Bonus Episode - Agricola Translation
What is involved in localizing a game into a different language? Geoff talks with the team who worked to translate Agricola from German to English and finds out.
Aug 14, 2011•6 min
Ludology
Welcome to Ludology, an analytical discussion of the how's and why's of the world of board games. Rather than news and reviews, Ludology explores a variety of topics about games from a wider lens, and discusses game history, game design and game players.
Ludology is part of The Dice Tower Network, the premier board game media network.
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Episodes
Episode 13 - CCGs & DBGs
This episode we are pleased to be joined by Mike Elliott. Mike is the designer of Quarriors and Thunderstone, and also worked for many years with Wizards of the Coast doing design work on Magic and other CCGs. We discuss the specific design issues that arise for deck-building games and collectible card games.
Aug 07, 2011•1 hr 2 min
Bonus Episode - Beauty Contests
Can you outguess your opponent? Geoff digs into some experiments that may give the answer in this classic GameTek episode.
Jul 31, 2011•6 min
Episode 12 - Dice-O-Rama
In this episode, Ryan and Geoff explore dice, and dissect the history of their use in games.
Jul 24, 2011•50 min
Bonus Episode - Rock Paper Scissors
In this classic GameTek episode, Geoff takes a look at the classic Rock, Paper, Scissors, and what it tells us about game theory.
Jul 03, 2011•6 min
Episode 11 - Family Games
Ryan and Geoff discuss Family Games - What are they and what makes them work? Ryan goes back to his educational theory studies to break it down.
Jun 26, 2011•50 min
Bonus Episode - Abstract Games
In this classic GameTek episode, Geoff takes a look at abstract games, and attempts to solve them by computer. And does it matter if they are?
Jun 19, 2011•6 min
Episode 10 - Complexity
Ryan and Geoff are very pleased to be joined this episode by special guest Scott Nicholson, of On Boardgames, and Boardgames with Scott. They discuss complexity - different types of complexity, when complexity is called for, and how it can be managed.
Jun 12, 2011•45 min
Bonus Episode - Fair Dice
In this classic GameTek episode, Geoff takes a look at research that was done on the fairness of dice. How 'unfair' can standard off-the-shelf dice get?
Jun 05, 2011•6 min
Episode 9 - Turn, Turn, Turn
Ryan and Geoff discuss the differences between turn-based and simultaneous-action games. What are the advantages of each type of design?
May 29, 2011•41 min
Bonus Episode - The Ultimatum Game
In this episode, Geoff explores the Ultimatum Game, which is used by social scientists to explore human concepts of fairness, competition, and cooperation.
May 22, 2011•6 min
Episode 8 - Narrative Arc
Ryan and Geoff tackle another angle on story in games - the narrative arc. What creates rising tension, and what game elements can create a dramatic climax?
May 15, 2011•42 min
Bonus Episode - Prisoner's Dilemma (Part 2)
In this classic GameTek episode, Geoff talks about the iterated Prisoner's Dilemma, and what it implies about social science and evolution.
May 08, 2011•7 min
Episode 7 - Narratology
Ryan and Geoff are joined by special guest Andy Parks to begin their discussion on how games incorporate story and narrative structure elements. Andy is a game designer of many games including Ideology and Camelot Legends, and is the author of a recent article on creating narrative in games for the website Booklife.
May 01, 2011•59 min
Bonus Episode - Prisoner's Dilemma (Part 1)
In this classic GameTek episode, Geoff talks about the Prisoner's Dilemma and how it applies to board games.
Apr 24, 2011•6 min
Episode 6 - Finding The Balance
Ryan and Geoff conclude their discussion of balance by looking at a variety of questions: What does it mean for a game to be balanced? What are the different types of balance? Can a game be too balanced?
Apr 17, 2011•52 min
Bonus Episode - Triangular Numbers
In this classic GameTek segment Geoff takes a look at triangular numbers and the way they are used in game designs. Features a bonus appearance by Alan Moon (sort of)!
Apr 10, 2011•6 min
Episode 5 - Dominant Strategies - Take 2
Games that seem to have multiple strategies sometimes end up having just one dominant strategy that players follow. In this episode, Ryan and Geoff discuss ways the pitfalls of game design that can lead to this, and ways designers avoid it.
Apr 03, 2011•47 min
Bonus Episode - Multitouch Tables
In this classic GameTek episode from 2007 Geoff talks about Multitouch Tables like the Microsoft Surface, and the role they may play in the future of boardgames.
Mar 27, 2011•6 min
Episode 4 - The Emergence of Strategy
In this episode, Ryan and Geoff discuss the difference between strategy and tactics, and the different forms that strategy can take in games.
Mar 20, 2011•45 min
Episode 3A - The Defense of Power Grid
What, another Ludology episode already? In episode 3, Catch The Leader, Ryan and Geoff both opined that the turn order mechanic in Power Grid diminishes the overall experience. This prompted a lot of passionate debate in the forums. For this bonus episode, we are joined by listener and poster Tim Koppang, who defends this Catch the Leader mechanic as integral to the Power Grid experience, and essential to gameplay. Episode 4 will be posted as scheduled, on March 20.
Mar 14, 2011•14 min
Ludology Bonus Episode - Reviews
Here is the next classic GameTek episode. This is on one of Tom Vasel's favorite topics - reviews! This is purely 'bonus' content, and we will still be keeping to our regular two week release schedule.
Mar 13, 20110
Episode 3 - Catch The Leader
In this episode, Ryan and Geoff begin their series on balance. First up: Catch The Leader. What exactly is Catch The Leader? When is it needed, if ever? When does it work and when doesn't it?
Mar 06, 2011•52 min
Ludology Bonus Episode 1 - GameTek Classic!
Regular Ludology episodes will be released every two weeks. As an experiment, on the 'in between' weeks we are going to be releasing classic GameTek segments from The Dice Tower. This is the very first GameTek that was ever aired, on the topic of luck, and like all GameTeks is about 5 minutes long. This is purely 'bonus' content, and we will still be keeping to our regular two week release schedule. Please drop by our BGG guild and let us know if you enjoy these bonus releases!...
Feb 27, 2011•6 min
Episode 2 - Why Do We Play Games?
In our second episode we take a look at what attracts people to games, and what keeps them coming back for more. Plus Ryan and Geoff share personal stories about some of their game experiences over the years.
Feb 20, 2011•47 min
Episode 1 - What is a Game?
Welcome to Ludology! In this, our first episode, we tackle the question of what is a game, and what isn't.
Feb 07, 2011•38 min
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