Do Better Games

//dbg is tumblin' (makers of Bring Your Own Book at bringyourownbook.com)

[dobettergames]

The end of an era for BYOBook

What a proud yet strange day. After six years of availability, we've sold our last copy of the first printing of Bring Your Own Book that we crowdfunded in 2015. This means there are effectively no English editions for sale, as the Gamewright and Scholastic editions are both out of print. 📭 We'll update the website soon to stop encouraging people to buy the game 😂 but in the meantime, we wanted to say thank you (and make the full game in English available somewhere). So, we've update the free print-and-play demo to include the FULL set of prompts! It also features the new default game mode: Royale, where it's the books that battle to be the best of the batch. 👑 If you want to download either of these (cards or the Royale rules), head to bringyourownbook.com and hit the mailing list / print-and-play link. If you've signed up before, there are instructions for how to get all the links again. 💻 For those who are curious about whether there will ever be an English version for sale again, the answer is uncertain. If we get the opportunity to license to another publisher? Sure! If we find ourselves with the time, energy, and money necessary to redesign and print a new edition? Uh...maybe! For now, we're just happy that the last seven years have seen thousands of people discover the joy of turning their books into a game. 💖📚🎉🃏

[dobettergames]

Where to find Bring Your Own Book (Apr 2022)

Hello, BYOBook friends! Whichever version of Bring Your Own Book you’re searching for, we’ve got an updated note about its availability. If we discover a status change to any edition, we’ll try to update this post before too long...or make a new post. The biggest change this time around is we are sold out of the limited-edition first printing (crowdfunded on Kickstarter in 2015). This means that there are no professionally printed English editions available for sale. You may find one of them (ours, Gamewright’s, or Scholastic’s) on the secondhand market, but...yeah. Will there be a second printing? Perhaps. Sign up for our infrequently used mailing list at BringYourOwnBook.com and we’ll let you know if that ever happens.

TLDR

AVAILABLE: print-and-play (English, free), Kenbill edition (Japanese)

OUT OF PRINT: Crowdfunded edition (English), Gamewright edition (English), Scholastic edition (English, kids), Noris Spiele edition (German), Mindok edition (Czech)

NOTE

We are actively seeking a publishing partner for a new North American (English) edition and additionally welcome inquiries from potential licensees in any other region except Japan. If you are a publisher interested in producing Bring Your Own Book, please contact us through the “Questions” link on our website, BringYourOwnBook.com.

AVAILABLE EDITIONS

Print-and-Play Edition

(AKA the free demo, downloadable edition)

This also is available at www.bringyourownbook.com. However, some people have also reported having trouble with that link, so here is a direct link to mailing list / download sign-up page: eepurl.com/cAZQw5

Kenbill Edition

(AKA the Japanese retail edition, みんなで本をもちよって)

This version is in print and is available directly from Kenbill and from a number of other retailers. It has a cute rabbit on the cover.

OUT-OF-PRINT EDITIONS

Crowdfunded Edition

(AKA the limited-edition first printing, Kickstarter edition)

This version is no longer in print. We printed 5,000 copies back when 1,883 people pledged their support for our little game in 2015, and that seemed like way too many. But it’s been a few years and, thanks to a little online retailing and the help of our fulfillment partner (Card Kingdom in Seattle), we’re sold out.

Gamewright Edition

(AKA the English retail edition)

This version is no longer in print. We are exceedingly grateful to Gamewright for being our publishing partner at the initial launch of the game. The far reach of Bring Your Own Book would not have been possible without them.

NOTE: You can still get copies of this edition secondhand for three or four times its sticker price, which is... [sigh]. Also, someone is listing the German edition on Amazon at this link without making it extra clear that it’s the German edition, and several English-speaking buyers have been sorely disappointed. Buyer beware.

Scholastic Edition

(AKA kids edition, junior edition, Scholastic book club edition)

Because only teachers and students get the Scholastic flier and access to the online store, it was hard for us to have visibility into the status of this version. The last time anyone reported to us that it was available was nearly a year ago, so we feel reasonably safe saying it’s out-of-print.

