Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jonah White @jonahwhite.bsky.social · 8h

Some thoughts on what games teach us about agency, and a list of upcoming gaming events.

open.substack.com/pub/gameplay...

Agency in Games

How games give us room to grow

open.substack.com

Jonah White @jonahwhite.bsky.social · 23h

FOUR days left to vote in IF Comp @ifcomp.org. 80+ free games by independent creators. Not enough time? Don't worry, the games will stick around, whether you vote or not!
ifcomp.org/ballot

Jonah White @jonahwhite.bsky.social · 1d

FIVE days left to vote in IF Comp @IFComp.org. 80+ free games by independent creators, including parser and choice-based games.
ifcomp.org/ballot

Reposted by Jonah White

The Interactive Fiction Competition @ifcomp.org · 2d

It's the weekend! It's also the FINAL WEEKEND before IFComp 2025 wraps! Remember to get those final votes in. Also, if you are in a position to do so and have not yet contributed to this year's Colossal Fund, we're just a bit short of our stretch goal. Thank you! Have fun!

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Jonah White @jonahwhite.bsky.social · 2d

SIX days left to vote in IF Comp @ifcomp.org. 80+ free text-based games by independent creators.
ifcomp.org/ballot

Jonah White @jonahwhite.bsky.social · 3d

SEVEN days left to vote in IF Comp @ifcomp.org. 80+ free narrative-driven games by independent creators.
ifcomp.org/ballot

Jonah White @jonahwhite.bsky.social · 4d

EIGHT days left to vote in IF Comp @ifcomp.org. 80+ free games by independent creators, some shorter than 15 minutes.
ifcomp.org/ballot

Jonah White @jonahwhite.bsky.social · 10d

Only two weeks left to vote in IFComp @ifcomp.org

ifcomp.org/ballot

80+ free games by independent creators are ready for your input.

Cover images of six of the IF Comp games: The Olive Tree, A Council of Crows, Moon Logic, Murderworld, Frankenfingers, and Clickbait.

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Reposted by Jonah White

The Interactive Fiction Competition @ifcomp.org · 15d

Hey, hey, it's the weekend! If you've got a little time to chill with some stories and games, swing on over to ifcomp.org - voting closes Oct 15, and our authors would really love your feedback!

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Reposted by Jonah White

The Interactive Fiction Competition @ifcomp.org · 18d

If you've got a little time, we've got a *lot* of stories and games. If you play (and rate) just five of them before Oct 15, then you can be a judge. We'd love more judges! Check it out at ifcomp.org

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Jonah White @jonahwhite.bsky.social · 27d

Amazing time at the Chicago Indie Game Showcase. There's a real passion for indie games in Chicago, and it shows.

Indie City Games @indiecitygames.org · Sep 10

Y’all TURNED OUT at this year’s CIGS!!!! 39 games, 500+ attendees, 3 amazing DJ’s, 5 incredible speakers, a bunch of live tattoos, and more than a few fuses blown, y’all made it an event to remember. We’re already pumped for the next one 💪🏼🔥🎮 #chicago #indie #game #showcase #cigs2025

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Reposted by Jonah White

Indie City Games @indiecitygames.org · Sep 10

Y’all TURNED OUT at this year’s CIGS!!!! 39 games, 500+ attendees, 3 amazing DJ’s, 5 incredible speakers, a bunch of live tattoos, and more than a few fuses blown, y’all made it an event to remember. We’re already pumped for the next one 💪🏼🔥🎮 #chicago #indie #game #showcase #cigs2025

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Reposted by Jonah White

The Interactive Fiction Competition @ifcomp.org · 29d

We did it! The 2025 Colossal Fund hit $8K!

85 entries means more authors will share the prize pool. Let's stretch to $10K to boost the prizes a bit.

If you are in a position to donate and haven't, consider heading to ifcomp.org to hit the big blue donation button.

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Reposted by Jonah White

The Interactive Fiction Competition @ifcomp.org · 29d

Mirror, mirror on the wall, which games were your favorite of them all?

You've got until October 15 to leave 5 ratings, thus becoming an IFComp judge. (The fancy old-timey wig is optional.)

ifcomp.org/ballot

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Reposted by Jonah White

The Interactive Fiction Competition @ifcomp.org · Sep 2

If you like this year's logo, and want to pick up a little 2025 IFComp gear, we have mugs & shirts available. Portion of purchases goes toward buying some swag as prizes for the authors in this year's competition. www.zazzle.com/collections/...

