Episode 46: Stoned

Thanks for the feedback.

The show is broken into segments so that you can listen to individual segments whenever and however you like. There are also chapter breaks included in the enhanced feed so you can more easily navigate the show.

I don't see length as a liability provided that the content and we are providing in each show is interesting and entertaining and we're not just rambling for two hours. So far, I think we pass that test. Anyone else have thoughts?

I thought a couple of the Stonehenge games were well above mediocre, but the price certainly seems like a barrier to entry.

The concept behind the game is very cool and I want to see it thrive because I see so much potential in it. In a way, purchasing Stonehenge gives you the chance to find many other ways of having fun with the core components since there are already dozens of new games by budding designers available online. Perhaps it is a weird way to think about a physical board game but not all that dissimilar to the ability to mod a video or pc game. Buying a game liek Stonehenge gives you the tool kit to remake the game in a way that is more enjoyable to you and others.

From your resolutions, sounds like you're considering a targeted purge of your collection. I also like that you're focusing on playing more games with your kids. My little neice Rachael is three years old and she is starting to really enjoy games we we get together. I got her some fun HABA games for xmas this year. It's a slippery slope to gamerdom!

My need to sort out my collection is more along the lines of building shelves for my current closet. My game closet will accomodate way more games than it currently holds due to the lack of proper shelving. Dave weeps a little every time he has to pull a game out of my giant teetering stack in one corner.

No assumptions made, just pointing out there are some other options available in case you didn't know or were able to take advantage of them. We offer two different versions of the show (both mp3 and the enhanced m4a). And it is true the enhanced features work on ipods. But iTunes itself is free to download and anyone can listen to the enhanced shows through iTunes directly for free. Of course, I realize the vast majority of people listen to the show on portable devices, but if you are interested in a particular show and want a little more control over it, this is an option. I don't own an ipod (i use an ancient 20 GB Rio Karma), so I try my best to make sure non ipod users don't get lost in the shuffle.

That said, I'm sorry if our audio format doesn't suit your needs but given our schedules and vision for the show, we're not planning on chopping up the show.

Now the video stuff we're going to do here on The Spiel may be more to your tastes since the segments will definitely be shorter than a typical show. Stay tuned for more info as we get closer to launch!

Sounds like you're jumping in the deep end of the design pool, Mr. Gruff. Great! I am amassing a big set of wooden cubes and other game components for a stop-motion animation project (Spiel video-related), but the side effect will be that I'll have a nice game design toolkit to work from when the animation is done.

I hadn't thought of Cribbage in those terms at all. Hmm. Guess we were asleep at the wheel on that one! It's probably the closest analog, you're right. But there's still at least one mutation from that basic mechanic. The one thing the Stonehenge game adds that Cribbage doesn't have is to give players different special abilities based on the cards they choose to get rid of. In the crib you simply set yourself up to score (or your opponent if you choose poorly (or are unlucky)). After one has played enough games, it's interesting to see how so many classic game mechanics are repurposed. Not really any different than seeing writers borrow literary techniques from those great ones from earlier centuries. And yet usining those techniques to new and different effect. Standing on the shoulders of giants, that's how the phrase goes, isn't it?

I see your point about the game design resolution, jsciv, but I'm with oxymoron on this one.

The point of trying to design your own game is to understand the process of play from a different perspective. I think this can be a fun and valuable experience even if you go into it thinking you don't have a creative bone in your body or have never considered designing a game. Breaking the game design down into its component steps: the concept, the mechanics, the components, the playtesting, etc. you learn about what goes into every game you play and enjoy as well as the one you are making. It's something I think a lot of people don't step back and consider and I think for that reason it can be a very interesting and beneficial project for anyone to jump into. My point was not to assume everyone can be a great game designer or even that everyone wants to be one. Not at all. Instead, it's the the journey, the process of game design that I think anyone could find interesting and fun even if the game you come up with would make Dr. Knizia cry.