It all started at a coffee shop.

Ken expressed a desire to strike out on his own and write the games he wanted to write,
​and Sam interrupted with one question.

​WHY NOT?

Why not indeed, and from that moment the plan for Why Not Games emerged. We are a collective of writers, illustrators, marketers, and more who just want to make games. Well, that and sell them to you. Also, play some games. Lots of games.​

​We have a simple policy:

​Games should be fun. Yet, games are more than simply entertainment. Playing games helps to build cognitive skills, especially critical thinking. You can also learn much about history, science, philosophy, and the entire spectacular universe we live in by playing games.

​Any creative work, and this includes writing and drawing for games, has a message, a purpose beyond merely being fun or looking good. Ours certainly do, and we hope to spread liberty, equality, and fraternity with our games, and have fun while doing it.

THE TEAM

KEN SPENCER,
​OWNER

ENnie award winning creator of Rocket Age, Ken is our creative director and lead writer. He has written for Cubicle 7 Entertainment, Chaosium, Frog God Games, Alephtar Games, and Steve Jackson Games. Educated as an archaeologist, geographer, and teacher, Ken brings experience as a field scientist to his writing, adding a certain verisimilitude to exploring ancient ruins and traveling through unexplored wildernesses.

KRYSTAL FALLER SPENCER, OWNER

Our nationally award winning marketing director and business manager, Krystal keeps the lights on and the fridge stocked. Her many years in broadcasting have taught her how to tell a complex story in a short amount of time, something necessary for when Ken starts to ramble. Krystal is also a life long Cubs fan, which worked out well for her once.

SAMANTHA PARISH, 
​CREATIVE PARTNER

Samantha Parish (9/25/89- 2/13/19), one of our founders and artists, passed away from a yearlong battle with cancer. Sam named Why Not Games and created our mascot and logo Milo. She was a driving force behind the creation of Why Not Games, and directed and contributed art to our first two products, Caturday (5e) and Surial Bear Folk of the North (5e). Sadly, she fell ill before being able to work on our following products, but when feeling strong enough participated in planning sessions and playtesting. Sam created and played, from the very first Rocket Age playtests, the character Alyssa Hart ace rocket ship pilot. She is survived by her husband, William Dickey, and her cat, Dexter. Sam flies among the stars now, this world was never worthy of her.

BRIAN EADS,
​CREATIVE PARTNER

One of our most prolific artists, Brian provided many of the interior illustrations for our games. Brian W. Eads, 39, of Evansville, passed away on April 14, 2020. He is survived by his husband, Kirklin. Brian gave the best bear hugs and is deeply missed. ​

JIM SPENCER,
​EDITOR

Retired from a career as a technical writer and a career in the United States Navy, Jim is doubly tired. Yet, when the call went out he volunteered and has become our lead editor.

ELITE PLAYTESTERS

We would not be able to make our games without the enthusiastic help of our elite team of playtesters. Week by week these stalwart gamers give up their evenings to test new ideas, strange alien species, and bizarre rules systems. They go by many names and those names fill the weak and foolish with dread. Although the roster changes from time to time, our elite playtesters continue as a whole, and when one falls to the vagaries of modern life, work schedules, and families, another steps up to take their place.