Noris Spiele Edition

(AKA German edition)

This edition is no longer listed on the Noris Spiele website, so while there may still be a few copies floating around retail websites (including the Amazon link mentioned under the Gamewright version above), it’s very likely out of print.

Mindok Edition

(AKA Czech edition, Přines si svou knihu)

This edition came out in 2017 and we’ve still never seen it. It’s no longer listed on the Mindok website, so we’re pretty sure it’s vanished.

NOTE: We never got a copy of this, so if you have a spare, please use the "Questions” link at BringYourOwnBook.com to get in touch with us as we’d love to pay you to have it shipped to us to complete our collection.

Digital Edition

(AKA mobile edition)

The digital edition hit numerous production snags over the years and is most likely dead. But stranger things have happened. If you sign up for mailing list, we’ll let you know if there’s a rebirth: eepurl.com/cAZQw5

THAT'S ALL, FOLKS!

That covers every edition we know about in this universe. If you have additional questions or comments, head to www.bringyourownbook.com and click the "Questions” link. We appreciate your enthusiasm for our little game and are happy to help you engage with it.

[dobettergames]

Where to find Bring Your Own Book (Mar 2021)

Hello, BYOBook friends! Whichever version of Bring Your Own Book you’re searching for, we’ve got an updated note about its availability. If we discover a status change to any edition, we’ll try to update this post before too long...or make a new post. We’re also trying a new thing where we group the editions by availability.

TLDR

AVAILABLE: crowdfunded edition (English), print-and-play (English, free), Kenbill edition (Japanese)

OUT OF PRINT: Gamewright edition (English), Scholastic edition (English, kids), Noris Spiele edition (German), Mindok edition (Czech)

NOTE

We are actively seeking a publishing partner for a new North American (English) edition and additionally welcome inquiries from those in any other region except Japan. If you are a publisher interested in producing Bring Your Own Book, please contact us through the “Questions” link on our website, BringYourOwnBook.com.

AVAILABLE EDITIONS

Crowdfunded Edition

(AKA the limited-edition first printing, Kickstarter edition)

We have about a fifth of the original print run left and are still selling it through  www.bringyourownbook.com. Some people have reported being unable to use the link on that page, so here is a direct link to our Gumroad store: gumroad.com/l/BYOBook

NOTE: Some people have also reported getting a “discount code is invalid” error. We’ve found this typically happens when the browser’s auto-fill puts something random in the discount code box (shown below). Make sure that field is empty and your order should work.

Print-and-Play Edition

(AKA the free demo, downloadable edition)

This also is available at www.bringyourownbook.com. However, some people have also reported having trouble with that link, so here is a direct link to mailing list / download sign-up page: eepurl.com/cAZQw5

Kenbill Edition

(AKA the Japanese retail edition, みんなで本をもちよって)

This version is in print and is available directly from Kenbill and from a number of other retailers. It has a cute rabbit on the cover.

OUT-OF-PRINT EDITIONS

Gamewright Edition

(AKA the English retail edition)

This version is no longer in print. We are exceedingly grateful to Gamewright for being our publishing partner at the initial launch of the game. The far reach of Bring Your Own Book would not have been possible without them.

NOTE: You can still get copies of this edition secondhand for three or four times its sticker price, which is... [sigh]. Also, someone is listing the German edition on Amazon at this link without making it extra clear that it’s the German edition, and several English-speaking buyers have been sorely disappointed. Buyer beware.

Scholastic Edition

(AKA kids edition, junior edition, Scholastic book club edition)

Because only teachers and students get the Scholastic flier and access to the online store, it was hard for us to have visibility into the status of this version. The last time anyone reported to us that it was available was nearly a year ago, so we feel reasonably safe saying it’s out-of-print.

