Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Rob Harris

Jess- Allies or enemies games @alliesorenemies.bsky.social · Aug 18

Hi all! We are nervously launching Last Week of Summer on Kickstarter tomorrow at 4pm UK time.
Shawn has been working on this game for over three years, and it has been a blast to play with people at conventions. Any support would be greatly appreciated!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/all...

Jess and Shawn holding up their board game Last Week of Summer

3 4

Reposted by Rob Harris

LooOOooke / ÆtherCorpse Games @aethercorpgames.bsky.social · Aug 13

All my bobbins are now available on another continent!

Do poke your FLGS to see if they'll kindly stock them or order direct from the lovely people at IPR.

Indie Press Revolution @ipr.bsky.social · Aug 13

New!

Advanced Double D6
Advanced Double D6 Quest Pack
Coiled.Spaece
Little Wolves
Orchidelirium, Volume One: Expedition Rules
The Psychic Danger Society

www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/

2 3

Reposted by Rob Harris

Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · Aug 6

We had one of our busiest playtesting sessions last night at The Ludoquist in South London, with three full tables playing ten different game designs!

These are the games I played 👇🏻

@playtestuk.bsky.social 🎲✂️

A picture of a number of people sat at tables in a board game cafe, playing board game prototypes.

1 2 17

Reposted by Rob Harris

Rob Harper @harperrob.bsky.social · Apr 2

Woohoo! The game I co-designed with @mikeharrisonwood.bsky.social is now officially released. You can get it from the publisher's website, or a small but growing number of other places. Here we go...! 😁
gibsonsgames.co.uk/collections/...

Grab Bag Jungle

THE GAME Embark on a thrilling jungle adventure with friends and family in this immersive animal rescue game! Together, you'll race against the clock to save jungle animals by reaching into the Grab...

gibsonsgames.co.uk

2 4 12

Reposted by Rob Harris

Scott - Minerva 🦉 @minervatabletop.co.uk · Jul 21

Tickets for Playfest London are now available! Featuring all-day playtesting, a games raffle, and a special guest talk, this is the perfect opportunity to test your designs and play upcoming games.

Find out more and register here: www.minervatabletop.co.uk/playfest

🎲✂️ #BoardGameDesign

A picture of Playfest London 2024, a hall filled with board game designers and players sat at tables playing games. The text reads 'Playfest London '25, registration now open!'.

4 8

Reposted by Rob Harris

Robert StartPlayer @startplayer.bsky.social · Jul 27

Made it today to the @playtestuk.bsky.social Meetup in #Leeds

Very happy to have to go to the table something terrible I made last night that feels like half an idea. Very happy we that these group exist and we induldge each by playing games in literally any state of development.

1 1 4

Reposted by Rob Harris

Iain McAllister @giantbrain.co.uk · Jul 23

@timclare.bsky.social, @ava.foxfort.net and I are embarking on a new audio endeavour. Send us all your tabletop gaming related questions. We want to hear about your dilemmas, historical mysteries, and anything else you can think of. I can be reached here or below

giantbrain.co.uk/our-work-rev...

6 10

Reposted by Rob Harris

Rob Harper @harperrob.bsky.social · Jul 25

Following up on UK Games Expo nearly a couple of months back, I had some thoughts on conversations I had with new game designers wanting advice on how to proceed, so here is a blog post about that. 🎲✂️
firsttakesomedice.blogspot.com/2025/07/gett...

Getting In The Zone

Volunteering at the Playtest Zone at UK Games Expo is always a privilege and a pleasure (if one that completely wipes me out, both physicall...

firsttakesomedice.blogspot.com

1 2 7

Rob Harris @playtestuk.bsky.social · Jul 25

Here are a couple of cool archeology family board games:
Thebes (boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/30...) and Luxor (boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/24...)

Thebes

Become an archaeologist as you study ancient cultures, go digging, and exhibit.

boardgamegeek.com

2 2

Rob Harris @playtestuk.bsky.social · Jul 21

Great Playtest UK session at the Sunday meetup yesterday. We played a murder mystery party game prototype and then a thematic pub crawl board game prototype. Lots of potential for both designs.

Playtesters try a new game design themed on a pub crawl night out.

1 6

Rob Harris @playtestuk.bsky.social · Jul 2

There are still spaces available for designers to playtest their prototypes at the Playtest Zone @ North East Tabletop Expo 11th-13th July. Details on how to sign up here: meetu.ps/e/P2RDN/1w7T...

Playtest Zone @ North East Tabletop Expo, Fri, Jul 11, 2025, 12:00 PM | Meetup

Playtesting returns to Gateshead from the 11th to 13th of July this year! Showcase your tabletop game in our dedicated Playtest Zone at the North East Tabletop Expo where e

meetu.ps

2 2

Reposted by Rob Harris

Sabrina.C @sabrinac.bsky.social · Jun 30

This is where I plug the Horizon Fellowship program: if you're a newly established retailer or publisher in the BG industry, check out the program and see if it might make sense to apply. Applications open until July 31st! www.gama.org/Horizons

5 5

Reposted by Rob Harris

Sam Francis (Samphire Games) @tzartzam.bsky.social · Jun 27

Another useful playtest today of Dwarf Union: the first public playtest with four players. Militant faction needs more fun choices, but I'm happy with the direction the Ruler has taken - feels a much fuller experience. Players began negotiating above the table almost immediately which was a joy ☺️ 🎲✂️

1 2 6

Rob Harris @playtestuk.bsky.social · Jun 24

Great turnout for the London weekend Playtest meetup last
Sunday. 3 full tables of prototypes across 3+ sessions. From pandas to pirate mutinies to the Zodiac to epic snail adventures. The creativity is always astounding. Search out your local friendly Playtest meetup here: www.meetup.com/Playtest

A game prototype being played by four smiling playtesters

A small space themed prototype in the middle of a playtest.

