We're not sure if labeling local games drives a lot more sales, but we do hear it increases engagement with the store -- people ask questions, and that's important for selling *something*. The catalog itself is also an attraction driver. People love to browse them, and sometimes try to take a copy!

Stores know that competing in today's economy requires constant events to bring people in, which opens the door for more partnerships with designers who are eager to show off their games and connect with customers. A lot of players are so excited to find real humans behind their favorite games!

⚡Labyrinth is one of the real ones ⚡ Designed in the DMV has been working with local stores throughout the DC-MD-VA region to tag games made by local designers. The ones who do find it's a great way to engage customers and remind them that they're local businesses also run by humans...

So if you hand-craft a copy of your game for a charity auction, maybe check when the auction closes first? That said: This is a deluxe version of The Bonsai Diary in its original layout. It's one of a kind, but you can get the final version at GenCon from @ipr.bsky.social, booth 449!

I'm working on a thing

Once again, IPR is making magic at GenCon. Pick up your copy of The Bonsai Diary at booth 449, then check out all the other indie titles pushing the boundaries of our hobby.

I turned the ColorJam logo into a ColorJammable page! I love this game so much, and I'm very confident you will, too. Please follow it on Kickstarter!

♦️🎲 Coming soon ♦️🎲

Come discover journaling games! Whether you love... ♟️ solo board games 🎲 TTRPGs 🔏 journaling ✍️ creative writing ... there's something here for you. Don't know where to start? There's just 13 hours left to get this bundle of the 2026 ENNIES Best Solo Game nominees: itch.io/b/3797/2026-...

You can even come back to vote in a category you haven't yet! So if you haven't cast your ballot for Best Solo Game or Product of the Year, would you consider doing so for The Bonsai Diary? (Check out my Code Purple smoker's voice!) 2/2

Don’t know where to start? All five creators of games nominated for a "Best Solo Game" ENnie Award got together to offer this bundle at 50% off, to give you a chance to play and find out: itch.io/b/3797/2026-... 20/▶️

[ This is when, in the video, I finish my forest walk and reach its destination, a small creek. I crouch by the gurgling water and ask the viewer to just watch and listen with me ] 14/▶️

"I found it clinging to a crack in an old stone wall, roots gripping dust and moss, already teaching me that small things can survive impossible places." 9/▶️

I started with a simple observation: when you use ChatGPT or similar LLM, you feed it a prompt and it generates a response, but when you play a journaling game, it gives YOU a prompt and YOU generate a response. 2/▶️

Earlier this week I released a video, “Can AI play journaling games?” I answered the question (no, it can’t), but the title was a bit of a misdirect. The real question I was interested in is: What is human about playing journaling games? A 🧵 for those who can't/don't watch video 🎞️ 1/▶️

I shot a video essay about journaling games and in trying to upload them learned what a rank amateur I am ⏭️ It's too long for Reels or Shorts ↕️ It's the wrong orientation for YouTube Longs (? is that what regular videos are called now?) Anyway, it'll be done when it's done I guess 🤷

Finally, if that sounds like the kind of game you want to support, give The Bonsai Diary some votes in this year's ENNIES: vote.ennie-awards.com/vote/2026/

"the tree that you just tended to, to then answer those prompts. Meaning that each person is going to have a unique experience when they play this game because this game understands that conversation between art and the viewer... 5/8

"...to that piece of art... It's almost like this conversation." "The prompts, they don't change in this game. If I played this game again, I know what prompts are going to be there. But when you first play them, they're surprising. They're jarring sometimes... almost like explosive prompts. 2/8

In 1999, the Austin Powers movie gleefully settled for second place, after Star Wars I. Anyway, even if you like some other blockbuster game, you can still toss your second vote at The Bonsai Diary. That's how ENNIES voting works -- ranked order, with two winners! vote.ennie-awards.com/vote/2026/

One is the loneliest number (and means so many things) (This is not responsive to that d00d, but to the original post, I do suspect some 1s mean something qualitative to some users)

It takes great courage to post a lawn sign, and even more to post a .png, but it is time that I spoke my truth

I'm still glowing from last week's news that The Bonsai Diary has been nominated for two ENNIES: Best Solo Game and Product of the Year. Amongst the sumptuous feast of other nominees, my game feels like a plain cup of water. I'm proud of it.

I'm very pleased to share that The Bonsai Diary is now available en français through Les Foundations de l'Imaginaire. Please share with your favorite francophone friend! www.neoludis.com/produit/le-j...

This is what the moon did to my camera a few months ago so play this game and F that moon up

But seriously: Motorcycle Knights, it's time to loot coins with Phoebe Bridgers

So congratulations to fellow inaugural nominees: ✒️ @pawelkicman.bsky.social 🏅 Odyssey of the Giant ✒️ @innocentgoblin.bsky.social 🏅 Pirouette ✒️ @almostbedtime.bsky.social 🏅 Song of the Scryptwyrm ✒️ @backwardsttrpg.bsky.social 🏅 SPINE It's an honor for The Bonsai Diary to stand in your company! 3/▶️

They are also opportunities to both create and introspect with no one there to judge you. So many people I talk to feel self-conscious about their writing or drawing skills. When you sit by yourself with a game, you are suddenly free. And that's something wonderful to celebrate, too. 2/▶️

I'm very excited that this year, the ENNIE Awards added a new category to recognize the explosion of solo games. Solo RPGs and journaling games have so much potential to explore topics, experiences, and feelings that are much harder in group settings. 1/▶️

A few examples of bonsai gifted by Japan (the attribution is to the imperial family), the first celebrating its eleventy-first birthday