This week on the pod, I speak with Jay Carmichael (a.k.a. Three Minute Board Games) about his new design, Red Dust Rebellion, which is on the cutting edge of the COIN series in terms of both its mechanisms and its subject matter. Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/c...
Sep 30, 2024•59 min
This week on the pod, Dr. Torill Elvira Mortensen, a professor at Nord University, talks about her career as a scholar who studies games and about her focus on dark play and transgressive play. If you ever wanted insight into how researchers approach games about sensitive or upsetting subjects, she's one of the world experts. https://www.nord.no/en/about/employees/torill-elvira-mortensen Eyeball to Eyeball: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/central-michigan-university-press/eyeball-to-ey...
Sep 23, 2024•1 hr 8 min
In this episode, scholar Josh Fitzgerald discusses his recent work on Mexican board games preserved at the Library of Congress, as well as his interest in the representation of Mexico in video games and the preservation of games in museums. His university page: https://www.hist.cam.ac.uk/people/dr-joshua-j-fitzgerald Eyeball to Eyeball: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/central-michigan-university-press/eyeball-to-eyeball Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University&ap...
Sep 16, 2024•59 min•Season 9Ep. 168
On this episode of the pod, Jason Carr (@maudineormsby) drops by to talk about GMT One and the effort that goes into building a better bot. Eyeball to Eyeball: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/central-michigan-university-press/eyeball-to-eyeball Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-ar...
Sep 09, 2024•1 hr 7 min
This week on the podcast, Dr. Cosima Werner of the University of Kiel discusses her work studying culture in the United States and Germany, and specifically her current project in which she examines whiteness within the board gaming hobby in Germany. Eyeball to Eyeball: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/central-michigan-university-press/eyeball-to-eyeball Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learni...
Sep 02, 2024•1 hr 3 min
This week on the pod, Marceline Leiman, solo designer for Oceans, talks about her experiences as a solo game designer, what makes for a good solo mode, and what she learned studying game design at NYU. Find her at: https://marcelineleiman.itch.io/ and https://driftingrpg.wordpress.com/ Eyeball to Eyeball: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/central-michigan-university-press/eyeball-to-eyeball Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through...
Aug 26, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 9Ep. 165
SDHistCon is not only one of my favorite gaming conventions, but it is also a growing organization dedicated to promoting historical games to the broadest possible audience. Two of the current board members, Andrew Bucholtz and Joe Schmidt, join me this week to talk about why SDHistCon is so cool. (Disclosure: I am on the advisory board b/c I also believe in this mission.) Register for SDHistCon here: https://tabletop.events/conventions/sdhistcon-2024 Eyeball to Eyeball: https://www.backerkit.co...
Aug 19, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 9Ep. 164
This week on the pod, Connor Alexander drops by to discuss the growth of Coyote & Crow, his new game Ahu Tiiko, indigenous perspectives in gaming, and what it means to decolonize your games. Ahu Tiiko is on Kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/coyoteandcrow/ahu-tiiko-a-coyote-and-crow-expansion Eyeball to Eyeball: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/central-michigan-university-press/eyeball-to-eyeball Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University&apo...
Aug 12, 2024•56 min•Season 9Ep. 163
As the Democratic National Convention in Chicago draws near, Yoni Goldstein (@halfwayhoping) stops by to discuss his upcoming game about riots as the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Website: https://www.1968games.com/ Eyeball to Eyeball: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/central-michigan-university-press/eyeball-to-eyeball Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both pl...
Aug 05, 2024•50 min•Season 9Ep. 162
The podcast is back for Season 9, and we are kicking off with a fantastic returning guest: Non Breaking Space! In this episode, he discusses several of his upcoming games and reflects more generally on how he uses games to start and continue interesting conversations. Eyeball to Eyeball: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/central-michigan-university-press/eyeball-to-eyeball Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulat...
Jul 29, 2024•59 min•Season 9Ep. 161
David Thompson is back on the pod with several of his co-designers for a discussion of what it's like to create games together, with tips for how to do it well. Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulati...
Jun 17, 2024•1 hr 13 min
This week on the pod, Marco Arnaudo, aka marcoomnigamer, returns to discuss his most recent book, The Tabletop Revolution, and to discuss the tremendous innovations in board game design over the last few decades. Book link: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/the-tabletop-revolution/ Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich...
Jun 10, 2024•59 min•Season 8Ep. 159
This week on the pod, former Zenobia Award contestant Will Thompson drops by to discuss Winter Rabbit, his upcoming game that brings Cherokee folklore to life. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/941694206/winter-rabbit?ref=discovery SDHistCon has an online convention on June 8. Info can be found at sdhist.com Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check the...
Jun 03, 2024•46 min•Season 8Ep. 158
This week on the pod, Kai Jensen talks about her new role supervising game production at GMT. If you want to learn details about how games are physically made, this is the episode for you! Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-thr...
May 27, 2024•1 hr•Season 8Ep. 157
This week on the pod, Pete Pellegrino stops by to discuss his work on large-scale wargames at the Naval War College, as well as the wargames he has created for corporations and schools. Find Pete at: https://www.tabletophistory.net/about Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sc...
