Blog

Essays on small games, attention and design from April31: why we build on the 31st, curiosity as a mechanic, and the thinking behind the Guesser series.

• Why We Build on the 31st — The studio name is a kind of manifesto. April 31 doesn't exist on any calendar, and that's exactly the point.
• Designing for the Ear: Digital Pantam and the Sound of Attention — Building a touch instrument that teaches music theory without ever mentioning it.
• Curiosity as a Game Mechanic — Most games reward skill. We want to reward noticing. Here's what that difference demands from a designer.
• Identify the Void: Inside the Guesser Series — Eight categories. Thousands of subjects. One design challenge: make identification feel like discovery.
• Small Games, Sharp Questions — A studio statement on scope, attention, and what we owe the people who play our games.