Good Time Hat

Good Time Hat

@goodtimehat.bsky.social

Board game maker in the Seattle area. Get a copy of Overgrown today at https://goodtimehat.com/overgrown#BuyNow

47 followers65 following69 posts

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

I guess I should have known these existed, but it’s baffling to me that someone would make a rules-enforced prototype. Let alone vibe-code one. Especially early on, I feel like a lot of prototyping is running into questions of how something should work …as you’re playtesting it.

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Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

First ride from the new Pinehurst station 💚 It’s been awesome to see how quickly Link has expanded over the past couple years, and it’s a bummer to see its future expansion being delayed My appetite for trains is as bottomless in real life as it is in board games

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

While Dawnwalker does seem extremely up my alley, I haven’t played it and can’t comment directly. Re: in game timers though, many of my recent experiences with them have been pretty rough because I’ve found them far too generous

Kotaku@kotaku.com

Kill the creature in your head that hates friction https://kotaku.com/the-blood-of-dawnwalker-sequel-time-mechanic-rebel-wolves-2000735592

kotaku.comIt'd Be A Disaster If The Blood Of Dawnwalker Sequels Got Rid Of The Time Mechanic - KotakuIt's the most interesting thing about the game and players should be mature enough to accept that
Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

Both Disco Elysium and Seance of Blake Manor had stretches of them where I was fairly certain I was ready to move on, but had a ton of time on the clock still. So I ended up wandering around searching for stuff for way too long until inevitably spamming the “pass time” button

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

The fact that the Dawnwalker dev mentioned being able to do 80% of the content with the timer in place does make me hopeful that it doesn’t run into the same issue, but frankly I’d be much more excited if there was only time for like 50% of the content 😂

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

I was super lucky to be boothing next to someone selling games from her various international trips. I was enamored by this game, and how could I not be? Box art straight from board games' "expressionless man" era, inexplicable typography choices in the title, and just look at this diagram!

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

She ended up giving it to me at the end of the trip, along with way more games than the single copy of Overgrown I gave her is worth. I ended up loving the game as much as I loved the box. It somehow manages to pack a huge amount of game into its actually accurate 60 min suggested playtime.

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

I played "Processing" at Gateway last weekend, and it has a problem that I feel like I'm seeing more and more: the stuff that makes the game interesting are all hidden in the "advanced rules". I totally understand the push to break up the rules and get players into the game as fast as possible...

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Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

It got me thinking about games that have a reduced ruleset first playthrough that still has the essence of what makes the game unique. The best examples I can think of are games with variable setup that dictate what parts should be used for the 1st game, but that's not really a reduced ruleset.

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

I would love to hear other people's thoughts on games that have a simplified 1st game. Or if anyone has examples of games that they think do it really well, I would love to hear about them as well.

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

I played "Processing" at Gateway last weekend, and it has a problem that I feel like I'm seeing more and more: the stuff that makes the game interesting are all hidden in the "advanced rules". I totally understand the push to break up the rules and get players into the game as fast as possible...

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

...what's confusing is when publishers distill a 1st play experience that's missing the hook that would make me want to play again. I ended up quite liking the game after giving it a 2nd try with the added rules. They take a simple bidding game and add some unique push your luck nonsense.

boardgamegeek.comProcessing: A Game of Serving HumanityProcessing is a game of terrible democracy. Aliens have conquered Earth, but that's not the worst of it. As a survivor, you've been enslaved to figure out who gets "Processed," "Probed...
Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

Hello Gateway! First con with actual copies of 🌿Overgrown🌿 to sell. Looking forward to showing people the game during the day and playing some new games at night. We have a little photo booth at our table for people to find their favorite animal/ecosystem combinations! 📸

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

I've been getting lovely comments and messages from backers after playing their first games of Overgrown, and even though it received positive feedback at conventions and in playtesting, it's still a huge relief to see that players love it out in the wild 💚

