Aaron Kempkes

@aaronkempkes.bsky.social

🎲⚙️ I'm a game designer from Nebraska in United States! Ion & BFIG 🥇, CE & Granollers 🥈, 21x Finalist- 3x Ion, BFIG; 2x Premio Archimede, Boulogne, Fastaval, LUCI, BGDL; 1x Cardboard Edison, SAGA, TGC, HABA; 13x Semi-Finalist- Hippodice, 4x Granollers

I'm wrapping up the review of the first third of my assigned entries for the Cardboard Edison award and the creativity is awesome! I really do think that there are many more ways to make engaging, unique board games, even if they share characteristics of others.

A very late update about Archimede from September: 13th out of 30 finalists and 246 total games. I’m always driven to do better but I’m proud I hung with the group and had a respectable score. It was an amazing experience!

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It's been officially announced that three of my games are semi-finalists (top 60/246) for Premio Archimede 2025 in Venice! I'm so honored to have been chosen among games from designers who are past winners, fellow Ion Award finalists, published designers and newcomers alike.

I discovered back in March I was a semi-finalist (top 30 of 126 entries) for the Boulogne Billancourt International Design Contest. I discovered this morning that I didn't advance to the finals. Although I was really hoping for another chance to present in Paris, I wish the finalists good luck.

I’m nominated for Best Board Game at Fastaval! Thank you to everyone who has welcomed me with open arms & provided kindness, guidance &great conversation throughout the last few days. Congratulations to my fellow nominees & to the designers who didn’t get nominated.

I just found out I’m a semi-finalist for the Ciutat de Granollers International Design Contest with Hectic Harvest, which I co-designed with my sister Amber Kempkes! Our game is one of 20 games picked out of 122 entries. The other four I entered were in Tier A and just missed the cut.

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I can't wait to present Thar It Rolls as a finalist for BostonFIG's Tabletop Showcase! My prototype is ready, my sign is ready and I look forward to visiting Boston for the first time and meeting all of the awesome local designers and gamers.

Game Conference+Convention Industry Event Calendar@eventsforgamers.bsky.social · 2y ago

Boston Festival of Indie Games event is coming up! Date 📅: December 15, 2024 Location 🏙️: Cyclorama in Boston, MA USA More about Boston FIG at: www.eventsforgamers.com/event/boston... @bostonfig.bsky.social #BostonFIG #GameDev