Why I’m Building MesaDura: Something I Can Call My Own

I wanted to make MesaDura because I love dominoes.

I love the competition. People want to win, and that feeling is part of the culture I enjoy. There are nerves in it too: getting something wrong, getting something right, and caring about the difference. Those feelings are part of what makes the game exciting to me.

Then there are the people. The people you meet, the people you learn from, and the memories you make along the way. Getting better is exciting on its own, but those experiences give you more to remember than a result.

That’s what I wanted to build around when I started MesaDura.

I’ve sold houses and worked with clients in IT. I didn’t enjoy that work the way I enjoy making this game. With MesaDura, I get to take my own ideas and bring them to life. I’m creating something I can call my own, and something I want to play myself.

That matters to me. I’m enjoying making it, and I’m not rushing to call it finished.

My friends are getting older. There are families, kids, and different responsibilities. That’s part of the context behind wanting to create a game that makes bringing friends together easier. It’s one of the things I want to keep in mind as MesaDura takes shape.

I want it to feel welcoming, with Dominican identity and characters that have expression and personality. Those are things I care about alongside the competition. I want to make room for people who love trying to win and for the enjoyment of learning along the way.

Improvement is a big part of why I love dominoes. You get something wrong. You learn from someone. You get better and better, and there’s excitement in feeling that happen. That experience is part of what made me want to make a game in the first place.

This blog is where I’ll share the making of MesaDura: the ideas, the challenges, the decisions, and the improvements. Some posts will be about something that changed in the game. Others will be about why a particular part of the experience matters to me.

For this first post, I wanted to start with the reason I’m here. I love dominoes, and I love making this game. There’s still work ahead, and I’m enjoying being the person making it.

Prepared with AI editorial assistance from Lu’s own notes.