Games are vehicles for social interaction. They build bridges between us. They give us a way to interact with each other, to learn from each other, to know each other in a way that is different from the everyday world. 

Games offer us a new language and new ways to communicate.

Whether it’s through words spoken or written, or symbols or gestures or a glance or even our sense of touch, game designers shape the way we communicate when we play. 

And each method of communication brings with it a different set of challenges to face and puzzle through.

The goal of this panel is to explore how communication shapes the enjoyment and connections we discover in games. 

The panel:

Antoine Bauza

Rikki Tahta

Rory O'Connor

John Knoerzer

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

There's no doubt the world of games is global. We are all united by our love of fun and the joy play can bring to everyone at the table. But what many may not realize is how gaming culture is different depending on where you play. 

This panel explores gaming culture through the eyes of game designers and publishers from Israel, Taiwan, and Spain.

The panel:

Elad Goldsteen (Golden Egg Games - Israel)

Smoox Chen (Taiwan Boardgame Design - Taiwan)

Guillermo Soria (Gen-X Games - Spain)

Servando Carballar (Gen-X Games - Spain)

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

You buy a game. You bring it home. You crack the shrink wrap, You punch the counters. You shuffle the cards and admire the dice and the board. You’re itching to call your friends right now to come over and play except for that one small thing…. the rules!

Now no one wants to sit through you reading the rules out loud at the table to everyone. So there’s going to be a pause before we are able to get to the fun. Because somebody has to learn the rules well enough to teach everyone at the table how to play.

At one time, not so long ago, that was the only option available.

Today, you may have more options than a date with the rulebook.

Some game publishers are moving away from traditional rulebooks to video tutorials or even third party teachers. You may be able to watch a playthrough or follow along with a step by step digital guide through your first play.

The goal of this panel is to ask the question whither the rulebook? 

What responsibilities does a publisher have regarding the rules and teaching players how to play? What form should a 21st century rulebook take?

The panel:

Paul Grogan (Gaming Rules)

Ignacy Trzewiczek (Portal Games)

Ted Alspach (Bezier Games)

Jouni Jussila (Dized)

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

The title is a player’s first introduction to a game.

It’s the first step in creating a world  or experience someone might want to explore. Done well, it opens a door into that world and invites players in. Done poorly, the game might not even rate a second glance. As such, this simple word or phrase, the name of the game carries with it a LOT of power.

But considering how much hangs on it, the title doesn’t get a lot of attention beyond the people publishing games.

Well that changes today with this panel.

The naming game is important but it is not easy. Our panelists wrestle with how to settle on the best title for a game. There are  a lot of factors that weigh into this decision and the goal of our discussion is to explore as many as we can.

The panel:

Stephen Buonocore (Stronghold Games)

Kuba Polkowski (NSKN Games)

Sara Erickson (Renegade Game Studios)

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

There are plenty of games available that are trying to teach you something. And, by and large, the more overtly educational a game tries to be, the less likely it will succeed. Their heart might be in the right place, but self proclaimed educational games cannot get out of their own way.

That’s because they’re not really games. They are learning exercises dressed up like games. And they’re just plain no fun.

This panel sits at the intersection between learning and play and fun.

There are many games that offer up legitimate opportunities for learning, but they do it by offering up an equal measure of fun. This means learning through play. Not despite it, because of it! 

And when this happens the learning feels almost accidental. You don’t even realize you’ve absorbed some knowledge or basic concept  until the game is over. These games are sneaky. And while this learning might seem accidental, it’s not!

Our panelists know this better than most. We explore the sneaky ways we learn through play. How games promote this type of learning and how to achieve it. 

The panel:

Tanya Thompson (Hasbro, HATCH)

Phil Eklund (Sierra Madre Games)

Nuno Bizarro Sentieiro (What's Your Game?)

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

Michael Schacht, Bruno Faidutti, and Martin Wallace have a special perspective on the playful world we live in today.

They helped create it.

Over the past quarter century each has been designing games.

This panel calls to order the first ever meeting of the 25 Year Club.

Each member of this club has witnessed the changing landscape of games, publishing, and the community of players as his career evolved.

Listen and learn from some of the masters of modern game design.

And, by understanding their playful past, we may also gain a better sense of how the future of games is being shaped today.

The panel:

Michael Schacht

Bruno Faidutti

Martin Wallace

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

We are living in an era when board games are more popular than ever. More people are playing, more people are designing, more companies are manufacturing and publishing than ever before.

BUT… the purpose of this panel is not to take a victory lap.

We’re going to dig deeper and take a look at the state of the industry from many different perspectives - as members of the media, as players, as designers, as manufacturers. The goal being to take the pulse of the industry on each layer or level.

What trends do we see? Are there problems or issues simmering that need to be addressed? And since the industry is so global, no one person can get a full glimpse of the entire playful world. But collectively, we hope to assemble a clearer picture and provide a snapshot of where the game industry is today and perhaps even where we think it’s headed.

The panel:

Katie Aidley (Katie's Game Corner)

Helena Tzioti (Board Game News Online)

Odd Hackwelder (InkPlay Games)

Darrell Ottery (Eclectic Games)

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

In 13th and 14th century Florence, the guild of cloth merchants known as the Arte di Calimala wielded enormous economic power. Their trade houses across Europe became financial hubs and helped to bankroll kingdoms and wars.

In Calimala, you play a member of the guild trying to spread your network of merchants and allow them to prosper. To do this you'll send workers out into the streets of Florence to take actions. Most of the time, you'll end up allowing other guild members to act as well!

The group will collectively trigger 15 different area-control scoring rounds plus work toward secret goals at the end of the game. If all goes well you will take your place on the city council and contribute to the massive cathedrals under construction. Which merchant family will rise above the rest?

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.

You’re a cyclist pedaling through the pack, hurtling over hills, around corners, sweat soaking through your jersey when you see it, a flash of color - a signal - THE signal that the real race is on. The red flag, the Flamme Rouge, means only one kilometer separates you from the finish line. Can you fight off exhaustion and challenges from other cyclists to maneuver your team using two decks of cards to take the lead in the final stretch?

Flamme Rouge is a game of exquisite balance:

A game that will reel everyone in for a fun and exciting finish 

A game that will open up to more thoughtful decisions the more you play. 

And a game worthy of both our awards!

Read on for a full review.

Written review continues after the break.

Mom told you, don't play with your food.

Maki Stack says forget that.

Sushi isn’t just delicious ; it's fun to build towers with it, too!

Using your fingers like chopsticks, listen close and see if you can stack your wooden maki faster than the other team. 

Then try it blindfolded! 

So much Major Fun packed into a simple set of blocks and cards.

Complete Show Notes continue after the break.