PlayStation Owners, Get Your Starwhal On!

That's right PlayStation lovers, Starwhal is now available on the PlayStation Store for both PS3 and PS4! So if you have a hankering for a good old fashion competitive party game to bust out when you've got pals over, you can NOT go wrong with Starwhal. It is ridiculous fun and I recommend it for everybody! Also a reminder for folks who don't own a console of the PlayStation persuasion that Starwhal is also available for Mac and PC on Steam.

Space Grunt Available Now on the App Store!

Like platforming, shooting and jetpacks? Of course you do! Then check out Space Grunt, the latest game from my partner-in-crime, Phil Stroffolino. The game combines aspects of Jetpack Joyride, platform games and shoot-em-ups into a unique and challenging experience. You can even customize your character's skins, Minecraft style! So, check it out for the low low price of zero bucks!

Well hey hey hey, how appropriate for the season! Local indie dream team Breakfall will be re-releasing their super chill (pun intended) exploratory platform game Marvin' Mittens on Steam on December 17! If you're interested in checking it out, you'll be able to pick it up here. The game is a really unique experience that I totally recommend folks try out. So grab your toque and toboggan and see you in the snow!

Great Food in the Azores

Let me begin by saying that this post has absolutely nothing to do with games. I know it's off topic and everything, I just wanted to share the wonderful dining experience I had with my wife last night. 

A great diner is sometimes defined less by the food, delicious as it may be, than it is by the people. Our experience last night at Boca de Cena in Ponta Delgada on the island São Miguel in the Azores stood out thanks to one person in particular. You see, the restaurant, which serves reasonably priced upper class fare in a modern but intimate setting is owned and operated by the most delightful character. And, when I say owned and operated, I really mean it. He serves up to 30 diners, lunch and diner, five days a week and diner on Saturdays, all by himself. Absolutely no staff. He is Maître D'hôtel, waiter, busboy and chef all rolled into one. My wife and I couldn't help but chuckle as we watched him cartoonishly yet defly navigate the dining room bringing food to some tables and taking orders from others. A sight to behold. 

If you ever find yourself on São Miguel, find this wonderful little restaurant run by the most amazing and charismatic little lunatic and as you finish and make your way to exit, make sure and ask him how to get the door open, it's magic, you see.

Special thanks to the nice couple from B.C. who recommended the place and held out the restaurant's business card while I took a picture. 

Great Saturday Spent at Cardstockawa!

Every year (sometimes more), Martin Éthier of the Game Artisans of Canada invites us all into the woods for a cottage weekend of board game design and testing we've come to call Cardstockawa! 

Got Two Games From Tasty Minstrel

I got a package from Tasty Minstrel Games today containing Coin Age and This Town Ain't Big Enough for the 2-4 of Us. Both of these games were part of a series of microgame Kickstarter campaigns that Tasty Minstrel ran a few months ago. 

Theme ≠ Setting

Game designs discussions, especially around board games, often round the corner of comparing the value of theme versus mechanisms. Well, I say we've been using the word "theme" wrong. I posit that what we really mean to say is setting, not theme. So, what's the difference?