Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · 3d

Yup! You can use setLastCardLocation to specify the specific card location or the portion of the deck (e.g. last 20%). Read more here: docs.storysynth.org/guide/option...

Custom Options | Story Synth Documentation

How to design and publish games with the Story Synth storytelling game platform

docs.storysynth.org

2 1

Reposted by Randy Lubin

Mike Masnick @mmasnick.bsky.social · 12d

Some exciting news: this morning we launched a collaboration with @icrc.org: our Trust & Safety: Armed Conflict game. trust-and-safety-game.icrc.org

Trust & Safety: Armed Conflict

Navigate the challenging world of trust & safety amidst an unfolding armed conflict.

trust-and-safety-game.icrc.org

5 28 80

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · 12d

Our latest game is out! In Trust & Safety: Armed Conflict, you'll explore the challenges of running a social media company during an international conflict.

Designed with Copia Gaming and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Play it now: trust-and-safety-game.icrc.org

Trust & Safety: Armed Conflict

Navigate the challenging world of trust & safety amidst an unfolding armed conflict.

trust-and-safety-game.icrc.org

3

Reposted by Randy Lubin

Mike Masnick @mmasnick.bsky.social · 22d

For anyone who missed our Kickstarter for the very fun card game One Billion Users (or if you backed it and want extra copies) we just put up our remaining stock for sale. There are not that many, so this is your LAST CHANCE to get one. We also have a few discounted "damaged box" copies...

Techdirt @techdirt.com · 22d

Missed The Kickstarter? You’ve Got One Last Chance! Limited Copies Of Our Social Media Card Game Are Now Available

Over the past few months, we've been fulfilling the orders for all the backers who helped us launch One Billion Users, the social media card game, on Kickstarter. Now that process is…

Missed The Kickstarter? You’ve Got One Last Chance! Limited Copies Of Our Social Media Card Game Are Now Available

Over the past few months, we've been fulfilling the orders for all the backers who helped us launch One Billion Users, the social media card game, on Kickstarter. Now that process is almost complete (except for a few backers who haven't yet completed their orders and should do so as soon as possible) and we're left with a…

www.techdirt.com

7 21

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · Sep 2

In the game, players take on the roles of powerful organizations and influencers who react to an future disruption by posting to social media and spinning events in their favor.

It takes an hour to play, runs with 5-6 players (plus facilitator), and involves minimal prep. It's also 100% free!

3

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · Sep 2

I'm excited to share a new game called "Posting Through It" that I co-designed with @sidneyicarus.bsky.social

The game explores how online discourse changes how we experience global disruption and it's played over a fake social media platform.

Check it out: randylubin.itch.io/posting-thro...

Posting Through It by Randy Lubin, Sidney Icarus

Explore the consequences of a major disruption by playing organizations and influencers posting on social media

randylubin.itch.io

1 1 8

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · Aug 23

Hey - we covered this in Trust & Safety Tycoon!

Would you make a different decision? Play here: trustandsafety.fun

A screenshot from Trust and Safety Tycoon where players have to decide if they comply with an "age appropriate" state law. One option is to block the state

A screenshot with the result when you block the state: Everyone is angry at you. Politicians in Illinois call the geoblock a "stunt" and say that it proves that you don't care about children. Users both inside and outside of Illinois argue that this is too heavy handed a response.

1 15 71

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · Aug 22

Just got my copies from our One Billion Users Kickstarter. They look great!

A case containing copies of the game One Billion Users

1

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · Aug 21

I'm on this weeks Riskgaming podcast, discussing the challenges of exploring complex risks through game design

Danny and I had a great conversation and we shared the approaches and intuitions we bring to the design process

Podcast: pod.link/1615629580/e...

Transcript: substack.com/home/post/p-...

pod.link

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · Aug 18

Working the Case, my murder mystery storytelling game, is now officially out of beta!

I've tweaked the visual design of the playcards.io version and updated some of the cards content in the Cyberpunk and Space Station playsets.

Grab it now and play online! randylubin.itch.io/working-the-...

The cyberpunk playset for Working the Case - in this session, the Activist killed the Trillionaire

5 19

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · Jul 31

If you want to hear it in action, check out this actual play on Party of One: www.partyofonepodcast.com/2022/08/04/3...

@jeffstormer.gobirds.online and I had a great time creating a Columbo inflected space mystery on a decadent vacation station.

