This year was unusually special for me as I came in with a heavy heart: I felt the market pressures shaping long form social games posed an ethical dilemma, forcing me to face the possibility of having to exit the video game industry at some point. Fortunately, working with the smart people at PH got me thinking along different lines to the point where I can now imagine a different future. With some hope restored, how could I not indulge in a wacky game of “Chubby Bunny” (smack in the middle of a game of Citadelles)!

Thanks to everyone for sharing your collective optimism, letting me tap your brains and showing me all sorts of cool games. Special thanks to my fellow Armani Straitjackets for giving me reasons to believe. Super special thanks to Linda, Theresa and George for organizing such a kick ass event. See y’all next year, YEEE-HAW!

1:00 am sunday morning. Project Horseshoe 2008 is coming to an end.

I can’t talk about the specifics of what happened because of the local “code of secrecy” but I will say this: where else could I get to act as a snooty french sooth in a play by Steve Meretzky (wikipedia)? :)

PH is an experience that leaves me highly energized. In fact, this year, I came to realize how starved I am for this type of interaction back in France. The game community in the US is much more concentrated, there are so many more people interested and really thinking about design here. And at PH, not only do I get fantastic mental stimulation, I’m also at home like nowhere else. I feel close to everyone and there’s a pervasive spirit of playfulness that makes me happy.

This is my tribe.

I am very grateful.

“Project Horseshoe is a safe place for the discussion of radical concepts and the combination of efforts by employees of rival companies. The safety of these activities depends upon the Project Horseshoe’s brothers’ and sisters’ having confidence in each other’s discretion when relating in any manner Horseshoe’s content and events outside of the Horseshoe group.
(…)
On the other hand, any Horseshoe group member is entitled to invoke the “Horseshoe Code of Blabbing” in order to spread beneficial information outside of Horseshoe.”

Basically, we have to clear any information before it’s aired. Which is why it might take a while before I post anything substantial about what’s happening here – if ever. Sorry!

Believe it or not (I still don’t) but I actually squeezed myself into Project Horsheshoe this year!
I arrived at Canyon of the Eagles early this afternoon and all I can say is the place is unbelievable. My room is a beautiful little cabin facing the lake and right now I’m sitting in the main hall listening to George Sanger, Brian Moriarty and Bob Bates and every few minutes some amazing game person is walking through the doors.

I can tell this is going to be great… :)