In the quiet yet bustling town of Thistleville, deadlines loom, paws shuffle, and typewriters clack as woodland editors race to get the news on the page. Fit to Print, designed by Peter McPherson and brought to life by the vivid illustrations of Ian O’Toole, transforms the simple act of laying out a newspaper into a frenetic, charming puzzle of timing, balance, and wit.
But alongside the clatter of presses and fluttering sheets, there’s another layer: music and art inspired by the game’s delightful world.
🐾 The Game at a Glance
At its heart, Fit to Print is a real-time tile-laying board game where players act as editors of their very own woodland paper. With only a few minutes on the clock, you’ll gather headlines, photos, and ads — all while trying to keep your layout balanced, tidy, and newsworthy.
The rules are simple, but the execution is anything but. Every round is a whirlwind:
- Reporting Phase: Frantically grab the stories and images you want.
- Layout Phase: Arrange them perfectly (or imperfectly) on your front page.
- Print!: Lock in your choices before the competition beats you to the press.
It’s fast, puzzly, and surprisingly theatrical — like a miniature newsroom drama acted out with squirrels, foxes, and rabbits.
🎶 The Soundtrack: Music of Thistleville
To capture the feel of Thistleville’s newsroom chaos, a six-track original soundtrack was composed, blending folk, jazz, and playful experimentation into a unified theme of “hectic charm.” Each piece mirrors not only the game’s phases but also its woodland soul.
- 1. Deadline Waltz – A swirling mandolin and toy piano dance, evoking the frantic yet whimsical countdown of looming deadlines.
- 2. Photos Above the Fold – Lo-fi jazz textures with muted trumpets and vibraphones, a nod to the quieter work of sorting snapshots in the glow of a desk lamp.
- 3. Centerpiece Madness – Playful odd meters and accordion stabs, capturing the chaos of centerpiece placement.
- 4. Thistleville After Hours – A serene, moonlit ballad with guitar and bowed saw, offering calm after the print rush.
- 5. White Space Tango – Gypsy jazz and tango rhythms embodying the risky dance of balancing ads and headlines.
- 6. Print and Panic – A frenetic finale of typewriter percussion and brassy flourishes, exploding like a press in full swing.
Each track is paired with an image that paints Thistleville’s newsroom with warmth and energy — a visual diary of ink, paper, and woodland creativity.
🎨 Art That Breathes the Story
The soundtrack’s imagery leans heavily on the storybook-meets-editorial style of Ian O’Toole’s original illustrations. Expect:
- Characters caught in dynamic newsroom poses.
- Warm golden light contrasting with cool forest shadows.
- Typewriters, scissors, scattered photos, and steaming mugs of tea.
- A balance of chaos and charm — just like the game itself.
Every piece of art becomes a snapshot of Thistleville life, not just a background but a storytelling companion to the music.
🌲 Why It All Fits Together
Fit to Print is more than a puzzle game. It’s a celebration of stories, voices, and creative chaos, wrapped in woodland whimsy. The soundtrack and art expand that celebration, making the frantic joy of newspaper-making something you can hear and see, even outside the game box.
So whether you’re shuffling tiles on the table, or simply listening with a cup of tea in hand, Thistleville’s newsroom is always open — and always on deadline.