Going to Bit Bash this year was incredibly useful as a fellow designer and producer of games. The biggest thing that stuck out to me was the focus on couch co-op games. From Regular Human Basketball to Pocket Rumble, we are, at least in the Chicago scene, are seeing a renaissance of sorts in terms of local play games. Even more astounding than a focus on local co-op is the clear dedication to simple, but fun mechanics. Now, a cynic may say that this dedication to simplicity has its roots in the fact that many people at Bit Bash were casual gamers, who were more interested in having a good time then experiencing deep, layered mechanics. However, I would say that this laser focus on the basics allows a team of developers to hang their hats on thoughtful design and smart choices, rather than unnecessary flash and a retread of the past in a different skin. This is a lesson I hope to take with us as we continue to work on our games. Below are some games that really caught my eye while at Bit Bash.
Junior Development Experience (JDE) 