Oops, I'm a couple days late to sending out this monthly newsletter 😬 May really creeped up on me, y'all. There was a lot that got cut from today's newsletter, but since great is the enemy of good, I sent it out anyway!

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In this month's newsletter

1. Switch 2...Expensive
2. Power Up Program
3. Games You've Never Heard About
4. Around the Web (How Productive People Speak, D&D for Social Skills, and TV Garden)

1. Switch 2...Expensive

See what I did there? 😅 My initial reaction to the Switch 2 was negative. $450 for a computer mouse, joysticks that work (why is that praised? It's the bare minimum expectation), and $80 games. Yeew! **insert empty wallet meme here**

After I gave myself some breathing room, spoke to friends, and came back to it a couple days later, I realized a few things:

• Nintendo is known for producing great games but also for paying their employees fairly
• The initial launch price of the SNES in today's market would be ~$490 bucks, and it is nowhere near as complex a tool.
• Yes, $80 games suck, but that is where we've been headed this whole time in the AAA industry (thanks capitalism)
• It's not the industry innovating console I thought it would be but...I think it's going to have a big impact on people.

How? Currently there are several Nintendo games that have dedicated communities, like Mario Kart. And in a time where community is sparse and hard to access, I think that's a beautiful thing. The Switch 2 will allow more communities, big and small, to grow in new ways or just to actually start. Think friends, families, local or even national communities. So while it isn't the tech innovation I was hoping for, it's the tech innovation I needed.

Innovating on an Old Concept

We have lost much of our sense of community, and I think that the Switch 2 aims to bring people together, as has been Nintendo's mission for a long time. This is a step into the future of online communities, and I think it will improve social emotional learning for children and adults, as they'll be able to practice and develop soft skills like resilience, communication, and emotional regulation in real time with visual feedback through Game Chat.

Switch 2 introduces the C button to start using Game Chat so you can share your voice, screen, and even video as you play. If you're a long time user, you know that voice chat has been lacking, so if Nintendo can pull this off, it'll be a big deal. That's not even the best part; with Game Chat (and any working USB-C cam), you can INSERT yourself into the game, and your friends can see and hear you while you all play games.

Imagine being inserted into Mario Party as if you were in a game show. Or watching your friend's face when they get rocked by a blue shell in Mario Kart. It's easier to throw a fit or be a sore loser when you're not on camera, amirite?

What do you think about the Switch 2? Hit reply and let me know!

2. Power Up Program

I designed an 8 week cohort for folks dealing with imposter syndrome to practice and learn presentation skills in a fun, low pressure space, where we can learn to examine and challenge our thoughts.

It’s called the Power Up Program, and it’s a small group experience for those working in tech who want to feel more confident, speak up, and use games to work on imposter syndrome.

We use play, storytelling, practice, and honest conversation to help you grow your voice, get comfy with presenting, and learn in a group setting.

Here’s how it works:

• 7 weekly live workshops
• Small group vibes
• Fun + awkward + surprisingly powerful confidence games
• Personalized feedback and 1:1 coaching
• Your own toolkit and roadmap
• A crew of folks cheering you on

Starts June 19th​
Limited to 7 seats
$575 (with one pay-what-you-can seat available!)

Know someone who might be interested? Please forward this newsletter to them!

3. Games You've Never Heard About

It's my first ever public event! I'm an introvert, I'm shy, but here we are! Doing community things. The turnout will be small, but the games will be surprising!

If you wanna learn more about roleplay style games, come hang for an hour on May 23rd, 12pm Eastern. I promise, these games are cool, easy to pick up, and great for developing soft skills, solo or as a group.

4. Around the Web

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