CooperJohn
@cooperjohn.bsky.social
🚀NASA (retired, aperture science)
🎲game designer (The Gang, Homeworlds)
✒️poet (old forms, new embarrassments)
🏞️dendrophile (tree hugs, mushrumps)
👽sci-fi (hard, classic)
🧗climber (trees, rocks)
🍺trivia (poor memory, good times)
🏳️⚧️ pronouns (he/him)
🎲game designer (The Gang, Homeworlds)
✒️poet (old forms, new embarrassments)
🏞️dendrophile (tree hugs, mushrumps)
👽sci-fi (hard, classic)
🧗climber (trees, rocks)
🍺trivia (poor memory, good times)
🏳️⚧️ pronouns (he/him)
What I learned today.
Why do bars form in some spiral galaxies, but not in others?
Bars can form in any galaxy with ordered rotation; it is primarily the quantity of dark matter that controls whether a bar is present.
www.astronomy.com
September 15, 2026 at 5:21 PM
What I learned today.
This article comes with a cool old video from the 1960s. The prehistoric eclipse computer theory has since been discounted. Has anyone yet discounted my crazy theory that Stonehenge once had a roof?
'Locked to the Sun and Moon': The startling 1960s theory that Stonehenge was a prehistoric computer
In August 1966, a US astronomy professor shared his astonishing findings with the BBC. He believed that the Neolithic stone circle was built to predict eclipses.
www.bbc.com
August 31, 2026 at 1:09 PM
This article comes with a cool old video from the 1960s. The prehistoric eclipse computer theory has since been discounted. Has anyone yet discounted my crazy theory that Stonehenge once had a roof?
Reposted by CooperJohn
Reposted by CooperJohn
We ran a 10-player game of The Gang at LFG CON. It initially sounded like a bad idea to us, but the tweaks to the gameplay make it work (the 7-10 player expansion adds zero and exit chips).
w/ @panda8ngel.bsky.social @silvermedaltavern.bsky.social
w/ @panda8ngel.bsky.social @silvermedaltavern.bsky.social
August 18, 2026 at 8:15 PM
We ran a 10-player game of The Gang at LFG CON. It initially sounded like a bad idea to us, but the tweaks to the gameplay make it work (the 7-10 player expansion adds zero and exit chips).
w/ @panda8ngel.bsky.social @silvermedaltavern.bsky.social
w/ @panda8ngel.bsky.social @silvermedaltavern.bsky.social
Reposted by CooperJohn
Reposted by CooperJohn
The Mesopotamians are back with a smash hit!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxgr...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxgr...
They Might Be Giants - Overnight Sensation (Hit Record) (Official Video)
YouTube video by ParticleMen
www.youtube.com
May 13, 2026 at 12:39 PM
The Mesopotamians are back with a smash hit!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxgr...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxgr...
I have jumped universes again. In my previous universe, Dota 2 did not exist. Anyway, good to be here, hello everyone!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota_2
"Internationals feature a crowdfunded prize [...] that has seen amounts in upwards of US$40 million, making Dota 2 one of the most lucrative esports."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota_2
"Internationals feature a crowdfunded prize [...] that has seen amounts in upwards of US$40 million, making Dota 2 one of the most lucrative esports."
Dota 2 - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
May 13, 2026 at 1:02 PM
I have jumped universes again. In my previous universe, Dota 2 did not exist. Anyway, good to be here, hello everyone!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota_2
"Internationals feature a crowdfunded prize [...] that has seen amounts in upwards of US$40 million, making Dota 2 one of the most lucrative esports."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota_2
"Internationals feature a crowdfunded prize [...] that has seen amounts in upwards of US$40 million, making Dota 2 one of the most lucrative esports."
This sounds spectacular! The Gang in roguelike mode.
