“I had a lot of experience in high school alone when I would share my excitement with someone, and then they’d immediately shut me down for being so excited. I would hate to see that within the fan community as well, because it does feel awful. If people are excited about something, let them be excited about it. And if you have constructive criticism, voice it — but never be the wet blanket on someone else’s excitement.” –Iman Vellani (Ms Marvel)
Last year, in addition to my annual challenge to create something meaningful to you, I added the recommendation to also play something meaningful to you. I believe in the power of play and the impact of embracing something you’re excited about.
What did you create in 2023 that was meaningful to you?
Here’s the framework for this question:
- create something: It’s easy (and fun) to get caught up in an idea, but you only become creative the moment you take your idea for a game, book, blog, video, painting, etc and actually start creating something (make a prototype, write a chapter, press record, etc).
- meaningful: It’s absolutely okay to create for the sake of creation–that’s what this challenge is all about. Choose something close to your heart and get to it. Or two things; I find it helpful to jump back and forth between two projects to avoid burnout.
- to you: The only measure of success in this challenge is if you actually make something. Do this for yourself. I think it’s helpful at some point if you share your creation with others, but the goal isn’t publication or money or views. The goal is to create something you want to create.
I had a lot of fun in 2023 organizing the Wingspan Fan Art Pack, developing a few games/expansions that will release in 2024 and 2025, and making significant progress (thousands of hours) on my open-world game. It also continues to be meaningful to me to write this blog and talk about game design on YouTube.
What did you play in 2023 that was meaningful to you?
At its best, tabletop play provides a joyful, memorable, and satisfying experience. The stakes are low–there’s no real-world impact if you win or lose a tabletop game–so it’s an opportunity to be clever, sneaky, and fearless as we explore worlds we’ll probably never otherwise see. You can set your own terms as to what is meaningful to you, but my one recommendation is that you don’t make it a chore or a task.
Here are a few particularly meaningful and memorable gaming experiences for me in 2023:
- Playing my 4-year-old nephew’s first game (Patchwork)
- Playing the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser LARP/megagame in Orlando
- Experiencing the talent and creativity at Design Day
- Playing several campaign games with Megan (including most recently the spectacular Roll Player Adventures expansion)
- Hosting a long weekend of gaming and disc golf at the Gamer’s Ranch in the middle of Missouri
- Attending a small friend convention full of geeky activities (Groupvergence)
- Hosting disc golf outings on both Geekway to the West and Design Day weekends
Looking Forward to 2024
- What will you create in 2024 that is meaningful to you? This can be something completely new or something you’re continuing to create from 2023. What’s the first step you’ll take?
- What will you play in 2024 that is meaningful to you? This could focus on the game/sport itself, the location, the people, etc.
I’m eager to finish my open-world game in 2024, wrap up development on a few other games, and then honestly just see what I’m excited to work on next–I’ll bounce around between a few ideas to see what I’m having the most fun with and what I think could bring joy to others.
As for games, I want to be open to the unexpected, as some of the games that delight me the most are complete surprises. I look forward to another Design Day, Gamers Ranch, Geekway, and Groupvergence, along with a few more campaign games with Megan, weekly disc golf, and many fun game nights–in person, virtual, and Rolling Realms liveplays–with wonderful people.
I look forward to hearing your answers about 2023 and 2024 in the comments!
***
Related articles:
- Create Something Meaningful to You in 2022
- What Did You Create in 2022 That Was Meaningful to You?
- Play Something Meaningful to You in 2023
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19 Comments on “Meaningful Creations and Play: Looking Back at 2023 and Forward to 2024”
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This is the first time I read about you working on an open-world game – that’s very exciting and I’m hugely curious what your take on this (challenging!) genre will look like!
[…] 10. You define success for yourself: I spoke to a designer earlier this year about their unpublished game, and this person had become fixated on their game winning the Kennerspiel des Jahres (a big German award) because people in the industry kept telling them that was the future of this game. These industry insiders were setting a completely unrealistic framework of success for this new designer, and I encouraged them to instead define their own success, just as Adam does in his video. I prefer frameworks of success that I actually have control over: For example, success can be getting a prototype to the table or following through on a game to completion (opposed to defining success based on awards, sales, or even publication). I discuss this in more detail in my recent post about creating something meaningful to you in 2024. […]
I’m happy with what I created in 2023 and I look forward to 2024! My biggest creation of 2023 would undoubtedly be my renovation: I tore down my veranda and I have built a home office / gaming room instead. The first half of the year was all about the renovation, and in the second half of the year, I spent countless hours in that new office to create all kinds of board game related stuff I’m very happy with.
