouTube video by 25th Century Games

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Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Occasionally, you run across a game theme so wildly specific and unique that you feel certain nobody has ever done it, or even thought of it, before. 👕🧦🕷️

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Ashwin 🔜 PaxUnplugged ! @boardgameghee.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

24 hours left to go on Chicken Fried Dice! We are beyond floored at the reception we've received throughout, but none more astonishing than 40+ of our friends swinging by to show love and their support for our game & campaign. Couldn't do this without y'all <3 www.kickstarter.com/projects/urb...

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Eric Hibbeler @erichibbeler.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

More Alpha Team Mechanized Battle Force Go art. Volcanic and Oceanus. #kaiju #atmbfg #boardgameart www.kickstarter.com/projects/how...

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Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Did a marathon day of final balance testing of all the player mechs against all the bosses! Years of dev have shaped this game into a really solid and unique co-op experience. Alpha Team is live now on Kickstarter!

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Eric Hibbeler @erichibbeler.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Designing the GRWLs for Alpha Team was SO much fun.🤖 They are all my favorite but these two are my most favorite. Back it on Kickstarter NOW!⤵️ 🎉🎉 buff.ly/7jDcDLX Or scroll

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Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

I guess this is official now! A Message From the Stars: Extinction Protocol should be available to order from Allplay very very soon! boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexp...

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Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

I was skeptical, but I am definitely into these

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Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

I've gotten to playtest this over the years and it's finally live! It's a co-op pick-and-pass game with a great hook where you can only draft from the ends of each hand. Plus it's got killer art from a top tier illustrator. Go check it out!

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Cardboard Edison @cardboardedison.com · 10/04/2026

The next arrival in the finalists for this year’s Cardboard Edison Award is Hybrid Hijinks by Jena Kreese, where we’ll be creating crazy animal hybrids that double as configurable player powers! cardboardedison.com/award

Prototype for Hybrid Hijinks: map, cards, and a bag filled with bits.

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Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

In a world being overtaken by AI, your greatest strength as a human is in being unpredictable - something that AI was never designed to be www.youtube.com/shorts/QnGXD...

youtube.com

Unpredictability versus AI 🤺

YouTube video by Jacob Collier

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Elizabeth Hargrave @elizhargrave.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

GAMA members: You should have an email from GAMA offering the opportunity to comment on GAMA's dues structure. Please consider taking time to comment on the fact that individual creators should NOT pay the same membership fee as a large publisher. (That's the current structure. $300 each.)

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Clarence Simpson 🔜 ??? @stoichamster.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Hypergeometric distributions are your friend! It sounds complicated but it's just a way to answer game design questions like "Given a 52-card deck with 4 Aces in it, what are my odds of drawing a hand of 10 cards with 1 or more Aces in it". (answer = 58.656%) stattrek.com/online-calcu...

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Steven Vesci @vescis.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Applications just opened for the @unpub.org Tabletop Mentorship Program. I cannot recommend this program enough! If you are interested in learning about any aspects of tabletop game design, publishing, marketing, etc., sign up! And if you can offer any level of mentoring on the same, sign up!

unpub.org

Unpub Tabletop Mentorship Program — Unpub: The Unpublished Games Network

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