11/2/2020 October Surprise – Hey Trump, Our October Surprise Is Better Than Yours.

(https://www.october-

O(Hutrt Sptsa:/t/Wemwewn.OtctobJeori-Snu Trhper Tiesaem.Com/) surprise.com) HEY GAMERS! IT'S AN OCTOBER SURPRISE!

In the last couple weeks, the Trump team has tossed out the traditional cockamamie surprises in October, hoping to swing the vote toward them. Hunter Biden’s stolen laptop, Iranian Proud Boy conspiracies, miracle drugs that miraculously don’t exist—all a fever dream from the Fox News Cinematic Universe.

It’s all an attempt to distract from their complete lack of tness to govern. Hundreds of thousands dead from COVID-19. White supremacy on the rise. An economy in shambles. A climate on the brink of ruin. A president threatening the peaceful transfer of power. All their fault.

We, the members of the game industry, have an October surprise of our own:

AMERICA'S NOT PLAYING THAT GAME.

As creators of many of the most popular games in the world, we know a bad gambit when we see it. Whatever their moves are, it’s just mediocre strategy. It’s embarrassing, really. And it’s not going to win.

Gamers—and there’s a whole lot of us—don’t believe anything that comes from the Trump campaign. We believe in following the science, in cooperating with others, in helping our fellow humans get through this challenging time.

So, we’re supporting Joe Biden and Kamala Harris (https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bidenharris2020) and those who aim to serve with them. That’s the only play that leads to victory. Surprise!