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

Through a confluence of destiny, Overgrown’s Kickstarter overlapped with the first Systemic Kickstarter. Both volumes feature artwork by Overgrown’s artist @andyalvesart.bsky.social, and I would definitely recommend backing! I know I have! 💚

Ben Crane@bencranewrites.com

The Systemic Kickstarter is so close to $4K you can taste it!* Check out the campaign and get some incredible speculative fiction comics from some of your favorite indie creators--and maybe find a few new favorites while you're at it! www.kickstarter.com/projects/art...

kickstarter.comSYSTEMIC VOL. 2: A 92-page SF/F anthologyThe hit anthology returns with nine all-new stories where infinitely critical human lives and systemic forces grind together.
Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

A very heartwarming read. My little guy isn’t even a year old yet, but I’m excited to share this hobby with him once he’s older

Dan Thurot@danthurot.bsky.social

Blancat is about quilting for kittens. It's also about my seven-year-old learning how to concentrate, shedding tears, and coming back to try again. My review: spacebiff.com/2026/08/04/b...

spacebiff.comQuilt for KittenNutgoo.Lee’s Blancat made my seven-year-old cry. I know. That’s a movable bar. She was tired from a long day of playing in the sun, but she wanted to try the “kittie quilting game…
Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

I would recommend them to pretty much anyone, as the stories told within are engrossing even if you only have a passing familiarity with the games discussed But, I can’t recommend them enough to anyone interested in how games get made

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

Really glad that Connor is out making the case that not every design has to be an attempt at a best-seller. I'm also super excited to see how the board game design space is expanding in recent years thanks to things like the Indie Game Night Market.

Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU@connor.alwaysawake.games

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how so much game design advice that’s available is really just business/product advice. It’s got a lot of survivorship bias and as a result, it’s homogenising and dissuading a lot of what’s possible. So…I’m making a little vlog series about it!

youtu.beMultiple Win Conditions: Welcome!YouTube video by Always Awake Games
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Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

Product focused advice also seems to have a much more "objective" basis (games with this design philosophy sold 1 million copies, therefore you should follow it) which might be why folks reach for it more readily.

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

More artistically focused critique/advice is less common for board games, but I'm glad to see more of it. It can only be good for the medium as a whole and I'm excited to see what comes out of it.

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

Really glad that Connor is out making the case that not every design has to be an attempt at a best-seller. I'm also super excited to see how the board game design space is expanding in recent years thanks to things like the Indie Game Night Market.

Always Awake Games (Connor) 🔜 PaxU@connor.alwaysawake.games

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how so much game design advice that’s available is really just business/product advice. It’s got a lot of survivorship bias and as a result, it’s homogenising and dissuading a lot of what’s possible. So…I’m making a little vlog series about it!

youtu.beMultiple Win Conditions: Welcome!YouTube video by Always Awake Games
Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

I am sympathetic to why that mass-market focused advice is so common; the pressure to monetize your hobbies seems to increase every day, and I would be lying if I said I didn't rely on the justification of possibly making money to spend as much time and effort on Overgrown as I did.

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

It’s been a minute since I played Everdell. It’s still one of my most admired game productions I used to be turned off by games with random markets, but my heart has been softened to their more easy going vibe It still feels bad to be waiting on a card you know exists and not receive it though 😅

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

I don't have it in me to just be solely negative about something on the internet, so I'm doing a little compliment sandwich: - No Thanks! is one of my favorite pub games - The Magenta Edition of No Thanks! is a legibility nightmare - I love these little guys

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

Super excited for the Future of Games expo in Olympia next weekend! Can't wait to meet more folks in the WA tabletop industry and check out some of the panels. Having the manufactured PPC of Overgrown to share while I'm there is definitely a bonus. Let me know if you're going to be there!

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you’ve been to: Way too hard to pick a top 5, but… Ben Folds (both Five and solo) Anamanaguchi The Family Crest Polyphia Phish Also Happy Thanksgiving!

