Ben Dyson
@benjdyson.bsky.social
Decision making in games, art, sound / vision & the brain beneath it all. Game designer? Immigrant. He / him. @benjdyson
All table reservations for fine Takoyaki dining at #FallCon25 are fully booked!
Although our restaurant is at capacity for scheduled opening hours, walk-ins may be accepted- just come by and say hi!
Although our restaurant is at capacity for scheduled opening hours, walk-ins may be accepted- just come by and say hi!
August 21, 2025 at 12:14 AM
All table reservations for fine Takoyaki dining at #FallCon25 are fully booked!
Although our restaurant is at capacity for scheduled opening hours, walk-ins may be accepted- just come by and say hi!
Although our restaurant is at capacity for scheduled opening hours, walk-ins may be accepted- just come by and say hi!
Some huge games of Tenure Track going down at #BerlinBrettSpiel25! Thanks to all the fantastic playtesters who came by today.
August 2, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Some huge games of Tenure Track going down at #BerlinBrettSpiel25! Thanks to all the fantastic playtesters who came by today.
Tenure Track is live at Table 16 in Prototype Alley at #BerlinBrettSpiel25. Come by and say hi!
August 2, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Tenure Track is live at Table 16 in Prototype Alley at #BerlinBrettSpiel25. Come by and say hi!
@fallconyyc.bsky.social playtesting times for my 2025 Canadian Game Design Award #CDGA finalist Takoyaki have been announced. Sign up via Cardboard Events and I look forward to showing you the game!
Friday 22nd August 1pm - 3pm
Friday 22nd August 3pm - 5pm
Saturday 23rd August 12pm - 2pm
Friday 22nd August 1pm - 3pm
Friday 22nd August 3pm - 5pm
Saturday 23rd August 12pm - 2pm
July 15, 2025 at 2:32 PM
@fallconyyc.bsky.social playtesting times for my 2025 Canadian Game Design Award #CDGA finalist Takoyaki have been announced. Sign up via Cardboard Events and I look forward to showing you the game!
Friday 22nd August 1pm - 3pm
Friday 22nd August 3pm - 5pm
Saturday 23rd August 12pm - 2pm
Friday 22nd August 1pm - 3pm
Friday 22nd August 3pm - 5pm
Saturday 23rd August 12pm - 2pm
Received Playtesting Best Practices by Chris Backe as part of @gengelstein.bsky.social Guides To Tabletop Game Design
Nice to see the concept of 'double coding'- in Cognitive Psychology we call this 'redundancy gain': better discrimination when objects differ on 2 (rather than 1) features
Nice to see the concept of 'double coding'- in Cognitive Psychology we call this 'redundancy gain': better discrimination when objects differ on 2 (rather than 1) features
July 10, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Received Playtesting Best Practices by Chris Backe as part of @gengelstein.bsky.social Guides To Tabletop Game Design
Nice to see the concept of 'double coding'- in Cognitive Psychology we call this 'redundancy gain': better discrimination when objects differ on 2 (rather than 1) features
Nice to see the concept of 'double coding'- in Cognitive Psychology we call this 'redundancy gain': better discrimination when objects differ on 2 (rather than 1) features
What can science tell us about games?
Combining experimental design with game design enables the empirical validation of choices made by commercial games. In Ghost Blitz, the frequency that players experience a task switching cost predicted the reduction in self-reported fun
(3/3) ⛔
Combining experimental design with game design enables the empirical validation of choices made by commercial games. In Ghost Blitz, the frequency that players experience a task switching cost predicted the reduction in self-reported fun
(3/3) ⛔
July 8, 2025 at 5:48 PM
What can science tell us about games?
Combining experimental design with game design enables the empirical validation of choices made by commercial games. In Ghost Blitz, the frequency that players experience a task switching cost predicted the reduction in self-reported fun
(3/3) ⛔
Combining experimental design with game design enables the empirical validation of choices made by commercial games. In Ghost Blitz, the frequency that players experience a task switching cost predicted the reduction in self-reported fun
(3/3) ⛔
What can games tell us about science?
This research shows how the constraint of task switching is hidden in the card game Ghost Blitz. Surface characteristics are important as the game is more fun and performance faster with the commercial stimuli compared to a ‘experiment-like’ format
(2/3) 👇
This research shows how the constraint of task switching is hidden in the card game Ghost Blitz. Surface characteristics are important as the game is more fun and performance faster with the commercial stimuli compared to a ‘experiment-like’ format
(2/3) 👇
July 8, 2025 at 5:48 PM
What can games tell us about science?