Noris Spiele Edition

(AKA German edition)

This edition is no longer listed on the Noris Spiele website, so while there may still be a few copies floating around retail websites (including the Amazon link mentioned under the Gamewright version above), it’s very likely out of print.

Mindok Edition

(AKA Czech edition, Přines si svou knihu)

This edition came out in 2017 and we’ve still never seen it. It’s no longer listed on the Mindok website, so we’re pretty sure it’s vanished.

Digital Edition

(AKA mobile edition)

The digital edition hit numerous production snags over the years and is most likely dead. But stranger things have happened. If you sign up for mailing list, we’ll let you know if there’s a rebirth: eepurl.com/cAZQw5

THAT'S ALL, FOLKS!

That covers every edition we know about in this universe. If you have additional questions or comments, head to www.bringyourownbook.com and click the "Questions” link. We appreciate your enthusiasm for our little game and are happy to help you engage with it.

[dobettergames]

Bring Your Own Book: Remote Play Guide

Though it’s different than being face-to-face, Bring Your Own Book can be played remotely over a video or audio call. Here are tips to help your remote play session run smoothly. If you have suggestions, reach out to us on social media or at bringyourownbook.com.

REMOTE PLAY GUIDE

APPOINT A COORDINATOR: Rounds run more smoothly when there’s one person driving the action. Things to coordinate include drawing the prompt cards, keeping track of Picker order, and even tracking points. If you’re using a timer, the coordinator can also call out when time is running low or has run out. WRITE DOWN PLAYER ORDER: Since there’s no circle to sit in, it’s advisable to determine and write down an order for the players. This can then be used to track who is next for being Picker/Judge, players’ points, and even the order that Seekers read their selections each round. The coordinator can call everyone’s name in order so there’s no confusion. PUT PIECES ON CAMERA: The game is easier when the components are visible to all players, so it’s useful if the player with the copy of the game can put game pieces in view of their camera. You can prop up the prompt card and put the timer next to it so the Seekers know what they’re hunting for and how much time is left. ROTATE BOOKS: While you can’t pass your books to each other, you’ll have more fun if you play with a variety throughout the round. Grab 3-5 books and determine when you’re going to rotate. You can use the standard rules—swapping out every time a player gets three points—or something else that feels right for your game. USE THE CLASSIC RULE SET: While it’s possible to play remotely with any of the rule sets—Classic, Democratic, Cutthroat, or Royale—Classic tends to work best. It’s generally easier to have one Judge pick the winning submission than to organize a vote (Democratic), and Cutthroat’s last-Seeker-out rule can be tricky to manage with telecommunications delays. If you really want to run the Democratic rule set, players can write down their votes on notecards and show them all at the same time.

THANKS: Big thanks to Kristin and Tim from the BYOBook playtest crew, who were the first to contact us with things that made their remote play work smoothly! Thanks also to all the players who’ve mentioned their successes with remote play on social media and board gaming websites. Y’all inspire us on the regular! For more detailed instructions, demonstration videos, alternate ways to play, or frequently asked questions, check bringyourownbook.com.

[dobettergames]

ケンビル＠ゲムマ秋予約受付中！ on Twitter

“【ゲムマ秋・両エリア49】 「みんなで本をもちよって～Bring Your Own Book～」、パッケージイラスト公開です！ 児童書をイメージしたパッケージで、デザインはTANSAN様（@TANSANFABRIK）、イラストはU井様（@it_ui）にお願いしました。 ゲームマーケット価格1,500円（税込）を予定しています。”

Our Japanese publisher, KenBill, has announced the latest version of Bring Your Own Book. They’re taking preorders now and will be showing it at the Tokyo Game Market!

[We’ve updated the master “Where to find BYOBook” post.]

