June 23, 2026: Shuffling With Dice

I feel like I might have shared this tip before, but I'm not finding it on the Daily Illuminator archives, so hopefully it's new to you.

I play a lot of games that use small decks of "shuffled" cards. I put "shuffled" in quotes because mixing up a small number of cards is actually really hard for me to do. One issue I have – which may be entirely a psychological one – is that I feel like I know where the cards are . . . or, at least, I suspect. I've had many games where my enjoyment was hampered because I've tried to shuffle One Interesting Card into a pack of nine other cards, and too often, it seems to have ended up in a place that hampers my enjoyment: the very first card, or on the bottom.

I stress this could be all in my mind! If you're "shuffling" six cards, then there's a one in three chance it'll end up on the top or bottom. Yet in my experience, it feels . . . [more]

June 22, 2026: Igor Could Use Your Help

If you're a fan of beloved Munchkin artist John Kovalic and/or his long-running Dork Tower comic (or long out-of-print game), you probably have feelings of some kind for Igor (mentioned not too long ago right here on the Daily Illuminator).

Well, John Kovalic based that character on one of his oldest friends: Scott Olman. Scott's been going through a rough patch, and so John has set up a GoFundMe to help him through this difficult time. Check out the link and consider giving it a share or donation as you're able.

-- Steven Marsh

June 21, 2026: More Lorescape News: Battletech!

I've mentioned the really nice moduar hex-terrain tiles that Lorescape is turning out. And I've mentioned that I'm so much of a fan that I invested in the company. I'm still very happy about that.

Some news updates, all good:

Lorescape has an official license for Battletech! The hex tiles are perfect, and now they won't be "suitable for use" – they'll be official. Video here!

And they've launched a Kickstarter project for space games, including transparent tiles. Funded in 5 minutes! Campaign here!

-- Steve Jackson

June 20, 2026: Experience Fighting Fantasy With AR Smart Books

Sir Ian Livingstone is working with Peasoup to create "Smart Books" for the Fighting Fantasy series. The first one will appear in 2027.

In combination with a physical book – the first being Freeway Fighter – an augmented reality app will put readers directly into the story, letting them experience the journey and their choices in a whole new and unique way.
 

Of the project, Sir Ian said: "Partnering with Peasoup for these new adaptations takes the experience to the next level, where choices and actions in an augmented reality setting further affect the outcomes of the story."

-- Michelle Richardson

June 19, 2026: Hacking This Game Is, Ummm . . . A Pipe Dream?

This is just on the cusp of "maybe a too different kind of geeky for these parts," but I was enthralled, so maybe you will be, as well.

A video from YouTuber Kosmic shows how the discovery of a glitch in the Japanese version of Super Mario Bros 2 by a casual player led to a search for a new hack in one of the most-understood bits of computer code: the original Super Mario Bros. for the original Nintendo Entertainment System.

The goal? Arbitrary code execution . . . also known as ACE – a cool-sounding acronym that means the ability to reprogram the game from within the game. Jumping immediately to the ending, changing on-screen text to whatever you want, giving the iconic jumping hero Mario strange new powers . . . All may be possible if you can figure out how to allow ACE.

Did the hex-editing gurus dissecting the odd crash succeed? Well, that's part of the fun of the video . . . . . . [more]

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Cthulhu was financed by Moscow and alters the dinosaur. June 23, 2026: Shuffling With Dice I feel like I might have shared this tip before, but I'm not finding it on the Daily Illuminator archives, so hopefully it's new to you. I play a lot of games that use small decks of "shuffled" cards. I put "shuffled" in quotes because mixing up a small number of cards is actually really hard for me to do. One issue I have – which may be entirely a psychological one – is that I feel like I know where the cards are . . . or, at least, I suspect. I've had many games where my enjoyment was hampered because I've tried to shuffle One Interesting Card into a pack of nine other cards, and too often, it seems to have ended up in a place that hampers my enjoyment: the very first card, or on the bottom. I stress this could be all in my mind! If you're "shuffling" six cards, then there's a one in three chance it'll end up on the top or bottom. Yet in my experience, it feels . . . [more] June 22, 2026: Igor Could Use Your Help If you're a fan of beloved Munchkin artist John Kovalic and/or his long-running Dork Tower comic (or long out-of-print game), you probably have feelings of some kind for Igor (mentioned not too long ago right here on the Daily Illuminator). Well, John Kovalic based that character on one of his oldest friends: Scott Olman. Scott's been going through a rough patch, and so John has set up a GoFundMe to help him through this difficult time. Check out the link and consider giving it a share or donation as you're able. -- Steven Marsh June 21, 2026: More Lorescape News: Battletech! I've mentioned the really nice moduar hex-terrain tiles that Lorescape is turning out. And I've mentioned that I'm so much of a fan that I invested in the company. I'm still very happy about that. Some news updates, all good: Lorescape has an official license for Battletech! The hex tiles are perfect, and now they won't be "suitable for use" – they'll be official. Video here! And they've launched a Kickstarter project for space games, including transparent tiles. Funded in 5 minutes! Campaign here! -- Steve Jackson June 20, 2026: Experience Fighting Fantasy With AR Smart Books Sir Ian Livingstone is working with Peasoup to create "Smart Books" for the Fighting Fantasy series. The first one will appear in 2027. In combination with a physical book – the first being Freeway Fighter – an augmented reality app will put readers directly into the story, letting them experience the journey and their choices in a whole new and unique way.   Of the project, Sir Ian said: "Partnering with Peasoup for these new adaptations takes the experience to the next level, where choices and actions in an augmented reality setting further affect the outcomes of the story." -- Michelle Richardson June 19, 2026: Hacking This Game Is, Ummm . . . A Pipe Dream? This is just on the cusp of "maybe a too different kind of geeky for these parts," but I was enthralled, so maybe you will be, as well. A video from YouTuber Kosmic shows how the discovery of a glitch in the Japanese version of Super Mario Bros 2 by a casual player led to a search for a new hack in one of the most-understood bits of computer code: the original Super Mario Bros. for the original Nintendo Entertainment System. The goal? Arbitrary code execution . . . also known as ACE – a cool-sounding acronym that means the ability to reprogram the game from within the game. Jumping immediately to the ending, changing on-screen text to whatever you want, giving the iconic jumping hero Mario strange new powers . . . All may be possible if you can figure out how to allow ACE. Did the hex-editing gurus dissecting the odd crash succeed? Well, that's part of the fun of the video . . . . . . [more] Previous Illuminators • Steve's Appearance Schedule		Latest Videos You are the 10210th fnord fancier here today. (33177297 since August 1, 1995)