This research shows how the constraint of task switching is hidden in the card game Ghost Blitz. Surface characteristics are important as the game is more fun and performance faster with the commercial stimuli compared to a ‘experiment-like’ format
(2/3) 👇
This research shows how the constraint of task switching is hidden in the card game Ghost Blitz. Surface characteristics are important as the game is more fun and performance faster with the commercial stimuli compared to a ‘experiment-like’ format
(2/3) 👇
What can science tell us about games?
Combining experimental design with game design enables the empirical validation of choices made by commercial games. In Ghost Blitz, the frequency that players experience a task switching cost predicted the reduction in self-reported fun.
Combining experimental design with game design enables the empirical validation of choices made by commercial games. In Ghost Blitz, the frequency that players experience a task switching cost predicted the reduction in self-reported fun.
July 8, 2025 at 5:13 PM
What can science tell us about games?
Combining experimental design with game design enables the empirical validation of choices made by commercial games. In Ghost Blitz, the frequency that players experience a task switching cost predicted the reduction in self-reported fun.
Combining experimental design with game design enables the empirical validation of choices made by commercial games. In Ghost Blitz, the frequency that players experience a task switching cost predicted the reduction in self-reported fun.
What can games tell us about science?
This research shows how the constraint of task switching is hidden in the card game Ghost Blitz. Surface characteristics are important as the game is more fun and performance faster with the commercial stimuli compared to a ‘experiment-like’ format
This research shows how the constraint of task switching is hidden in the card game Ghost Blitz. Surface characteristics are important as the game is more fun and performance faster with the commercial stimuli compared to a ‘experiment-like’ format
July 8, 2025 at 5:13 PM
What can games tell us about science?
This research shows how the constraint of task switching is hidden in the card game Ghost Blitz. Surface characteristics are important as the game is more fun and performance faster with the commercial stimuli compared to a ‘experiment-like’ format
This research shows how the constraint of task switching is hidden in the card game Ghost Blitz. Surface characteristics are important as the game is more fun and performance faster with the commercial stimuli compared to a ‘experiment-like’ format
My Canadian Game Design Award 2025 Finalist prototype 'Takoyaki' is now on its way to the CGDA judges.
And not a moment too soon according to the file status of my rule book... @fallconyyc.bsky.social
And not a moment too soon according to the file status of my rule book... @fallconyyc.bsky.social
July 3, 2025 at 6:38 PM
My Canadian Game Design Award 2025 Finalist prototype 'Takoyaki' is now on its way to the CGDA judges.
And not a moment too soon according to the file status of my rule book... @fallconyyc.bsky.social
And not a moment too soon according to the file status of my rule book... @fallconyyc.bsky.social
This is super exciting news @fallconyyc.bsky.social! I'm looking forward to playing all the 2025 CGDA Finalist games and meeting all the designers in Prototype Alley.
Time for a Takoyaki teaser?
Time for a Takoyaki teaser?
July 2, 2025 at 7:34 PM
This is super exciting news @fallconyyc.bsky.social! I'm looking forward to playing all the 2025 CGDA Finalist games and meeting all the designers in Prototype Alley.
Time for a Takoyaki teaser?
Time for a Takoyaki teaser?
Saturday at #SARMAC2025 (8:45am; Boardroom 1) I'll be contributing to Teaching About Research in Memory & Cognition (TARMAC) @psychualberta.bsky.social @ualberta.bsky.social
'Assessing the replicability of Cognitive Psychology during remote experiential learning via mobile phone technology'
'Assessing the replicability of Cognitive Psychology during remote experiential learning via mobile phone technology'
June 13, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Saturday at #SARMAC2025 (8:45am; Boardroom 1) I'll be contributing to Teaching About Research in Memory & Cognition (TARMAC) @psychualberta.bsky.social @ualberta.bsky.social
'Assessing the replicability of Cognitive Psychology during remote experiential learning via mobile phone technology'
'Assessing the replicability of Cognitive Psychology during remote experiential learning via mobile phone technology'
An extremely fun morning at #LinCon25 playtesting Tenure Track as a finalist for the Swedish Annual Game Award (Anvil Category). Looking forward to seeing some of the other finalists this afternoon! @psychualberta.bsky.social
May 29, 2025 at 12:31 PM
An extremely fun morning at #LinCon25 playtesting Tenure Track as a finalist for the Swedish Annual Game Award (Anvil Category). Looking forward to seeing some of the other finalists this afternoon! @psychualberta.bsky.social
Very fun playtesting session of Tenure Track this afternoon as part of the Festival of Teaching and Learning, including some critical feedback regarding resource management...
