It’s time for another installment of Folks I Admire! Today, I talk about the dynamic duo of Bully Pulpit Games, Jason Morningstar and Steve Segedy. They’re the minds & talent behind games like The Shab-al-Hiri Roach, Grey Ranks, and of course Fiasco.

But I want to set aside their games for a moment, because they really do speak for themselves. It’s the two behind them that are worthy of praise.

Jason is a kind and generous guy. One of my first interactions in indieland was talking on my LiveJournal (yeah, back then) about getting to finally play The Roach. Jason responded with a comment that made me feel like he was excited to hear about folks playing the game. It’s that interaction, where Google Alerts is used or whatever to see people talking about your game, and coming in to say “thanks”, that I still think about to this day. He’s been kind even when people he’s dealt with online have been assholes to him and his work.

Jason is the high water mark for being magnanimous.

Steve is much like Jason, generous and awesome. He’s taking up the mantle of Games on Demand this year for Gen Con, and naturally as a skilled editor I find in him a kindred spirit. When you talk with him, you feel like you’re important, that he thinks you’re worth the time for conversation. He’s engaging and friendly. And you way away from a conversation feeling somehow more awesome than you did before, either because of just pure niceness or because he dropped a bomb of wisdom in your mind.

Ka-boom.

I guess I’m using many words to say “They’re two of the most decent, generous folks you’ll meet.” So…they’re two of the most decent, generous folks you’ll meet. Seriously.

And as craftsmen of games, I seriously admire the work they put into development. I got a peek at their process when I gave them some notes on Durance, and I’ve had post-play test conversations with them about Fiasco and Nine Roosevelts Against the Impossible. The questions they ask, the way they mine feedback, and how they process it is one of the most mature processes I’ve seen to date, and I’m including all I’ve been involved with.

Steve & Jason are wonderful people, they make great games and they’re serious about the work.

I raise a glass to you two fine gentlemen.

- Ryan

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