For 2024, I have more projects in the pipeline I look forward to. And recently, I started creating a board game of my own. I don’t know if it will ever work out, but I am eager to make something out of it in the coming year, which I can test and play with friends and family.
Thank you for everything Stonemaier has created in 2023. Managing my renovation has been tough at times, but playing Expeditions, Apiary, and other board games helped a lot. :-)
Congrats on the renovation, Karel! From the photos you’ve shared, it looks like a really wonderful room. I appreciate your help with Rolling Realms, the Wingspan Fan Art Pack, and the Tapestry revised civ pack.
I bought a 3D printer and have spent a lot of time learning to successfully print models designed by others. I hope to learn 3D design in 2024.
I also hope to learn to paint models.
That’s impressive!
Well, kept on paiting Battlefleet Gothic miniatures. We had our first ever campaing. Still kept doing Warp Rift the Battlefleet Gothic fan magazine.
Next year: paint big stuff. Celebrate 25 years of Battlefleet Gothic and celebrate 20th anniversary of Warp Rift.
I’m new to the Stonemaier community and happy to be here! I find all your blog posts inspirational and make me want to turn my 5+ games into reality and see if others enjoy them as much as I do! I’m currently working on a game (for the last 4 months) with 2 family members, and I think it’s got a fighting chance to be interesting enough to grow some wings. We finally nailed down the gameplay over this Christmas break and now we need to start the rigorous playtesting process with family/friends to make sure we can’t “break it” :), and make sure it’s as enjoyable as we set out to make it. Thanks for all your inspiring blog posts and all you do! I’m very happy to have found this community and plan on sticking around.
Thanks Greg! The good news is that if you’ve gotten your a game to the table it is a reality! :)
This month, I picked up playing the mandolin I had gotten years ago but never really learned to play. I’m hoping to spend more time making music with it, my piano, and my guitars this year.
I started working on a game idea recently that I’d like to flesh out to see if I can make a workable, fun game for my family.
I’m impressed by your musical range! I hope you have fun with the mandolin (and the game).
In terms of creating, definitely my cakes. There is nothing equal to a customer coming to me with an idea and bringing it to life! My highlight is when I was asked to make a Bendy game themed cake and the developers and creators comment it on it :0
In terms of games highlight, it has to be the journal entries for Expeditions. One of the best easter egg I have ever seen and to have been the first one to notice the difference and coordinating the effort to finding them all was incredibly special, exciting and fulfilling :)
My partner got gloomhaven for Christmas so I’m super excited to begin a compaign with him!
SM games are always my go too and I’m thankful for the company and what they achieve year after year. I hope 2024 is better for my family health wise but regardless, I always have SM games when I need an escape from the pain and the stress.
Thank you Jamey, Alan and team and happy new year ❤️
That’s wonderful about the cakes, Valerie! And I’m glad you had fun coordinating the 20 different journal entries for Expeditions–it made me happy to see that come to life. I hope 2024 is better for your family in terms of health!
I got 4 brand new friends into board gaming. Using Viticulture, I hosted (but didn’t play) a night where I taught it and watched them play. Encouraging some friendly banter and competition and they loved it. All of them are now proud owners of the game and spread it to their families over Christmas!
That’s wonderful, Darren! Very generous of you to focus on teaching instead of playing–thank you. :)
2023 was a great year for me. It started off really uncertain and anxiety inducing but ended on a really positive note. I am more excited about making boardgames as a career and am optimistic about my future.
In 2024 I hope to successfully fund my second Kickstarter so I can get my game out there in the hands of players. I’ve attended so many conferences this year as a test to see if what I’ve made is any fun and if the hundreds of smiling faces from playtesters this year is any indication, then my game will be a success.
Thanks for all that you do Jamey, have a happy new year!
Thanks, Wonmin! I appreciate you sharing that, and it’s awesome that you’ve put yourself out there at conventions to showcase your game.
Playing a regular campaign of Frosthaven with my best friends has been meaningful in 2023. But also finally finding some board games that my non-gaming wife actually asks to play more of – Othello (which she always trounces me at) and Dorfromantik, which is her first co-op game.
That’s great! Thanks for sharing.