[dobettergames]

Where to find Bring Your Own Book (Sep 2019)

UPDATED OCT 2019 Hello, BYOBook friends! We’ve had several inquiries recently about the availability and acquisition methods for various editions of Bring Your Own Book. The answers are gathered in one place to make the information more shareable. If we discover a status change to any edition, we’ll try to update this post before too long. KICKSTARTER EDITION (AKA the limited-edition first printing) We have about a fifth of the original print run left and are still selling it through www.bringyourownbook.com. Some people have reported being unable to use the link on that page, so here is a direct link to our Gumroad store: gumroad.com/l/BYOBook

NOTE: Some people have also reported getting a “discount code is invalid” error. We’ve found this typically happens when the browser’s auto-fill puts something random in the discount code box (shown below). Make sure that field is empty and your order should work.

PRINT-AND-PLAY DEMO This also is available at www.bringyourownbook.com. However, some people have also reported having trouble with that link, so here is a direct link to mailing list / download sign-up page: eepurl.com/cAZQw5

GAMEWRIGHT EDITION (AKA the English retail version) This version is currently out of print. You can occasionally buy copies of it from retailers who still have stock or from used sellers on the usual online sites. We are uncertain if Gamewright will reprint this edition, but they will almost certainly update the page on their site when it happens. NOTE: If you’re trying to buy it from Amazon, this is the correct link. Someone is listing the German edition on Amazon at this link without making it extra clear that it’s the German edition, and several English-speaking buyers have been sorely disappointed.

SCHOLASTIC EDITION (AKA Scholastic book club version, junior version) Because only teachers and students get the Scholastic flier and access to the online store, we have no visibility into the status of this version. It may be only seasonal or permanently out of print; if you have interest and access to Scholastic, we can only recommend you check.

NORIS SPIELE EDITION (AKA German version) The German version is still available internationally from many outlets and from the Noris Spiele site itself. There are also retail websites serving the U.S. where you can buy imported copies. 

MINDOK EDITION (AKA Czech version, Přines si svou knihu) This edition came out in 2017 and we’ve never seen it, but the page on the MINDOK website seems to still have a purchase option, so we’ll count this as available.

KENBILL EDITION (AKA Japanese version) According to their Twitter, KenBill has announced the impending arrival of the Japanese edition, and are even taking preorders for delivery at the Tokyo Game Market: https://twitter.com/tg_kb/status/1179994186214334465

DIGITAL EDITION (AKA mobile version) It’s not quite ready for prime time. The digital edition has hit numerous production snags over the years. Without making promises about a timeline, we’ll only say the project isn’t dead. If you sign up for mailing list, we’ll let you know when there’s a change: eepurl.com/cAZQw5

THAT'S ALL, FOLKS! That covers every edition. If you have additional questions or comments, head to www.bringyourownbook.com and click the contact link. We appreciate your enthusiasm for our little game and are happy to help you engage with it.

[dobettergames]

Game On! The Art of Game Design – VALA Eastside

Game art, art, art, game, art, art, art, game, art, art, art, game, art, art, art

The VALA Eastside Arts Center in Redmond is exhibiting game art by local artists, including Luke Nalker (of BYOBook renown)! In celebration, they also have several supporting events and programs, including an opening reception, an artist panel discussion, a portfolio review, and a weekend workshop for teens.

You can see all the details and plan your visit on their website.

[dobettergames]

BYOBook on the Road

Where to find the //dbg crew and Bring Your Own Book in the coming months:

* March 4, 5 (Sat, Sun) at Emerald City Comicon 2017. We'll be part of this year's ECCC Indie Games Showcase along with dozens of other local game makers. You can see the full schedule here.

* March 10 (Fri) at GeekGirlCon's weekly tabletop meetup in Seattle. Matthew will be bringing out the bookcase backpack and running games of BYOBook and his latest prototype. Information about the meetup here.

* May 26-29 (Fri-Mon) at KublaCon Game Convention 2017. We're teaming up with Cherry Picked Games and Leiker Games for another tabletop co-op booth down at this San Francisco con, and we're driving from Seattle, so offering us a drink with caffeine will be appreciated. Naturally, Kublacon has a website with ticket information.