Three playtesters enjoying a game prototype with a pirate theme.

A game design prototype with lovely components with two playtesters and the designer.

1 3 8

Reposted by Rob Harris

Rob Harper @harperrob.bsky.social · May 30

At #UKGamesExpo with @playtestuk.bsky.social and the Playtest Zone is getting good and busy.

Lots of people playing games in a big hall

1 2 14

Reposted by Rob Harris

Sam Francis (Samphire Games) @tzartzam.bsky.social · May 27

I'll be there playtesting on Friday morning at 10am!

Rob Harris @playtestuk.bsky.social · May 25

Playtest UK is running the Playtest Zone @ the UK Games Expo 2025 next weekend: Friday 30th May-Sunday 1st June.
169 designers are signed up to playtest their prototypes, with more drop-in spaces available on the day.
Here is the schedule:
tinyurl.com/2umhtv55

Playtest Zone 2025 Schedule

tinyurl.com

1 2

Rob Harris @playtestuk.bsky.social · May 27

No worries. We always have some drop-in sessions left that you can’t prebook. Come to the Playtest Zone and we’ll try and find you a space.

1

Rob Harris @playtestuk.bsky.social · May 25

Playtest UK is running the Playtest Zone @ the UK Games Expo 2025 next weekend: Friday 30th May-Sunday 1st June.
169 designers are signed up to playtest their prototypes, with more drop-in spaces available on the day.
Here is the schedule:
tinyurl.com/2umhtv55

Playtest Zone 2025 Schedule

tinyurl.com

2 6 15

Reposted by Rob Harris

Drentsoft Games - (Derwent) @drentsoftgames.bsky.social · May 22

Looking forward to UKGE next weekend. Have a 3 hour playtest session booked in the afternoon at @playtestuk.bsky.social Will be there on Saturday. Drop by to try Domino City and maybe a couple other games!

1 4

Reposted by Rob Harris

jo kelly @miasmacorp.bsky.social · May 12

The next Bristol Friday daytime playtesting event will be on 23rd May. Please sign up if you're interested!

@playtestuk.bsky.social

www.meetup.com/playtest/eve...

Poster with details for Playtest UK Bristol: Friday 23rd May, Excelsior!, 51-53 Merchant Street, Bristol, BS1 3EE, 10:30-16:30

6 11

Reposted by Rob Harris

jo kelly @miasmacorp.bsky.social · Apr 8

The next Bristol daytime playtest meetup is on 25 April at Excelsior! Please see the Meetup page for more information and sign up for a slot if you're coming.

@playtestuk.bsky.social

www.meetup.com/playtest/eve...

Bristol Daytime Playtest meetup, Fri, Apr 25, 2025, 10:30 AM | Meetup

If you're working on a game, whether it's an early idea or almost done, we want you! Board games, card games, puzzle games, silly or serious, short or long, any kind of gam

www.meetup.com

3 5

Rob Harris @playtestuk.bsky.social · Mar 12

Game designers & playtesters please join us this Sunday at The Jugged Hare pub in Vauxhall for the London Playtest UK weekend meetup. First-timers welcome. We’re a friendly bunch.
meetu.ps/e/NNBcb/1w7T...

London Playtest weekend meetup, Sun, Mar 16, 2025, 1:00 PM | Meetup

If you've designed a game, bring it along and give it a play or just enjoy playing other people's prototypes in a friendly and constructive atmosphere. If you would like t

meetu.ps

1 5 10

Reposted by Rob Harris

Robert StartPlayer @startplayer.bsky.social · Feb 17

Yesterday was the #Leeds @playtestuk.bsky.social Meetup.

I don’t seem to had time to work on anything recently. How do people manage to find time to do everything they want to do!

1 3

Reposted by Rob Harris

Minty Noodles Ltd. @mintynoodles.bsky.social · Feb 4

We always love playtesting!
It's one of the most valuable things we do to make sure all new aspects of our game development work 😵‍💫

Join us 21st February for a Playtest UK event at LHG Brewpub, Bristol.

Dm us to sign up!

#boardgame #boardgamedevelopers #playtest #bristolboardgaming #bristol

3 7

Reposted by Rob Harris

Mandela F-G @mandelafg.bsky.social · Jan 28

What a pleasant surprise and honour to see Sankoré nominated for a Cannes As D'Or.

Seems we did well @flopiano.bsky.social @ospreygames.bsky.social @ianotoole.bsky.social and SuperMeeple for the VF.

Images of nominees from FIJ As d'Or press release. Daybreak, Kutna Hora, and Sankoré: The Pride of Mansa Musa are the 3 games shown.

1 10