Geoff Engelstein - The Universe Explained with Cookie out now!
@gengelstein.bsky.social
Boardgame enthusiast, podcaster, books: Building Blocks of Tabletop Game Design, Universe Explained with a Cookie games: Versailles 1919 and Super Skill Pinball. He/him
https://open.substack.com/pub/gametek
https://open.substack.com/pub/gametek
Yesterday a bird got into my daughter’s office at work.
Here is today’s text exchange:
Here is today’s text exchange:
November 13, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Yesterday a bird got into my daughter’s office at work.
Here is today’s text exchange:
Here is today’s text exchange:
A Halloween parade float in Hanover, PA included a facsimile of the famous gates of Auschwitz. The designer says "oops, my bad".
I am just reeling at this. I shouldn't be surprised anymore, yet here I am again.
www.pennlive.com/news/2025/11...
I am just reeling at this. I shouldn't be surprised anymore, yet here I am again.
www.pennlive.com/news/2025/11...
November 4, 2025 at 2:47 AM
A Halloween parade float in Hanover, PA included a facsimile of the famous gates of Auschwitz. The designer says "oops, my bad".
I am just reeling at this. I shouldn't be surprised anymore, yet here I am again.
www.pennlive.com/news/2025/11...
I am just reeling at this. I shouldn't be surprised anymore, yet here I am again.
www.pennlive.com/news/2025/11...
I’ve never wanted to do anything more in my life than go through this door.
October 31, 2025 at 2:37 AM
I’ve never wanted to do anything more in my life than go through this door.
THE DATE SORTING ON MY PROPERTY TAX BILL IS DRIVING ME INSANE.
October 21, 2025 at 2:03 AM
THE DATE SORTING ON MY PROPERTY TAX BILL IS DRIVING ME INSANE.
Congrats to my alma mater, MIT, for rejecting the 'compact' the Trump administration asked top colleges to sign in exchange for 'preferential' treatment on federal research grants.
Original story here: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...
Original story here: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...
October 10, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Congrats to my alma mater, MIT, for rejecting the 'compact' the Trump administration asked top colleges to sign in exchange for 'preferential' treatment on federal research grants.
Original story here: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...
Original story here: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...
So… a eurogame?
October 9, 2025 at 1:04 AM
So… a eurogame?
As an importer, we subscribe to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. We just got the 24th Revision of 2025, which is - a lot. Every time there's a new version we need to update all of our costing and import tables.
To get an idea of how extreme this is, I MADE A GRAPH. This is # of revs per year.
To get an idea of how extreme this is, I MADE A GRAPH. This is # of revs per year.
September 26, 2025 at 8:18 PM
As an importer, we subscribe to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. We just got the 24th Revision of 2025, which is - a lot. Every time there's a new version we need to update all of our costing and import tables.
To get an idea of how extreme this is, I MADE A GRAPH. This is # of revs per year.
To get an idea of how extreme this is, I MADE A GRAPH. This is # of revs per year.
SAD!!
(via The Economist)
(via The Economist)
September 17, 2025 at 9:44 PM
SAD!!
(via The Economist)
(via The Economist)
And here we are 20 years later with a fancy new version, given love by Richard Garfield of all people.
Plus, it was the inspiration for our new DC Breakout Game - but I think our game is better than MA as you run two characters per race as a team. So you create your own combos.
Plus, it was the inspiration for our new DC Breakout Game - but I think our game is better than MA as you run two characters per race as a team. So you create your own combos.
September 17, 2025 at 1:51 PM
And here we are 20 years later with a fancy new version, given love by Richard Garfield of all people.
Plus, it was the inspiration for our new DC Breakout Game - but I think our game is better than MA as you run two characters per race as a team. So you create your own combos.
Plus, it was the inspiration for our new DC Breakout Game - but I think our game is better than MA as you run two characters per race as a team. So you create your own combos.
A lot of what they had was Japanese localizations of European or American games, but I tried to find something from a Japanese designer.
For some reason Magical Athlete caught my eye. The title was english but everything else was in Japanese.
For some reason Magical Athlete caught my eye. The title was english but everything else was in Japanese.
September 17, 2025 at 1:51 PM
A lot of what they had was Japanese localizations of European or American games, but I tried to find something from a Japanese designer.
For some reason Magical Athlete caught my eye. The title was english but everything else was in Japanese.
For some reason Magical Athlete caught my eye. The title was english but everything else was in Japanese.
Didn’t know @robdaviau.bsky.social ‘s evil twin is a contestant on this series of Taskmaster!
September 11, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Didn’t know @robdaviau.bsky.social ‘s evil twin is a contestant on this series of Taskmaster!
ICYMI - New game from Team Engelstein: DC Breakout: Arkham Asylum!
Simplest game we've ever designed: On your turn roll a die and move that many spaces. First team to reach the end of the track wins! But surprising depth built on that simple chassis. Quick thread:
Simplest game we've ever designed: On your turn roll a die and move that many spaces. First team to reach the end of the track wins! But surprising depth built on that simple chassis. Quick thread:
September 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM
ICYMI - New game from Team Engelstein: DC Breakout: Arkham Asylum!
Simplest game we've ever designed: On your turn roll a die and move that many spaces. First team to reach the end of the track wins! But surprising depth built on that simple chassis. Quick thread:
Simplest game we've ever designed: On your turn roll a die and move that many spaces. First team to reach the end of the track wins! But surprising depth built on that simple chassis. Quick thread:
New game from me and the kids! It's been years since we got to design a game together, so this was a special treat.
