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Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged

@boardgaymergirl.bsky.social

370 followers 170 following 400 posts

(She/Her) Queer, Canadian board game content creator linktr.ee/boardgaymergirl

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Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged @boardgaymergirl.bsky.social · Nov 14

Introductions time!
I'm Natalie, a queer female Canadian who started her gaming journey in 2016.
I started off solo gaming as a non-digital activity during nursing school. I am lucky to work in the board gaming industry and have met tons of new gaming buds around the world!
#boardgames

Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged @boardgaymergirl.bsky.social · 26d

Was hoping to the Tigers, but by the end of it, I was just ready for one of the teams to wrap it up and come to the Skydome for my Jays Sunday.

Reposted by Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged

Elizabeth Hargrave @elizhargrave.bsky.social · Sep 4

Update to this chart that I share a lot. Not breaking news: Game design teams are still OVERWHELMINGLY all men. About 7% of the top 500 games have a woman or non-binary person credited as a designer. A 🧵of related charts: (1/6)
🎲✂️

Gender of Game Designers: Board Game Geek Top 500, January 2025

A pie chart:
92% of the pie is Designed only by men. They made 461 of the top 500 games.
6% of the pie is Designed by a mixed-gender group. They made 28 of the top 500 games.
1% of the pie is Designed only by women or non-binary people. They made 5 of the top 500 games.

Data are for January 1, 2025, using the names in the Designer field on BGG. Not shown are 6 games in the top 500 that have uncredited designers.

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Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged @boardgaymergirl.bsky.social · Aug 29

I am not much of a video gamer, but I'm getting to be the farming pig in Split Fiction is my new favourite video game moment

Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged @boardgaymergirl.bsky.social · Aug 24

Always for a good tomato sandwich, but throw some horseradish into the mayo and also tomatoes with salt AND pepper AND lemon.

Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged @boardgaymergirl.bsky.social · Aug 21

Ooo, this is fun. There is Ark Nova (or maybe that's the Sanctuary box), Bordeaux, or whatever the wine edition of Fromage is, I FEEL like I should know the top right... something Everdale likes, but can't remember the name Bur Andrew Bosley art?

The top left, no idea. Just top of my head lol.

Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged @boardgaymergirl.bsky.social · Aug 21

New haunting songs from BOTH Chappelle Roan & Florence + The Machine ins such a short amount of time.

I can not even 😍😍😍

Reposted by Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged

Eric Lang @ericlang.bsky.social · Aug 14

That kinda aggro is almost always from people who don't care at all about justice issues and just want to coopt justice language to attack someone they don't like.

It's so gross, but also kind of the price of admission for being public unfortunately

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Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged @boardgaymergirl.bsky.social · Aug 13

💯

Reposted by Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged

ᡣ𐭩 Mandi ᡣ𐭩 @613mandi.bsky.social · Aug 9

I appreciate being able to highlight these topics and amplify voices with @425suzanne.bsky.social on public platforms AND behind the scenes.

We don't always talk about our behind the scenes work we do but we are glad it makes a difference. 🩷

🥧 suzanne 🥧 @425suzanne.bsky.social · Aug 9

We were the first (still only?) board game podcast hosted by two women of color, and we have regularly highlighted elements in games that are problematic from a representation point of view. So while criticizing those who don't... selfishly I ask folks to remember to support those who do.

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Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged @boardgaymergirl.bsky.social · Aug 9

This

Danny THEE Haunted Himbo 👻 @br00taldan.bsky.social · Aug 8

If you’re not Black/indigenous and you’re “accepting” an “apology” or explaination from a company that has put slavery/caricatures of native people in their games and praising them for a response quickly like “this is how you do it!” pls take time to reflect why ur so enthused with the bare minimum…

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Reposted by Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged

Cardboard Time 🔜 PAX Unplugged @cardboardtime.bsky.social · Aug 8

This was certainly unexpected news for a Friday. As with Devir, both companies have a cooling off period before I even consider adding them back to my shelves or on my airwaves to make sure they're walking the talk. That said...if they put actions to these words, that's major progress.

Marceline Leiman 🔜 Indie Games Night Market @ PaxU @marcelineleiman.bsky.social · Aug 8

I’m doing victory laps in my kitchen right now!!!! 💃🏼

CGE just announced they are going to be giving away 100% of the profit from their Harry Potter game to pro-trans charities!!

www.instagram.com/p/DNG48n-IVP...

A screenshot of CGE’s instagram page:

“With the above in mind, and after many heartfelt and vital discussions both internally and with members of the affected community, we have decided to donate 100% of the profit from this game to appropriate charitable organizations. We will ensure that an amount equal to our greater than the fee paid to license this product will go directly to organizations that provide support for the trans community.

We evaluate profits and make charitable-giving decisions each December, and we will continue using this annual process to direct the games profits. We will listen to recommendations from the community to help guide our choices of organizations that provide support for the trans community. Or goal is to select those that offer direct, practical help to people in need — for example, services similar to the emergency hotline that was recently discontinued.”

