About Marshbird Games
Games have been bringing people together for thousands of years.
The oldest board games ever found date back over 4500 year ago. Games are a part of the human experience and have made a mark on cultures in every corner of the globe.
My hope is to help people connect with that legacy by creating timeless games that are a joy to play, so that we can continue to connect with each other in the same way that we have for eons. Ancient history is more than dates and places, it’s about people. And this is one way we can experience human history first hand.
Marshbird Games is a One-Person Shop
Each game is created individually by one person, who also manages the business, and provides customer service directly.
About the Maker:
Hello there! I'm Diana - an independent artisan in coastal Maine.
The moment I learned that board games are as old as civilization itself, a spark was lit. I was enchanted by the idea of ancient people gathering around to do the very same activities we do today. I started reading about ancient games, but information wasn’t enough. I’m a maker at heart, so each time I discovered a new game, I needed to make it so that I could experience it myself. It was a tangible way to connect with the past. Perhaps if I had lived 1000 years ago, I would be doing the same thing.
These first games were for myself and my family, but eventually I felt compelled to share my work with a wider audience. When I started making games professionally, I just wanted to share my appreciation for history in a way that could be experienced. I day-dreamed that someone playing my games would say “wow! can you believe that we’re still playing board games, just like they did 200, 500, 1000, 5000 years later!? What must those people have been like?” And their companion would reply, “well obviously they were game nerds like us!” 🙂 I’d love for people to see that history is just regular people, keeping it real, doing the best they can.
It turns out making games also satisfies my artistic curiosity. For me, creating something new is as much about the process as the finished item. I love exploring new materials and techniques, and there are so many components that go into a game, that this work allows me to embrace my inner “jack of all trades”. I realize now, that the may roles I’ve the years have taught me what I need to know to be here now. I go forward, I’m able to learn new things every day and satisfy my curiousity.
Why is the shop called Marshbird?
Shorebirds have a special place in many ancient cultures. As animals that live at the boundary between land, sea, and sky, they have held symbolic meaning to people on every continent across thousands of years. Some societies associate herons and egrets with transition and harmony, while others see them as manifestations of wisdom and the pursuit of knowledge.
“Marshbird” is also a tribute to my home and my love of birds. I live next to a tidal marsh that we share various shore birds. For years I’ve watched these animals hunt and play, and they have come to hold symbolism for me as well. The heron: patience and strategy. The snowy egret: playfulness and camaraderie. Qualities of an enjoyable game session, right? …also qualities that I that I try to bring to my personality and my work.