Somewhere in there, we're going to release that darn BYOBook app, so keep it tuned to this channel for the exact moment that happens. One way or another, we look forward to being a part of your game night or con experience soon!

[dobettergames]

Shipping for the BYOBook limited edition, plus an app preview!

Just a few notes here at the start of the year, and all happy ones. The limited edition of Bring Your Own Book is available for shipping yet again. We still have states eligible for matching gifts to libraries. Finally, we're closing in on the release of the BYOBook app, and we'd like to give you a peek (and get your help with something). »  Orders are back on for the first printing of Bring Your Own Book After fulfilling the last few orders of the holiday season, we had the remainder of the Kickstarter edition trucked to a new fulfillment partner in our own backyard. We're happy to have Seattle's own Card Kingdom doing our mailings, and they are raring to truck out the first orders for 2017. If you were waiting for the order form to reappear, it's back up at bringyourownbook.com now.

» Nine more libraries before we've covered every U.S. state Last year, we announced a promotion to give away copies of the limited edition to your favorite libraries. The first person from eligible states to order from us also gets to pick a public or school library in that state to receive a free copy. We crossed off nine states with the help of you book gamers, which leaves nine to go before the checklist is complete. We're keeping an up-to-date list of states still eligible for a free library copy on the original Tumblr post. Check it out and see if you're in a position to spread a little extra love with your purchase.

» A glimpse of the Bring Your Own Book app in motion All the logic and prompts are in, and we're charging ahead with playtesting, polish, and prettiness. Luke Nalker, artist for the Kickstarter edition, has been working hard to translate his vision to a digital canvas. He's put together a short clip of some work-in-progress motion studies, which we'll show you...after asking a quick favor. :D We'd like to get a YouTube custom URL to help with consistent linking, automated song licensing, and a number of other things. The guidelines state we need one hundred subscribers to make that happen. So, we'd be awfully grateful if you’d click the SUBSCRIBE button after watching this video.

As always, your support for this little game of ours keeps us going. We love hearing from you on social media: your lively gatherings, book discoveries, and favorite moments.

[dobettergames]

BYOBook at OrcaCon 2017

If you're going to @orcacon this weekend, we hope you're bringing a book! Matthew will be on hand a fair bit of the time, and he'll have the bookcase backpack for photos and on-the-spot play.

While the BYOBookpack makes him pretty easy to spot, you can be sure to catch Matthew by attending his talk on Friday (about the venerable tradition of prompt games) or signing up for his scheduled Bring Your Own Book play sessions.

Schedule available here.

[dobettergames]

Update: It's December!

You probably knew it was December, but this is confirmation. :D

First, a reminder that if you want a copy of the Bring Your Own Book limited edition, Ship Naked tells us it needs to be ordered before 12/7 to be shipped in time for Christmas and before 12/19 to get shipped in 2016. Orders will be suspended for the last two weeks of the year in order to start 2017 fresh.

GET IT: bringyourownbook.com

If you're in New York and need (yet another) excuse to go to the Strand Book Store, they're hosting an event in collaboration with Kickstarter to highlight crowdfunded games. You can snack on cookies, drink cider, play BYOBook, and peruse other great titles like Slash, Moby Dick (or The Card Game), and The Metagame. ATTEND IT: www.strandbooks.com/event/kickstarter-game-night Finally, we're still running the promotion to send a free copy of the limited edition to libraries for the first buyers in certain states. Last week, we checked off Alabama, Hawaii, Kansas, and Kentucky. To see details and a list of states remaining... READ IT: http://dobettergames.tumblr.com/post/152079307859/the-byobook-limited-edition-is-shipping-again

Picture time.

[ifyouloved]

I did “Speed Dating with a Book” as an outreach program at my local middle school today!