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Reposted by Jonah White

The Interactive Fiction Competition @ifcomp.org · Sep 1

We’re grateful to Paula Noriega for creating the beautiful IFComp 2025 logo. They were wonderful to work with. If you’re looking for an artist, Paula is open for commissions! You can find their work at www.instagram.com/artby.png/

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Jonah White @jonahwhite.bsky.social · Sep 1

This year's IF Comp is live! Can't wait to play some of these games over the next month. Hoping to share some recommendations soon.

The Interactive Fiction Competition @ifcomp.org · Sep 1

🎉 The 31st Annual #IFComp is live!

85 new interactive fiction entries are ready for you to play and judge. (You only need to rate 5 to cast a ballot!)

Read more about this year's competition at blog.ifcomp.org

Or just dive straight in: ifcomp.org/ballot

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Reposted by Jonah White

Rascal News @rascal.news · Jul 2

Wargames and board game-adjacent scenarios can reveal the cracks in our health disaster preparedness, as contributor @aavoigt.bsky.social writes. These "tabletop exercises" are all about addressing uncertainty.

Preparing for Public Health Disasters With Tabletop Games

What can we learn from a wargame about combating illness?

www.rascal.news

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Jonah White @jonahwhite.bsky.social · Jun 26

George "Superbunnyhop" Weidman needs help fighting a corrupt HOA.

Chairman George @superbunnyhop.bsky.social · Jun 26

The legal GoFundMe fundraiser is here. I'm hoping this thing blows up big enough to ensure this never happens to anyone else, anywhere, ever again.

www.gofundme.com/f/our-hoa-se...

Donate to Our HOA Sent Us Gore Photos. Help Us Fight, Survive and Win!, organized by George Weidman

My HOA sent me gore photos after complaining about the AirBnb… George Weidman needs your support for Our HOA Sent Us Gore Photos. Help Us Fight, Survive and Win!

www.gofundme.com

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Reposted by Jonah White

Possum Creek @possumcreekgames.com · Jun 24

Last Train To Bremen has launched on Backerkit!

jay Dragon has firmware updates @jdragsky.bsky.social · Jun 24

LAST TRAIN TO BREMEN, the award-winning 4-player dice rpg about doomed musicians and their deal with the devil by the fantastic @seaexcursion.itch.io , is now live on BACKERKIT! www.backerkit.com/c/projects/j...

Last Train to Bremen

A storytelling game of four doomed musicians and their poor decisions.

www.backerkit.com

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Reposted by Jonah White

Indie City Games @indiecitygames.org · Jun 21

Absolutely in awe of the outpouring of support from the community; having passed a full $30,000, we're going to be able to pursue our goal of a communal space for Chicago indie devs. Thank you. There's still a couple days left to get your CIGS tickets for cheap!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ind...

Chicago Indie Game Showcase

Chicago Indie Game Showcase (C.I.G.S) is a one-day convention featuring independent games from Chicago and the greater Midwest.

www.kickstarter.com

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Reposted by Jonah White

Julia L @calenmir.bsky.social · Jun 20

GMs, DMs, and fellow #TTRPG people, lend me your ears! On the coming 26th of June at 7 pm EST, I shall recount methods for the effective hosting of puzzles within Roll20, for free! Aye, free, thanks to the generosity of @startplaying.bsky.social!

Signup + details: startplaying.games/adventure/cm...

Join Implementing Puzzles in Roll20 [GM Webinar] - Discord / Google Meet - Game Master Workshop | StartPlaying Games

This 1-hour webinar will cover making and implementing puzzles in Roll20, and will include: -A discussion of how to justify puzzles in TTRPG gameplay -Using tokens, rollable tables, and maps to increa...

startplaying.games

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Jonah White @jonahwhite.bsky.social · Jun 21

You can pre-register by calling or emailing the store! 773/752-6642 or [email protected]

Or just show up. I’m sure we can find room. 😉

Full details on their website:
www.firstaidcomics.com/first-aid-co...

Free RPG Day! — First Aid Comics

Free RPG Day is June 21! Come by the store for free Roleplaying Game products, chances to play games, an RPG fan meetup, and a 20% Gaming Sale ! (Sale does not include trading card game products.) ...

www.firstaidcomics.com

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Jonah White @jonahwhite.bsky.social · Jun 21

Happy #FreeRPGDay!

To all my Chicago friends, First Aid Comics in Hyde Park is offering free games all day. We have scheduled sessions of Dragonbane and Dungeon Crawl Classics. Please come!

SCHEDULE:

1-4pm: GAME - Dragonbane RPG with GM Mel

4-5pm: Gamer Meetup

5-8pm: GAME - Dungeon Crawl Classics with GM Jonah

All Day: Free RPG Products & Sale!

You can pre-register for the two games by calling or emailing the store! 773/752-6642 or firstaidchicago@gmail.com

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