Oh & I had a bonkers 3 player game of The Gang where we attempted an endless run, 3 lives, adding an additional penalty card after each successful run. We got up to something like 8 penalty cards! It was wild & surreal & I felt like we were the Weird Sisters mixed with Ocean's Eleven
March 24, 2026 at 10:39 PM
This sounds spectacular! The Gang in roguelike mode.
Thrilled and grateful!
I have just found out that The Gang (the coöp Texas Hold’em poker game) was codesigned by the designer of Homeworlds and the designer of Zendo, two of my fave abstracts and definitely my favorite two Looney Icehouse pyramid games. I never would have guessed. #boardgames
March 24, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Thrilled and grateful!
Reposted by CooperJohn
Hail To The Queen
July 29, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Hail To The Queen
#1 song in the UK 1967!
Randy Scouse Git - Monkees
YouTube video by smfimiki
youtu.be
July 6, 2025 at 4:52 PM
#1 song in the UK 1967!
Gina and I had a lovely time at Games and Stuff, teaching and playing The Gang! Wonderful event; great staff; excellent venue (also the coffee was sublime). Thank you G&S so much for running these monthly board game socials!
Another super fun Board Game Social in the books! Thanks to all who came out to play, and to @cooperjohn.bsky.social for hanging out to teach The Gang! Mark your calendars for 7/19, and come get (board game) social with us! 🤩 #flgs #boardgames #tabletopgames
July 1, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Gina and I had a lovely time at Games and Stuff, teaching and playing The Gang! Wonderful event; great staff; excellent venue (also the coffee was sublime). Thank you G&S so much for running these monthly board game socials!
Reposted by CooperJohn
Come get (board game) social with us on Sunday! It's always a super fun way to hang out w/likeminded folks and play, and we're stoked to have John Cooper (designer of The Gang) join us to teach the game! #flgs #boardgames www.gamesandstuffonline.com/products/boa...
June 26, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Come get (board game) social with us on Sunday! It's always a super fun way to hang out w/likeminded folks and play, and we're stoked to have John Cooper (designer of The Gang) join us to teach the game! #flgs #boardgames www.gamesandstuffonline.com/products/boa...
Reposted by CooperJohn
My two favorite game stores @labyrinthdc.bsky.social and @gamesandstuffmd.bsky.social are both running Thunder Road: Vendetta events for Free RPG Day. Maybe your FLGS is running one too!
June 3, 2025 at 8:32 PM
My two favorite game stores @labyrinthdc.bsky.social and @gamesandstuffmd.bsky.social are both running Thunder Road: Vendetta events for Free RPG Day. Maybe your FLGS is running one too!
The Gang just won an ASTRA award, for best family game!
🎉🥂😎
🎉🥂😎
American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (Astra) Announces 2025 Play Award Winners at Star Awards Gala During Annual Marketplace & Academy Event
www.morningstar.com
June 3, 2025 at 8:37 PM
The Gang just won an ASTRA award, for best family game!
🎉🥂😎
🎉🥂😎
Dice Tower nominees are in, and I'm thrilled and honored to see The Gang nominated for THREE awards! —Most Innovative, Best Welcoming Game, and Best Co-operative Game.
Summer Spectacular - Dice Tower Awards Nominations
YouTube video by The Dice Tower
www.youtube.com
June 2, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Dice Tower nominees are in, and I'm thrilled and honored to see The Gang nominated for THREE awards! —Most Innovative, Best Welcoming Game, and Best Co-operative Game.
The latest Going Analog podcast is up! Guest designer (and good friend) Dominic talks about his wonderful game Nature, The Gang, and designing science-based games. Enjoy!
Sheesh we took a looong break. Find out why while we discuss TARIFFS 🤮 and designing science games 👨🔬 with @dcrapuchettes.bsky.social (Evolution, Nature) of @northstargames.bsky.social!
www.goinganalogshow.com/article/294/...
www.goinganalogshow.com/article/294/...