We ended each round by playing “Bring Your Own Book” with their “dates” (If you go to the game’s website, there is a free printable version available)

[lakecountylibrary]

One of ours, out doing good in the world, bringing the gift of books to children like a fairy bookmother

(psst, look @dobettergames)

[dobettergames]

Is there a better way to get to know a book or a date than by playing Bring Your Own Book? We haven’t found one. Naturally, we’re biased, but it’s worth trying out for yourself. :D

[dobettergames]

International Games Day @ your library

International Games Day is an initiative run by volunteers from around the world and supported by the American Library Association's Games and Gaming Round Table, in collaboration with Nordic Game Day and the Australian Library and Information Association, to reconnect communities through their libraries around the educational, recreational, and social value of all types of games.

All over the world, libraries are opening their doors to people who want to play tabletop games with their community. Visit the link and find your nearest event!

[dobettergames]

BYOBook As The Year Ends

If you want a copy of the Bring Your Own Book limited edition, Ship Naked tells us it needs to be ordered before 12/7 to get shipped in time for Christmas and before 12/19 to get shipped in 2016. We'll temporarily turn off orders at the end of the year to make sure nobody submits an order while we can't have it fulfilled, then crank it up again in 2017.

Are we still running the promotion to send a free copy to libraries for the first buyers in certain states? You bet. Gifts all around if you live in one of the states we haven't hit yet.

And speaking of tabletop gifts, The Board Game Family has a 2016 holiday gift guide and Bring Your Own Book is on it! Not to mention a bevy of other great titles: Between Two Cities, Spyfall, Ice Cool, Burgle Bros., and more.

[bookriot]

Incredible literary pumpkins

[americanlibraryassoc]

Happy National Pumpkin Day!

[dobettergames]

Does your local library host game nights? Ours not only hosts a weekly tabletop night but also a Saturday session. It's a great way to mingle with your community, try new games, and share your passion. Check with your library today!

Speaking of libraries, we're still running our free-copy promotion for libraries in certain states. Check this post to see what it's about.

[dobettergames]

The BYOBook limited-edition is shipping again, plus more...

Today's exciting Bring Your Own Book news is that it's ready to ship for the holidays, getting ever closer to launching for your phone, and free for a few lucky libraries. Read below about what interests you! 1. Orders have resumed for the first printing of Bring Your Own Book. We've still got copies of the Kickstarter edition left and our fulfillment partner, Ship Naked, is all done with their warehouse remodel. So, it's time to flip the switch and let you all stock up on the original. Scoot over to bringyourownbook.com and click "Where to Buy" to be escorted to the goodies. Yes, we take PayPal. Yes, we ship internationally. Yes, there are shipping discounts if you order multiple copies. Yes, yes, yes.

2. We're giving away more copies of Bring Your Own Book to libraries. During the Kickstarter, we offered a backer tier that allowed people to reserve a copy for themselves but also one for their favorite library. We also sent a few of our own, and Miranda compiled a map of all the public donations, seen here. Since then, librarians across the country have let us know how delightful it's been to use the game in their programs. There are a few states missing from that map, and we'll rectify that in the coming weeks. Starting today, if you're the first person to purchase a copy of the limited-edition of Bring Your Own Book in one of the states listed below, we'll contact you to pick a library in your state to receive a free copy of the game as well! Remaining states needing gift copies: Maine, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia. Gifted since the promotion began: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, Vermont. (Rule stuff: Only purchases of the limited-edition of BYOBook made through bringyourownbook.com qualify. Only public and school libraries are eligible. Only the first person from each state will be contacted. All arrangements will be made by and at the discretion of //dbg.)

3. The Bring Your Own Book app is getting ever closer to release. We have been diligently hammering away at the mobile conversion of your favorite book game. We're plugging in all the game modes and custom rule settings we can manage, and Luke has created some charming new art for character portraits. There's also a camera mode that should make sharing your favorite finds the easiest it's ever been. Is it ready yet? No, but if you sign up for our mailing list at bringyourownbook.com, you're guaranteed to know first when the app launches.

We appreciate your playing this little game of ours. We love hearing from you on social media: your theme rounds, your house rules, and your awesome finds. And we thank you sincerely for everything you've done to spread the word.