May 14, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Very fun playtesting session of Tenure Track this afternoon as part of the Festival of Teaching and Learning, including some critical feedback regarding resource management...
b) 2:00 pm - 2:30 am ECHA 1-490
What is it like to be an academic? Simulating higher education systems via board game actions in Tenure Track
c) 2:45 pm - 3:45 am ECHA 1-490
Playtesting Tenure Track: The simulation of higher education systems via a board game
What is it like to be an academic? Simulating higher education systems via board game actions in Tenure Track
c) 2:45 pm - 3:45 am ECHA 1-490
Playtesting Tenure Track: The simulation of higher education systems via a board game
May 13, 2025 at 10:58 PM
b) 2:00 pm - 2:30 am ECHA 1-490
What is it like to be an academic? Simulating higher education systems via board game actions in Tenure Track
c) 2:45 pm - 3:45 am ECHA 1-490
Playtesting Tenure Track: The simulation of higher education systems via a board game
What is it like to be an academic? Simulating higher education systems via board game actions in Tenure Track
c) 2:45 pm - 3:45 am ECHA 1-490
Playtesting Tenure Track: The simulation of higher education systems via a board game
Looking forward to hosting a few sessions at the 2025 Festival of Teaching and Learning tomorrow (14 May) at University of Alberta
a) 10:15 am - 11:15 am ECHA 1-490
Overcoming a barrier in the use of games in education via the use of a generic card game system allowing for specific content overlay
a) 10:15 am - 11:15 am ECHA 1-490
Overcoming a barrier in the use of games in education via the use of a generic card game system allowing for specific content overlay
May 13, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Looking forward to hosting a few sessions at the 2025 Festival of Teaching and Learning tomorrow (14 May) at University of Alberta
a) 10:15 am - 11:15 am ECHA 1-490
Overcoming a barrier in the use of games in education via the use of a generic card game system allowing for specific content overlay
a) 10:15 am - 11:15 am ECHA 1-490
Overcoming a barrier in the use of games in education via the use of a generic card game system allowing for specific content overlay
Thanks to #AGRI25 for hosting such a fun and interesting conference @banffcentre.bsky.social. Lots of great conversations in spectacular surroundings! Here are Yajing and Eunchan doing an amazing job representing @psychualberta.bsky.social
April 25, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Thanks to #AGRI25 for hosting such a fun and interesting conference @banffcentre.bsky.social. Lots of great conversations in spectacular surroundings! Here are Yajing and Eunchan doing an amazing job representing @psychualberta.bsky.social
Thanks to Grade 3 and Grade 5 Norwood School for stopping by @psychualberta.bsky.social today for some #USchool. Lots of budding scientists asking lots of great questions!
April 9, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Thanks to Grade 3 and Grade 5 Norwood School for stopping by @psychualberta.bsky.social today for some #USchool. Lots of budding scientists asking lots of great questions!
Total Chaos
(2 Computationalists; 30 mins)
“But the calculator is quite wrong... We shall have to reduce two of you to sub-atomic size and re-program the calculator from the inside.” You look down at the small device , and feel the size of the world changing around you...
(2 Computationalists; 30 mins)
“But the calculator is quite wrong... We shall have to reduce two of you to sub-atomic size and re-program the calculator from the inside.” You look down at the small device , and feel the size of the world changing around you...
March 18, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Total Chaos
(2 Computationalists; 30 mins)
“But the calculator is quite wrong... We shall have to reduce two of you to sub-atomic size and re-program the calculator from the inside.” You look down at the small device , and feel the size of the world changing around you...
(2 Computationalists; 30 mins)
“But the calculator is quite wrong... We shall have to reduce two of you to sub-atomic size and re-program the calculator from the inside.” You look down at the small device , and feel the size of the world changing around you...
Double Creature Feature
(2-4 Casting Agents; 30 mins)
The biggest monster B-movie in all of Tinseltown is about to start filming. Compete with other creature casting agents to get your scary species in front of the camera, and complete those terrifying scenes!
(2-4 Casting Agents; 30 mins)
The biggest monster B-movie in all of Tinseltown is about to start filming. Compete with other creature casting agents to get your scary species in front of the camera, and complete those terrifying scenes!
