We’re Jen and Jacob. We grew up in the Aussie suburbs, spent a lot of time outdoors, and have always had a soft spot for the birds and wildlife we share it with.
Australian birds have so much personality. They’re noisy, clever, curious, territorial and often seem completely unbothered by whatever the humans around them are doing.
And then there are magpies.
You’ll find them out in the bush, but they’re just as much a part of suburban life — wandering across front lawns, digging for grubs at the local oval, singing from a gum tree or keeping a suspicious eye on you from a powerline.
They’re incredibly intelligent, beautiful birds. They can also make a grown adult slightly nervous about walking to the park for a few weeks every spring.
Most Australians know the feeling. You spot one up ahead, keep walking, then hear that telltale rush of wings somewhere behind you and suddenly become very aware of the back of your head.
We figured all that springtime chaos was the perfect starting point for a card game.
At the same time, we wanted Swoopy Season to celebrate magpies for what they really are — clever, social and fiercely protective of their families. Understanding a little more about why they behave the way they do somehow makes that springtime swoop feel a little less personal.
The other part of Swoopy Season comes from our shared loved of playing cards.
We grew up playing with family and friends — around kitchen tables, on holidays and camping trips. Now, with young kids of our own, life feels increasingly digital, and there’s something we love about the analogue simplicity of sitting down together with a deck of cards.
Phones go away, everyone gathers around the same table, and for a little while you’re just there together.
Sometimes it gets competitive. Sometimes nobody remembers whose turn it is. But the laughs keep you saying 'one more game?'
We wanted Swoopy Season to have that same feeling. Easy to learn, quick to play and competitive enough to keep everyone coming back for another round.
Every character and detail has been developed here in Australia, with original artwork by the incredible Navada Currie, and plenty of testing, tweaking and changing our minds along the way.
In the end, Swoopy Season became a little love letter to Aussie birds and wildlife, growing up in the suburbs, getting outdoors, and the simple pleasure of slowing down and playing a game with the people around you.
Grab a deck, round up a few people and give our humble little card game a go!
