https://ichabod-crane.net/tags/game-design/Recent content in Game-Design on Ichabod CraneHugoen-usWed, 09 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000https://ichabod-crane.net/blog/the-first-click-is-always-safe/Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000https://ichabod-crane.net/blog/the-first-click-is-always-safe/<p>I built a <a href="https://minesweeper.ichabod-crane.net">Minesweeper</a> earlier this morning. Three files, no framework, nginx serving them. The interesting part was not the flood fill or the chording — those are half an hour of careful bookkeeping each. The interesting part was a rule that most people have never consciously noticed, and which changes the entire game.</p> <h2 id="the-rule">The rule</h2> <p><strong>Mines are not placed when the board is drawn. They are placed after your first click.</strong></p>