March 18, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Double Creature Feature
(2-4 Casting Agents; 30 mins)
The biggest monster B-movie in all of Tinseltown is about to start filming. Compete with other creature casting agents to get your scary species in front of the camera, and complete those terrifying scenes!
(2-4 Casting Agents; 30 mins)
The biggest monster B-movie in all of Tinseltown is about to start filming. Compete with other creature casting agents to get your scary species in front of the camera, and complete those terrifying scenes!
Tenure Track
(2-4 Researchers; 120 mins)
Play as competing researchers who need to succeed in Academia in this medium-to-heavy Euro. Every semester, a Lab Agenda creates a competitive worker placement puzzle, where all players must plan the order of actions at the same time.
(2-4 Researchers; 120 mins)
Play as competing researchers who need to succeed in Academia in this medium-to-heavy Euro. Every semester, a Lab Agenda creates a competitive worker placement puzzle, where all players must plan the order of actions at the same time.
March 18, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Tenure Track
(2-4 Researchers; 120 mins)
Play as competing researchers who need to succeed in Academia in this medium-to-heavy Euro. Every semester, a Lab Agenda creates a competitive worker placement puzzle, where all players must plan the order of actions at the same time.
(2-4 Researchers; 120 mins)
Play as competing researchers who need to succeed in Academia in this medium-to-heavy Euro. Every semester, a Lab Agenda creates a competitive worker placement puzzle, where all players must plan the order of actions at the same time.
This year will be my first UnPub and I will be actively seeking feedback on three games. It would be great to meet some of your virtual folks in person!
Design descriptions and times below:
Design descriptions and times below:
March 18, 2025 at 7:13 PM
This year will be my first UnPub and I will be actively seeking feedback on three games. It would be great to meet some of your virtual folks in person!
Design descriptions and times below:
Design descriptions and times below:
Total Chaos
(2 Computationalists; 30 mins)
“But the calculator is quite wrong... We shall have to reduce two of you to sub-atomic size and re-program the calculator from the inside.” You look down at the small device , and feel the size of the world changing around you...
(2 Computationalists; 30 mins)
“But the calculator is quite wrong... We shall have to reduce two of you to sub-atomic size and re-program the calculator from the inside.” You look down at the small device , and feel the size of the world changing around you...
March 18, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Total Chaos
(2 Computationalists; 30 mins)
“But the calculator is quite wrong... We shall have to reduce two of you to sub-atomic size and re-program the calculator from the inside.” You look down at the small device , and feel the size of the world changing around you...
(2 Computationalists; 30 mins)
“But the calculator is quite wrong... We shall have to reduce two of you to sub-atomic size and re-program the calculator from the inside.” You look down at the small device , and feel the size of the world changing around you...
Double Creature Feature
(2-4 Casting Agents; 30 mins)
The biggest monster B-movie in all of Tinseltown is about to start filming. Compete with other creature casting agents to get your scary species in front of the camera, and complete those terrifying scenes!
(2-4 Casting Agents; 30 mins)
The biggest monster B-movie in all of Tinseltown is about to start filming. Compete with other creature casting agents to get your scary species in front of the camera, and complete those terrifying scenes!
March 18, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Double Creature Feature
(2-4 Casting Agents; 30 mins)
The biggest monster B-movie in all of Tinseltown is about to start filming. Compete with other creature casting agents to get your scary species in front of the camera, and complete those terrifying scenes!
(2-4 Casting Agents; 30 mins)
The biggest monster B-movie in all of Tinseltown is about to start filming. Compete with other creature casting agents to get your scary species in front of the camera, and complete those terrifying scenes!
Tenure Track
(2-4 Researchers; 120 mins)
Play as competing researchers who need to succeed in Academia in this medium-to-heavy Euro. Every semester, a Lab Agenda creates a competitive worker placement puzzle, where all players must plan the order of actions at the same time.
(2-4 Researchers; 120 mins)
Play as competing researchers who need to succeed in Academia in this medium-to-heavy Euro. Every semester, a Lab Agenda creates a competitive worker placement puzzle, where all players must plan the order of actions at the same time.
March 18, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Tenure Track
(2-4 Researchers; 120 mins)
Play as competing researchers who need to succeed in Academia in this medium-to-heavy Euro. Every semester, a Lab Agenda creates a competitive worker placement puzzle, where all players must plan the order of actions at the same time.
(2-4 Researchers; 120 mins)
Play as competing researchers who need to succeed in Academia in this medium-to-heavy Euro. Every semester, a Lab Agenda creates a competitive worker placement puzzle, where all players must plan the order of actions at the same time.