Writing

Notes on game design, development and the cloud

Mostly game design and development — what we learn turning a beloved board game into a digital one — with the occasional detour into the cloud.

2026

Oct 22, 2026 A* when cost isn't distance: pathfinding for board games Most A* tutorials stop at a grid with a few walls. Here's what changes when every step costs money, some costs live between the squares, and your estimate has to stay honest. Game Dev
Oct 21, 2026 Two years to find a path A* was the obvious choice for Empire Builder's pathfinding. Making it trustworthy took the better part of two years, a river that cost players millions, and a lesson about who owns what on a two-person team. Game Dev