GenCon 2019 - Thinking Inside the Box
Release Date: Aug. 15, 2019 |
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Running Time: 54 min. |
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It's a simple pleasure: the joy we get from the components in a game. How can humble cardboard, wood, and plastic create such magic?
From the publisher to the manufacturer and even after market accessories, we examine the incredible amount of time and creativity that goes into every bit and how that shapes our experience with a game.
The panel:
Beth Heile (BGG)
Frank Jaeger (Ludo Fact)
Jean-Francois Gagne (Panda)
Scott Hill (Flying Frog Productions)
Complete Show Notes continue after the break.
GenCon 2019 - Indie Publisher Round Table
Release Date: Aug. 14, 2019 |
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Running Time: 50 min. |
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In a day and age where we have seen so much corporate consolidation within the board game business, in many respects the creative engine that drives the industry are the many small game publishers bringing an amazing variety of titles to the marketplace.
We sit down with a group of successful publishers for a discussion on the challenges, lessons, advantages and pitfalls of being an independent publisher today.
The panel:
Gil Hova (Formal Ferret Games)
Tim Fowers (Fowers Games)
Maggie Clayton (Greater Than Games)
Julie Ahern (Greenbrier Games)
Complete Show Notes continue after the break.
GenCon 2019 - The Expanding Board Game Market
Release Date: Aug. 13, 2019 |
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Running Time: 53 min. |
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The board game market has grown dramatically over the past two decades. From the mass market to board games figuring into pop culture and even mainstream media, the community of players has continued to expand as we see more designers and publishers try to reach a broader and more diverse audience.
We examine this topic from an industry perspective, asking how game designers and developers, publishers, retailers, educators and media outlets try to make sense of the market today and where it might be headed.
The panel:
Stephen Buonocore (Stronghold Games, Indie Game Studios)
Shari Spiro (Breaking Games)
Morgan Dontanville (Catan)
Kathleen Mercury (teacher, game designer)
Complete Show Notes continue after the break.
GenCon 2019 - International Trade & The Business of Games
Release Date: Aug. 12, 2019 |
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Running Time: 48 min. |
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The business of games is global. A game today may be designed in Canada, signed by an American publisher, manufactured in China and distributed throughout Europe and sold to players in multiple languages. It’s a complex engine to keep spinning. We dig into this game behind the games to gain a better sense of how the parts of this trade engine fit together and discuss how tariffs can jeopardize the health of the industry as a whole.
The panel:
Mike Selinker (Lone Shark Games)
Daniel Zayas (Longpack Games)
Complete Show Notes continue after the break.
GenCon 2019 - Redefining the Boundaries of Play
Release Date: Aug. 9, 2019 |
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Running Time: 49 min. |
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There’s a new wave of drama-driven games. They are fueled by tragic events and deal with topics not often associated with tabletop games let alone fun. We examine how these narrative based games are pushing the boundaries of how we define play with some of the great minds helping to create this new genre.
The panel:
Rory O'Connor (HUB Games)
Michael Fox (HUB Games)
Ignacy Trzewiczek (Portal Games)
Complete Show Notes continue after the break.
GenCon 2019 - Mental Health & The Power of Board Games
Release Date: Aug. 8, 2019 |
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Running Time: 47 min. |
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Board Games can be a source for many kinds of enjoyment. But their power also overlaps into many areas of mental health - learning to play can help us develop meaningful skills and ways of looking at the world that extends far beyond the tabletop. We examine how games can be a powerful and positive force on many different levels related to mental health with teachers, professionals and players.
The panel:
Sen Foong Lim (psychology professor, game designer)
Katie Aidley (Wargames Are for Everybody)
John Knoerzer (licensed clinical social worker)
Bruce Voge (North Star Games, The Party Gamecast)
Bebo (Be Bold Games)
Complete Show Notes continue after the break.
329: Order of Invention

Release Date: June 24, 2019 |
Download: PDF |
Designers: Tim WK Brown |
Publisher: Breaking Games |
2 or more pl | 20 min | ages 8+ | MSRP $20 |
Bubble Wrap… Instant Coffee… Processed Cheese… The Zamboni.
Do you know which came first? The name of the game says it all.
But here's the thing. The inventions in the game - they aren't ones you read about in history books. They are the flotsam and jetsam of our modern world.
And that's what makes the game shine!
Written review continues after the break.
Episode 328: Troika

Release Date: June 24, 2019 |
Download: PDF |
Designers: Jun Sasaki |
Publisher: Oink Games |
2-5 | 20 min | ages 7+ | MSRP $19 |
In Troika, You are a fortune seeker, hoping to cash in on a recent discovery. On a distant planet, scientists have found a type of stone, which when combined properly, can yield great riches.
You’ve traveled to the planet, but now you’ve been told that getting these gems won’t be enough. You must also gather the right kind of stones to provide enough fuel to get you back to Earth. Gems and fuel. Anything less and your mission will be judged a failure.
Troika is a whimsical twist on classic set collecting games. Read on to discover why we think it's Major Fun!
Written review continues after the break.
Episode 327: Detective
Release Date: June 17, 2019 |
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Running Time: 120 min. |
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You are part of a new team at the Antares National Investigation Agency.
Together you work to solve a cold case with roots in World War II. A tapestry of corruption, greed, and violence across the decades is yours to unravel.
Decide what leads to follow first and be prepared to dig deep. Hit the streets... before they start hitting back!
Like Holding On, Detective is a drama-driven game fueled by tragic situations we normally don't associate with fun.
It provides an immersive and innovative experience by embracing technology. This allows Detective to expand the boundaries of what games can be.
Listen in for a full review and discussion!
Complete Show Notes continue after the break.
Episode 326: Holding On
Release Date: June 3, 2019 |
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Running Time: 85 min. |
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It could be tonight, it could be a week, but the end is coming for Billy Kerr. Each day, you and your team of nurses do your best to make him comfortable.
But Billy is not going quietly.
And he's not going to make your lives easy. His troubled past will haunt him to the end of his days unless you help him find peace of mind.
Holding On offers a game experience like no other. It is a drama-driven game that asks us to redefine the boundaries of play.
We don't just witness Billy's story. We play through it - the regrets and triumphs - the decisions that define his path. And in doing so, we are invited to reflect on our own.
It takes an act of true courage and audacity to embrace tragedy as a new voice for games. And that's exactly what Holding On is.
Listen in to explore the game and discover how these brave and bold designers forge a new path for players to enjoy.
Complete Show Notes continue after the break.