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Reposted by Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged

Our Family Plays Games @ourfamplaysgames.bsky.social · Aug 8

DEVIR UPDATE
We want to thank the many hobbyists who took a stand and showed their support for this cause. In 2025, there is no place for those unwilling to recognize and respect the humanity of others.

Devir has released a statement addressing this matter.

boardgamegeek.com/thread/35556...

A message to the community | Ace of Spades

Hello everyone, There’s a principle we hold on to in moments like this: never attribute to malice what can be explained by stupidity. It does not excuse the error, but it reminds us that harm can be...

boardgamegeek.com

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Reposted by Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged

Jaysen @ezeekat.bsky.social · Aug 7

Apparently the team at Devir Games decided to approve a handful of insanely racist cards (both in art and gameplay mechanics ie. “the fugitive’s” ability) for the new game Ace of Spades. Absolutely inexcusable that no one spoke up before these were sent to print! 😡

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Reposted by Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged

Our Family Plays Games @ourfamplaysgames.bsky.social · Aug 7

We were recently made aware of disturbing and offensive artwork in the new game Ace of Spades by Devir. We have contacted Devir regarding this matter.

Fellow hobbyists: we must strive to be better humans. We can’t simply “look the other way” when an issue doesn’t affect us directly.

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Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged @boardgaymergirl.bsky.social · Aug 6

Can confirm.

Cate Blanchett's Meatloaf moment is that she can do anything, but she can't do this.

*Fishing, she can't fish. She's a Greenhorn. I wonder who I should play as next 🤔😏.

@eaglegryphon.bsky.social #boardgames #boardgamesky

Pretty rusty with a score of 49 during a solo game of Fleet the dice game (playing as Cate Blanchett).

Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged @boardgaymergirl.bsky.social · Aug 4

Wasn't at Gen Con, but I was lucky to play a friends copy this weekend for the first time and REALLY enjoyed it. Having great gameplay mixed with such a great, interconnected universe with backstories I'd love to hear even more about, too.

The Kinfire universe is just top tier 👌

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Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged @boardgaymergirl.bsky.social · Jul 29

Good luck! Remember to hydrate!

Reposted by Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged

Mx. Tiffany Leigh @tiffanyleigh.bsky.social · Jul 28

Great timing for CGE to amplify super-TERF Jay Kay Rowling w/HP Codenames days before heading to GenCon.

For those in Indy, a productive way to counter CGE's online stonewalling of (trans) board gamers & content creators is to visit them in person & respectfully tell them how you feel.

2025 GenCon info for CGE/Czech Games (July 30-August 3):

Room 235
Booth 1003
Booth 245

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Reposted by Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged

BoardGameWire @boardgamewire.bsky.social · Jul 29

Reviewers including No Pun Included and Shut Up & Sit Down are boycotting Codenames publisher CGE for releasing a new Harry Potter-themed game while ignoring JK Rowling’s anti-trans rhetoric:

boardgamewire.com/index.php/20...

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Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged @boardgaymergirl.bsky.social · Jul 28

Weekend game playing roll call time!

1. Pergola (not pictured)
2. Moon Colony Bloodbath (not pictured)
3. Dorfromantik Sakura
4. Odin
5. Wine Cellar
6. Can't Stop

A good mix of light, fam fun, and good times.

#boardgames #boardgamesky

Dorf Romantik Sakura board game on the table

Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged @boardgaymergirl.bsky.social · Jul 26

Yup, I remember when that CEO earlier this year still agreed with his vote and Trump administration but still tried to balance that opinion as the tariffs were affecting the board game industry. So, similar reasons a few months ago to mention, I won't be covering games from the OP as well.

Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged @boardgaymergirl.bsky.social · Jul 25

Spoiled myself with the Store Credit I had. So here's the roll call:

1. Can't Stop (given up on finding the version I'd like)
2. Odin
3. Moon Colony Bloodbath
4. Dorfromantik Sakura
5. Wine Cellar
6. Faraway : People From Below

Which one should be played first?

#boardgames #boardgamesky

My store credit spending spree lot of board games

Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged @boardgaymergirl.bsky.social · Jul 25

The response with comments turned off... doubled down on knowing it was harmful but moving forward anyways... smh.

Sad and disappointing.

Jaysen @ezeekat.bsky.social · Jul 25

The statement on why CGE decided to make a new Harry Potter Codenames game despite the harm JK does on a daily basis might actually be worse than the fact that they decided to do it in the first place. 🙄
www.czechgames.com/news/why-we-...

CGE | Why we created the new licensed version of Codenames

www.czechgames.com

Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged @boardgaymergirl.bsky.social · Jul 25

Yeah, I just saw this and thought oh they realize that it was a poor move and will act accordingly. Instead, it feels more like they doubled down, aka double disappointed.

Natalie 🔜 Pax Unplugged @boardgaymergirl.bsky.social · Jul 25

Tough to have seen this as part of their new announcements. Publishers, especially in this political climate, please move more intentionally.

Jaysen @ezeekat.bsky.social · Jul 24

I’ve gone ahead and removed any videos showcasing boardgames published by CGE from my page. If they want to publish new Harry Potter boardgames in 2025, they definitely don’t need space on my page or in my community. 🤷🏻‍♂️