May 20, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 8Ep. 156
This week on the pod, my colleague and fellow solo gamer Andrew Olimpi ( @Solitarius_games ) hops on to chat about gaming in the classroom, how to create tension and interest through play in the classroom, and a bit of solo gaming since we can't help ourselves. Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/co...
May 13, 2024•49 min•Season 8Ep. 155
This week on the pod, writer and game designer Calvin Wong Tze Loon (@ithayla) drops by to discuss the process of designing Mass Effect, which is a co-design with the legendary Eric Lang. Come to hear about Mass Effect, but stay to hear insightful commentary about using board games to create story. Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: h...
May 06, 2024•1 hr 13 min
This week on the pod, bestselling YA fantasy author Holly Black stops in to discuss a board game she designed based on her Folk of the Air series! She has a lot of interesting things to say about drafting games vs. books, the narrative potential of games, and more. Enemies and Lovers is a light 2-4 player card game coming to Kickstarter on May 2. KS Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hollyblack/enemies-and-lovers-the-crown-of-elfhame Hydrologic Cycle from CMU is on Kickstarter now! https...
Apr 29, 2024•54 min
This week on the pod, soon-to-be UChicago PHD Eduardo García-Molina drops into discuss the Seleucids, how he learned to love them through Rome: Total War, and what video games can teach us about ourselves through the ways they present the ancient world. Hydrologic Cycle from CMU is on Kickstarter now! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cmu/hydrologic-cycle?ref=discovery Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations...
Apr 22, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 8Ep. 152
This week on the pod, Joe Dewhurst (@joe-dewhurst), a freelance developer who works primarily for GMT, gives his insights into game development and his work on COIN solo bots. Hydrologic Cycle from CMU is on Kickstarter now! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cmu/hydrologic-cycle?ref=discovery Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: http...
Apr 15, 2024•58 min•Season 8Ep. 151
This week on the pod, game designer Elizabeth Hargrave drops by to talk science games, design, development, and her newest project, the Tabletop Game Designers Association. Elizabeth Hargrave's site: https://www.elizhargrave.com/ TTGDA: https://www.ttgda.org/ Hydrologic Cycle from CMU is on Kickstarter now! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cmu/hydrologic-cycle?ref=discovery Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and ...
Apr 08, 2024•59 min
This week on the podcast, Alastair Kocho-Williams (@akochowi), a professor at Clarkson University, drops by to discuss how he's using wargames and game design to teach history to his students. Hydrologic Cycle from CMU is on Kickstarter now! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cmu/hydrologic-cycle?ref=discovery Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Che...
Apr 01, 2024•1 hr•Season 8Ep. 149
This week on the pod, author Weyodi OldBear drops by to discuss her work in science fiction and her involvement with Coyote & Crow, a tabletop RPG about indigenous people in a future unimpacted by colonialism. Weyodi OldBear's site: https://www.weyodi.com/ Coyote & Crow: https://coyoteandcrow.net/ Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them...
Mar 25, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 8Ep. 148
In this week's episode, Jason Carr, Lead Developer at GMT, talks about his experiences in both design and development. Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations Check out CMU's game offerings he...
Mar 18, 2024•58 min•Season 8Ep. 147
This week on the pod, Dr. Jane Draycott (@jldraycott), a classicist who is also an expert on women in video games set in the ancient world, talks about her work, the world of archaeogaming, and her recent book, Cleopatra's Daughter. https://drjanedraycott.co.uk/ Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/c...
Mar 11, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 8Ep. 146
This week on the pod, Dr. Henry Lowood, a video game scholar and archivist from Stanford, discusses a career spent playing, studying, and preserving games--mostly video games, but with more board game work to come! https://lowood.people.stanford.edu/ Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-a...
Mar 04, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 8Ep. 145
This week on the pod, Verdis LeVar Robinson and Paul Otto discuss their recently-published Reacting to the Past game, which gives students insight into the birth of structural racism and its relationship to other community issues in the pre-revolution United States. Game link: https://reactingconsortium.org/games/bacons1676 Verdis LeVar Robinson's website: https://www.rev-verdis.com/ Paul Otto's website: PaulAndrewOtto.com Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan Unive...
Feb 26, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 8Ep. 144
This week on the pod, Hermann Luttmann pops by to discuss his design career so far, his future designs now that he is retired, and how he wants players to understand his body of work as a whole. Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learni...
Feb 19, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 8Ep. 143
This week on the pod, Betsy Joslyn (@WOPR_1983GTW) stops by to discuss her work in professional wargaming, as well as some of her upcoming designs. Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/colleges/class/Centers/CLGS/Pages/default.aspx Check out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/ Sign up for a...
Feb 12, 2024•57 min•Season 8Ep. 142
The Beyond Solitaire podcast is back for Season 8! This week, Pablo Clark talks about art, allegory, the importance of giving games the time they need to grow, and Eerie Idol's first game, The Old King's Crown. https://www.theoldkingscrown.com/ Hydrologic Cycle Prelaunch Page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cmu/hydrologic-cycle Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both ...
Feb 05, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 8Ep. 141