SIGNED, THE GAME INDUSTRY

Teos Abadia, tabletop author and developer at Alphastream (Acquisitions Incorporated, HeroQuest, D&D) Robert Adducci, roleplaying game writer and editor at Ulisses Spiele Peter Adkison, publisher and convention owner at (Magic: The Gathering, D&D, Pokémon) Jennifer Allaway, writer and narrative designer at Pixelberry Studios (2064: ROM, Unavowed, Choices) Lou Anders, roleplaying game designer at Kobold Press, 3D Printed Tabletop, and River Horse Michael Andersen, writer at ARGNet Jared Anderson, game developer and creative director (Portals: Worlds Collide) Chrystal Andros, tabletop gaming writer Rachel Ansell, product owner at PerBlue Entertainment (Disney Heroes: Battle Mode, Star Trek Timelines, Game of Thrones Ascent) Rennie Araucto, producer at Zombie Orpheus Entertainment (The Gamers: The Hands of Fate, JourneyQuest) Andy Arizpe, programmer at 22nd Century Toys John Arnold, lead developer and designer at Handelabra Games (Sentinels of the Multiverse, Spirit Island digital games) Richard Aronson, game designer (The World Series of Poker, The Ruins of Cawdor, Hoyle Classic Card Games) Andy Ashcraft, game designer at Giantsdance Games (The Siblings Trouble) Martin Ashwood-Smith, crossword constructor Henry Audubon, game designer (PARKS, Kingswood, Space Park) Sean Austin, engineer Christopher Badell, designer, developer, and publisher at Greater Than Games (Sentinels of the Multiverse) Keith Baker, game designer at Twogether Studios (Gloom, Illimat, ) Thomas Baker, game designer (The Sims, Need For Speed, Mass Effect, Real Racing) David Bakle, Minecraft modder Leonard Balsera, roleplaying game developer, writer, and narrative designer Richard Balsley, game designer and writer (’s Cosmos Builder) John Baltisberger, roleplaying game designer Cam Banks, roleplaying game designer (Cortex) Jeff Barr, tech blogger Tim Beach, game designer, writer, and editor at Beach House Games (D&D Monstrous Manual, Thri-Kreen of Athas, Red Steel, City of Delights) Dorcas Bean, game convention creator Tyler Beck, writer (Pathnder, Pathnder Adventure Card Game, Tabletop Simulator modules) William Beers, writer Jerry Belich, game designer (The Choosatron) Eric Benson, printer and broadcaster Eric Berlin, puzzlemaker at Puzzlesnacks Alexander Bevier, writer, designer, and producer (Jurassic World: Revealed, Jack Ryan: November Morning) Kid Beyond, musician and game and puzzle designer Greg Bilsland, producer (D&D) Charlie Bink, game designer at Underdog Games (Trekking the National Parks) Leanne Binns, line developer at FASA Games (Demonworld) Ian Birdsall, marketer Andrew Birkett, publisher and game designer at Atheris Entertainment (Ruins of Mars) Emily Black, software engineer at Mojang/Microsoft (Minecraft) Barak Blackburn, designer at Density Media Alan Blaine, video game technical designer at Bungie (Destiny 2, Red Dead Redemption 1 and 2, GTA 5) Jessica Blair, sales, marketing, and licensing consultant at Roll To Market Guy Blomberg, event manager at Reedpop (PAX) Joseph Blomquist, roleplaying game developer at Saturday Morning Games (Dime Stories, Marvel Heroic Roleplaying, Smallville, Starnder) Bill Bodden, author and game designer at Onyx Path Publishing and Green Ronin Publishing (Achtung! Cthulhu) Logan Bonner, tabletop game designer at (Pathnder, D&D, Mistborn Adventure Game, Spectaculars) Bryan Bornmueller, distributor at PSI Michael Borys, immersive game designer at 49 Boxes & 42 Entertainment (The 49 Boxes, Why So Serious, Flynn Lives, Skabooki) Roland Boshnack, author (BattleTech, GURPS, Ogre) Todd Boughn, designer at Mind Games (WarGames) Robert Bowling, game director at Strange Reptile (Call of Duty) Chip Boyd, game designer and publisher at Happy Gorilla Game Studio (War for Indagar) Jeb Boyt, tabletop game writer (Conan, Blue Rose, Thrilling Tales) Bruce Brenneise, artist (Slay the Spire, Numenera) Brad Brooks, designer and publisher at Cardboard Alchemy (Letter Tycoon, Rise of Tribes) Chad Brown, game and puzzle designer at Lone Shark Games Steven “Stan!” Brown, cartoonist, game designer, and author Joseph Browning, publisher at Expeditious Retreat Press AJ Bruner, author and game developer at #ColoringTherapy (Legends Of Dragons: The Card Game, Begloomed, The Legend of Ezmerelda) Randy Buehler, game designer (Magic: The Gathering) Susan Bueno, editor at Steve Jackson Games Jason Bulmahn, tabletop game designer at Paizo (Pathnder RPG) Ken Burnside, game and graphic designer at Ad Astra Games (Attack Vector: Tactical, Birds of Prey, Squadron Strike) Eric Cagle, narrative designer at DigiPen (D&D, Star Wars RPG, Warhammer Fantasy RPG) Quentin Cantor, systems designer at Standing Stone Games (Dungeons & Dragons Online) Jason Carl, game writer and streamer Joseph Carriker, writer, designer, and developer at Green Ronin Publishing (, Chronicles of Darkness, D&D, Blue Rose) Janica Carter, roleplaying game editor (Starnder) Scott Carter, writer (Deep Magic, Midgard Heroes Handbook) Cat, game designer and programmer at Mobile Game Doctor (Furcadia, Ultima 6, Trailer Park Boys, Ravenwood Fair, 1Up Casino, Meltdown) Dave Chalker, game designer (Get Bit, Sentinel Comics: The RPG) , roleplaying game designer at Signal Fire Studios (Serenity, Cortex System, Battlestar Galactica, Metamorphosis Alpha) John Chaneski, puzzle and trivia creator (A Way with Words) Joseph Z Chen, designer, artist, and publisher Jeffrey Chiao, producer and director at D-Cell Games and Sky Hour Works (Unbeatable, Space/Mech/Pilot, A Nightmare’s Trip) Johnny Chu, game designer Christopher Chung, board game designer (Lanterns: The Harvest Festival, Spell Smashers) https://www.october-surprise.com 1/6