May 28, 2025 at 4:31 PM
The latest Going Analog podcast is up! Guest designer (and good friend) Dominic talks about his wonderful game Nature, The Gang, and designing science-based games. Enjoy!
Welp, The Gang didn't quite get nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 😟
But we made the Empfehlungsliste, so THAT'S cool! 😎
www.spiel-des-jahres.de/aktuelle-pre...
But we made the Empfehlungsliste, so THAT'S cool! 😎
www.spiel-des-jahres.de/aktuelle-pre...
Aktuelle Preisträger 2025
Nominiert für die Wahl zum Spiel des Jahres 2025 Bomb Busters von Hisashi Hayashi Pegasus Spiele Illustration: Dominique Ferland Kooperatives Bombenentschärfen mit Köpfchen für 2 bis 5 Personen ab 10 ...
www.spiel-des-jahres.de
May 21, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Welp, The Gang didn't quite get nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 😟
But we made the Empfehlungsliste, so THAT'S cool! 😎
www.spiel-des-jahres.de/aktuelle-pre...
But we made the Empfehlungsliste, so THAT'S cool! 😎
www.spiel-des-jahres.de/aktuelle-pre...
Reposted by CooperJohn
This is so relatable
April 17, 2025 at 1:20 AM
This is so relatable
Reposted by CooperJohn
Wonderful to see some many games on this list of nominees by designers and publishers who are also my friends 🧡
Congratulations 🎊
Go and vote!
boardgamegeek.com/thread/34962...
Congratulations 🎊
Go and vote!
boardgamegeek.com/thread/34962...
19th Annual Golden Geek Awards - Nominees Announced for 2024 - Vote Now! | BGG
You have chosen the nominees for the 2024 Golden Geek Awards! The voting is now open via this link.
[geekurl=/geekawards/boardgame]Board Games[/geekurl]
Instructions:
* Select the appropriate catego...
boardgamegeek.com
April 16, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Wonderful to see some many games on this list of nominees by designers and publishers who are also my friends 🧡
Congratulations 🎊
Go and vote!
boardgamegeek.com/thread/34962...
Congratulations 🎊
Go and vote!
boardgamegeek.com/thread/34962...
Reposted by CooperJohn
It's long past time to ban insider trading in Congress.
April 10, 2025 at 12:06 PM
It's long past time to ban insider trading in Congress.
Reposted by CooperJohn
Can a card game sharpen collaborative, trust, and decision-making skills? Yep. @cooperjohn.bsky.social's The Gang does just that. We talk creativity, leadership & play on the pod.
open.spotify.com/episode/659j...
#Creativity #Leadership #GameThinking #Strategy #Podcast
open.spotify.com/episode/659j...
#Creativity #Leadership #GameThinking #Strategy #Podcast
April 7, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Can a card game sharpen collaborative, trust, and decision-making skills? Yep. @cooperjohn.bsky.social's The Gang does just that. We talk creativity, leadership & play on the pod.
open.spotify.com/episode/659j...
#Creativity #Leadership #GameThinking #Strategy #Podcast
open.spotify.com/episode/659j...
#Creativity #Leadership #GameThinking #Strategy #Podcast
Insane, or narcissistic sociopath? Maybe all three?
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
Stop Looking for Methods in the Madness
There’s no plan, secret or otherwise, behind Trump’s tariffs
open.substack.com
April 3, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Insane, or narcissistic sociopath? Maybe all three?
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
LOVE this analogy
[P] "If you go back 100, 120 years, they saw canals on Mars, think of it—so many canals, huge networks of them, you'd see them all over. Now they don't see them anywhere. Now, what the hell is that all about? There's something out there and we gotta find it."
Trump: "Something happened. If you go back 20 years, autism, think of it -- one in 20,000 children. Think of that. One autism. You see it all over. One in 20,000 children. Now it's one in 36 children. Now, what the hell is that all about? There's something out there and we gotta find it."
March 27, 2025 at 12:03 PM
LOVE this analogy