This week on the pod, Natalia Zwarts and Chris Gledhill discuss their scholarly work on a game that explores the possibility of peace in Ukraine, and the linguistic conclusions that can be drawn from recordings of players as they work through the conflict. Give to CLGS: https://giving.apps.cmich.edu/fund/9100111?fbclid=IwY2xjawG2oxNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHdxwTfyHeJ_G366cXTnPqSfEmU_rGCY2cthqTHkM9hJWxzYTzNYzeFwzzw_aem_02mvhaIKObak7mtFRAM8Gg Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan Unive...
Dec 02, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 9Ep. 179
This week on the pod, Clarence Simpson (@stoichamster) of The Wolves, Merchants of Magick, and more, discusses the growth of his design career--and the design group, mentorship, and design competitions that have helped him along the way. If you're curious about how game designers get started, or interested in trying it yourself, this is the episode for you. Keep the Faith: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/ffdefab3-adb6-48aa-8335-797e720c58a1/landing Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored ...
Nov 25, 2024•54 min•Season 9Ep. 178
This week on the pod, Anthony Chatfield of Board Gamers Anonymous drops in to discuss gaming in the classroom, as well as his journal/conference on the subject, Board Game Academics. https://www.boardgamersanonymous.com/ Keep the Faith: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/ffdefab3-adb6-48aa-8335-797e720c58a1/landing 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. Chec...
Nov 18, 2024•52 min•Season 9Ep. 177
This week on the pod, Tim Clare (@timclarepoet) discusses his newly-released book, The Game Changers, which will come to the US next year as Across the Board. I truly enjoyed both the convo and book itself, which you can currently find at: Amazon: https://a.co/d/4XSNcX3 Publishers: https://store.abramsbooks.com/products/across-the-board Keep the Faith: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/ffdefab3-adb6-48aa-8335-797e720c58a1/landing Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan U...
Nov 11, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Season 9Ep. 176
This week on the pod, Zenobia 2020 finalist Alison Collins drops by to discuss her game, Publish or Perish: Wiñay Kawsay, which is about the scholarship surrounding Machu Picchu. It is expected to be out from WizKids in Q1 2025! Preorder here: https://wizkids.io/ShopPublishOrPerishWK Keep the Faith: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/ffdefab3-adb6-48aa-8335-797e720c58a1/landing Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simu...
Nov 04, 2024•48 min•Season 9Ep. 175
In this episode, Dave Neale and David Thompson discuss their co-design, War Story, which weaves together story and game mechanisms to tell a story with branching pathways and plenty of player agency. Keep the Faith: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/ffdefab3-adb6-48aa-8335-797e720c58a1/landing 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...
Oct 28, 2024•57 min•Season 9Ep. 174
This week on the pod, David Digby, designer of several solo modes and frequent collaborator with David Turczi, describes his work as a solo mode designer, as well as his other roles as a game developer and rulebook editor. https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/ffdefab3-adb6-48aa-8335-797e720c58a1/landing 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 her...
Oct 21, 2024•59 min•Season 9Ep. 173
This week on the pod, designer Xoe Allred talks about how it uses the rules of gaming to subvert expectations and create social friction. Check out more of Xoe's work at https://knifebunny.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 them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-thr...
Oct 14, 2024•49 min•Season 9Ep. 172
This week on the pod, Geoff Engelstein speaks about his most recent project: Recovering a board game designed and pitched by Kurt Vonnegut, and ultimately getting it published. Available at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kurt-vonneguts-ghq-the-lost-board-game-mars-international/1146300521?ean=0634240242076 Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compellin...
Oct 07, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 9Ep. 171
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/center...
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-eyeball...
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's ...
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-arts-so...
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 learning ca...
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 Game...
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
(NB: This episode was recorded before Kenna's transition.) This week on the pod, Kenna Alexander drops by to discuss the growth of Coyote & Crow, her 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 Solitai...
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 playful...
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 Simulations,...
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-simulations Check ...
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.edu/...
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 them out...
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-through-...
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-science...
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/colleges/lib...
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: https:...
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, whe...
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: https://w...
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 Simulation...
Apr 08, 2024•59 min