337 - Working the Case with Randy Lubin - Party Of One

Something deadly has occurred on Vacation Station. A body was found amidst the hydro displays and the glitz and glamour. The cops aren’t going to be of any help. Which means it comes down to two par...

www.partyofonepodcast.com

1 2

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · Jul 31

Our session was so much fun!

1

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · Jul 30

You can finally get "Working the Case" on Itch: randylubin.itch.io/working-the-...

It's a 30min gm-less murder mystery game in a fantasy, space, or cyberpunk setting. Play as investigators and match evidence cards to suspects, describing scenes along the way.

It's a blast!

Working the Case – Digital Beta by Randy Lubin

A collaborative mystery game where you uncover evidence, narrow down suspects, and catch the culprit.

randylubin.itch.io

1 7 21

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · Jul 16

Part 2: thegamedesignroundtable.com/episode/rpg-...

RPG – Serious Games Pt.2 – The Game Design Roundtable

thegamedesignroundtable.com

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · Jul 9

The latest episode of The Game Design Roundtable is about Serious Games. Come listen as @jmstar.bsky.social, Kathryn Hymes, and I discuss how we approach making games that are designed for education, training, and social impact: thegamedesignroundtable.com/episode/seas...

Season: RPG – Serious Games Pt.1 – The Game Design Roundtable

thegamedesignroundtable.com

1 3 11

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · Jul 7

There are also other tabs that control static game values, initial game state, and selector logic that we sometimes use to determine which screen to show next (using flags or game state)

1

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · Jul 7

There's a main tab that contains all of the possible game screens with content columns for the main text, player options, and decision results. There are also helper columns for changing game state, pointing to the next screen, and setting criteria for if options are visible and/or locked.

A screenshot of one dilemma in a spreadsheet, with different rows for response options

1 1

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · Jul 7

I can talk about building an interactive fiction engine powered by Google Sheets and optimizing the sheet workflow so non-designers can effectively collaborate on content and mechanics.

The case study game would be trustandsafety.fun where the spreadsheet ended up running over 27,000 words

Trust & Safety Tycoon

Manage your team, set policies, make investments, and tackle the challenging world of Trust & Safety

trustandsafety.fun

1 1

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · Jun 26

Glad it worked out!

2

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · Jun 26

Ooh nice - looking forward to playing it soon!

FYI pcio lets you create simple automations so you can create a "setup" button that automatically shuffles the decks, removes cards, and stacks them together.

1 1

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · Jun 10

I'm on the most recent episode of The Game Design Roundtable: thegamedesignroundtable.com/episode/seas...

We talk about foresight and serious games for organizations, how we collaborate with non-designer clients and experts, and lots of specific examples from my past collaborations and engagements

Season: RPG – Randy Lubin – RPGs in Organizational Settings – The Game Design Roundtable

thegamedesignroundtable.com

2

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · May 26

Not my game but The Lesser Players’ Tale by @lizziestark.bsky.social and @jmstar.bsky.social is my favorite game set in that period and one of my top ever play experiences!

3 5

Reposted by Randy Lubin

Mike Masnick @mmasnick.bsky.social · May 5

These are the LAST FEW DAYS to order a copy of our amazing card game, One Billion Users, and be sure you can get a copy.

Most news sites ask you for subscriptions to get news, we're *selling you the best card game ever* but for only 2 more days! www.kickstarter.com/projects/mma...

One Billion Users: The Social Media Card Game

A competitive card game to build the biggest and best social media platform

www.kickstarter.com

5 18 50

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · Mar 31

Just a few more days to back @jmstar.bsky.social 's new game Zhenya's Wonder Tales: www.backerkit.com/c/projects/b...

This game is a blast to play and I love how the cards help players tell a compelling story that hits key story beats while still enabling player creativity and improvisation

Zhenya's Wonder Tales

Zhenya’s Wonder Tales is a set of 6 card games retelling dark, Slavic-inspired fairy stories in 1-2 hours. Play a prince, a werewolf, an orphan, a monster hunter, and more to make difficult choices th...

www.backerkit.com

1 6

Randy Lubin @randylubin.com · Mar 26

Congrats to the winners of the Gaming Like It's 1929 game jam: www.techdirt.com/2025/03/26/a...

We had plenty of great submissions this year and I had a blast playing / reading through them!

Announcing The Winners Of The 7th Annual Public Domain Game Jam

It took us a little longer than usual this year (we’ve been swamped with other projects including the Kickstarter for our new card game) but the time has finally arrived: we’ve chosen t…

www.techdirt.com

1 3