Ben Crane@bencranewrites.com

Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you’ve been to: I don't think I've been to a concert since my parents took me to The Kingston Trio when I was maybe 7? Music does nothing for me. Like, it's just repetitive monologues with extra steps. Maybe not the point of this exercise, but that's me!

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

I’m incredibly grateful to the employees at Kickstarter for creating and maintaining a platform that has allowed so many great games (including Overgrown!) to exist. It’s always disappointing to hear when a company starts taking its employees for granted.

Kickstarter United@kickstarterunited.org

‼️🚨KICKSTARTER WORKERS ARE ON STRIKE🚨‼️ As of 8am this morning, the workers of Kickstarter United/OPEIU Local 153 are on strike. WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR A BOYCOTT! Creators and allies, please continue using and supporting the platform.

Good Time Hat reposted

Board Game Addict UK
@boardgameaddictuk.bsky.social

Overgrown is LIVE! This is a tile laying game with a different as you try to attract wildlife to your city and avoiding pollution. A couple of unique twists and a fun drafting mechanic make this a must play! www.kickstarter.com/projects/goo... #kickstarter #boardgame

kickstarter.comOvergrown: A Tricky Tile-Laying Game of Nature ReclamationCombine sunlight, water, and earth to help nature overtake an abandoned city!
Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

🌿Overgrown🌿 is LIVE and already funded! Not only that, but we've hit our first stretch goal! I couldn't be happier with the response we've seen so far and I can't wait to get Overgrown into people's hands 🎉

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

I managed to get our group together for a session of 7th Citadel. At this rate we'll finish in 2035, which is a shame because I end every session freshly impressed with how good of a storytelling game it is, and how well it incorporates the exploration and survival mechanics into the narrative 😲

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

Apple seems to have largely moved away from lashing out at their competitors in their advertising. So seeing this UI artifact of a windows machine being represented by a blue-screening breadbox was almost nostalgic 😂

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

Extremely disappointed in CGE for this. Galaxy Trucker is one of the games that got me into modern board games. Also, these brand-centered editions of party games are always terrible and you should not buy them even when they aren’t funneling money directly to a one woman anti-trans Super PAC.

Marceline is Racing Dinos@marcelineleiman.bsky.social

More and more content creators, game designers, and game purchasers are making a pledge not to buy from, pitch, or promote CGE or their games for the foreseeable future. Until they release a more meaningful statement where they pledge to make things right. Join us however is applicable to you.

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

Still waiting on my copy of Moon Colony Bloodbath, but this made me even more excited for it to arrive

Board Game Addict UK@boardgameaddictuk.bsky.social

The second part of my top ten games of 2025 countdown looking at games #5 to # 1 ! What has been your favourite 2025 release so far? www.instagram.com/reel/DLrcgMf...

instagram.comLogin • InstagramWelcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

Good Time Hat reposted

Ross 💙🎲 MoreGamesPlease
@moregamesplease.com

Hey, tabletop folk. I know lots of you struggle with self-promotion, so let me help! Are you working on something cool? Do you provide services? Created a good video/podcast/article? Taken an ace photo? Run an event? Post below, and let's get a self-promotion mega thread going!

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

Our first video for 🌿Overgrown🌿 is complete! We figured we’d start with a short and sweet overview before getting to the longer videos. I’m happy with the way it turned out, but definitely want to keep improving as we work our way towards the Kickstarter campaign video!

Good Time Hat
@goodtimehat.bsky.social

I was lucky enough to meet @giaco.bsky.social from @techraptor.net at PAX U and demo Overgrown to him. It was nice getting to talk to him about the game, and it’s surreal to see Overgrown mentioned alongside games that I’m personally looking forward to. techraptor.net/tabletop/fea...

techraptor.netThese are the best new games at PAX Unplugged 2024, and we think they'll be your favorites soon tooWe spent the weekend checking out the best new games at PAX Unplugged 2024 and brought together a list of our favorite entries!