I absolutely adore this game and can't wait until you get to try it out.
Plus with absolutely fantastic art from Ryans Goldsberry!
shop.wizkids.com/products/dc-...
I absolutely adore this game and can't wait until you get to try it out.
Plus with absolutely fantastic art from Ryans Goldsberry!
shop.wizkids.com/products/dc-...
September 8, 2025 at 8:28 PM
New game from me and the kids! It's been years since we got to design a game together, so this was a special treat.
I absolutely adore this game and can't wait until you get to try it out.
Plus with absolutely fantastic art from Ryans Goldsberry!
shop.wizkids.com/products/dc-...
I absolutely adore this game and can't wait until you get to try it out.
Plus with absolutely fantastic art from Ryans Goldsberry!
shop.wizkids.com/products/dc-...
A small part of the board game archives at @thestrongmuseum.bsky.social ! Appreciated the behind-the-scenes tour.
September 6, 2025 at 11:03 PM
A small part of the board game archives at @thestrongmuseum.bsky.social ! Appreciated the behind-the-scenes tour.
Game of the Month baby!
September 6, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Game of the Month baby!
Safety regulations are written in blood.
Remember that when vaccine mandates are gutted, worker protections are dismantled, and 20 years from now when people say these camp safety laws are classic “government overreach”.
Remember that when vaccine mandates are gutted, worker protections are dismantled, and 20 years from now when people say these camp safety laws are classic “government overreach”.
September 6, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Safety regulations are written in blood.
Remember that when vaccine mandates are gutted, worker protections are dismantled, and 20 years from now when people say these camp safety laws are classic “government overreach”.
Remember that when vaccine mandates are gutted, worker protections are dismantled, and 20 years from now when people say these camp safety laws are classic “government overreach”.
TBT to 10 years ago when a relative dug his old Magic cards out of the cellar and asked me if they were worth anything. 😳
My son helped him sell them for a college fund for his son.
My son helped him sell them for a college fund for his son.
September 5, 2025 at 12:18 AM
TBT to 10 years ago when a relative dug his old Magic cards out of the cellar and asked me if they were worth anything. 😳
My son helped him sell them for a college fund for his son.
My son helped him sell them for a college fund for his son.
So many questions.
August 19, 2025 at 3:21 PM
So many questions.
I GET ONE FREE QUESTION.
What should it be???
What should it be???
August 12, 2025 at 1:55 AM
I GET ONE FREE QUESTION.
What should it be???
What should it be???
I still have this book at home! Wumpus all day, baby.
When I say that’s how I learned to code I mean that literally. I would look at the code and the result, change things to see what happened, etc. no textbooks or classes.
When I say that’s how I learned to code I mean that literally. I would look at the code and the result, change things to see what happened, etc. no textbooks or classes.
August 9, 2025 at 12:16 PM
I still have this book at home! Wumpus all day, baby.
When I say that’s how I learned to code I mean that literally. I would look at the code and the result, change things to see what happened, etc. no textbooks or classes.
When I say that’s how I learned to code I mean that literally. I would look at the code and the result, change things to see what happened, etc. no textbooks or classes.
Why is this ‘unbelievable’? It’s how I learned to code in 79! The programs were stored on cassette tapes which were notoriously unreliable. I must have typed the code for Super Star Trek into my Apple II at least ten times.
August 9, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Why is this ‘unbelievable’? It’s how I learned to code in 79! The programs were stored on cassette tapes which were notoriously unreliable. I must have typed the code for Super Star Trek into my Apple II at least ten times.
Sentient wipes! AI is outta control.
(Pretty sure this eco-friendly brand meant ‘clean conscience’, but hey - what do I know)
(Pretty sure this eco-friendly brand meant ‘clean conscience’, but hey - what do I know)
August 7, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Sentient wipes! AI is outta control.
(Pretty sure this eco-friendly brand meant ‘clean conscience’, but hey - what do I know)
(Pretty sure this eco-friendly brand meant ‘clean conscience’, but hey - what do I know)
CGE still has not posted any type of follow up to this post.
Their credibility on actually caring about this issue is rapidly dwindling.
I have been a big fan of their work, and Vlaada is one of greatest designers of all time - making this all the more painful.
Their credibility on actually caring about this issue is rapidly dwindling.
I have been a big fan of their work, and Vlaada is one of greatest designers of all time - making this all the more painful.
August 4, 2025 at 5:45 PM
CGE still has not posted any type of follow up to this post.
Their credibility on actually caring about this issue is rapidly dwindling.
I have been a big fan of their work, and Vlaada is one of greatest designers of all time - making this all the more painful.
Their credibility on actually caring about this issue is rapidly dwindling.
I have been a big fan of their work, and Vlaada is one of greatest designers of all time - making this all the more painful.
THIS IS A $150 BILLION TAX INCREASE ON AMERICAN CONSUMERS - OFTEN THE LEAST ABLE TO PAY.
It’s not complicated.
It’s not complicated.
July 30, 2025 at 12:45 AM
THIS IS A $150 BILLION TAX INCREASE ON AMERICAN CONSUMERS - OFTEN THE LEAST ABLE TO PAY.
It’s not complicated.
It’s not complicated.
TIL that "Living Whist" was a popular event in the late 19th/early 20th c. People would dress up as playing cards and, well, shuffle.
July 24, 2025 at 11:58 PM
TIL that "Living Whist" was a popular event in the late 19th/early 20th c. People would dress up as playing cards and, well, shuffle.