Beyond Solitaire

This week, Talia Rosen tells all about First Monday in October, a game about the Supreme Court and its development over time. It will eventually be published by Fort Circle Games, and I personally can't wait.  Beyond Solitaire is now proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Che...

This week's special guest is Patrick Rael, a history professor at Bowdoin who specializes in African American history, teaches history through games, and is also at work on a design of his own. You can see what he's up to here: https://www.bowdoin.edu/profiles/faculty/prael/index.html Beyond Solitaire is now proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Thro...

This week on the pod, Non Breaking Space (@nbsp1618) tells us about his upcoming game from GMT, Cross Bronx Expressway. In it, he invites players to build up the Bronx from 1940-2000, while also trying to serve their own factional interests. This game is currently available at a discounted price through GMT's P500 program, and will soon go to print: https://www.gmtgames.com/p-953-cross-bronx-...

The Beyond Solitaire podcast is back, and kicking off Season 4 with a double episode featuring Jason Perez from Shelf Stories! Last episode was about "historical tourism" and the erasure of historical reality in games. This episode is about brutality, conflict, and other "misbehavior" in games—and how to go about it. Audio is available here, video is available on Jason's c...

The Beyond Solitaire podcast is back, and kicking off Season 4 with a double episode featuring Jason Perez from Shelf Stories! This episode is about the "historical tourism" of games that erase unpleasant historical realities to create a smooth ride for the players. Audio is available here, video is available on Jason's channel here: https://www.youtube.com/shelfstories Beyond Solit...

It's time for the Season 3 finale! In this episode, Dan Thurot interviews Liz about her recent series of posts about gladiator board games. The first installment is here: http://www.beyondsolitaire.net/blog/gladiators-enslavement-and-board-games-intro-thoughts All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/ Enjoy my work? Consider getting me a "coff...

This week on the pod, Dan Thurot discusses his approach to game reviewing in general, and particularly his evolving ideas about historical games criticism. You can find Dan's work at https://spacebiff.com/ All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/ Enjoy my work? Consider getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaire To...

This week on the pod, Volko Ruhnke and Brian Train talk about A Distant Plain, which focuses on the conflict in Afghanistan as it was in 2013, and reflect on what it means given more recent events there.  Volko can be found on Twitter as @Volko26, and Brian likes to blog at https://brtrain.wordpress.com/ All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/ Enjoy m...

In this episode, Jason and I have real talk about the treatment of women in board games. I typically avoid this topic whenever possible, but I finally felt like I had something productive to say. For video, check out the cross-post on Shelf Stories! https://www.youtube.com/c/ShelfStories All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/ Enjoy my work? Consider...

This week's pod is a collaboration with Edward Uhler from Heavy Cardboard. Join us both here and on his channel for a deep dive into our ideas about teaching board games.  All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/ Enjoy my work? Consider getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaire To see all of my solo reviews and vi...

This week, Liz interviews Candice Harris (@candidrum), a fellow wargaming convert who reports on historical games for BGG.  All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/ Enjoy my work? Consider getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaire To see all of my solo reviews and videos, click here: http://www.beyondsolitaire.net/solo...

In this episode, David Thompson (@djackthompson) discusses a new game he is developing called Fifth Platoon, which will focus on integrated units during WWII—if he can find a collaboration partner.  Link to my review of Forget the Alamo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBYyKSl0KPk All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/ Enjoy my work? Consider getting...

This week, our special guest is Lottie Hazell (@LDHazell), a publishing consultant, literary scholar, and board game designer! She has fascinating things to say about how the book and gaming industries compare, as well as about her journey into telling stories on the board as well as the page.  All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/ Enjoy my work? Co...

In this episode, T. Caires (@TheOneTAR) talks about their work for HABA and the unique aspects of designing and testing games for kids.  All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/ Enjoy my work? Consider getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaire To see all of my solo reviews and videos, click here: http://www.beyondsolit...

This week, we have an interview with Mark Carnes, one of the originators of a college seminar game system called Reacting to the Past. How do you engage students and get them to learn a lot of history? Through games!  Reacting to the Past: https://reacting.barnard.edu/ Minds on Fire: https://www.amazon.com/Minds-Fire-Role-Immersion-Transform-College/dp/0674984099/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=m...

It took a while to pin him down, but Dan Hallagan from Kayenta Games is finally on the pod! No image this time, since he had to call in to Zoom. :) Join us for a lovely conversation about Obsession, its development, and its historical underpinnings.  All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/ Enjoy my work? Consider getting me a "coffee" on Ko-...

This week's pod is all about art—what it means to us, what it could mean, and how games can help us appreciate it. Artist and independent scholar Mary Beth Looney talks about her game, Monumental Consequence, and the value of art and monuments to the societies that create them.  Mary Beth's site: https://www.marybethlooney.com/curriculum-vita All episodes of my podcast are available here...

This week on the pod, I'm interviewing Adelyne Rizzo, an artist who also selects images for Art & Fable Puzzles. Join us for a conversation about what it means to engage with, appreciate, and curate art through jigsaw puzzles.  Art & Fable: https://www.artandfablepuzzlecompany.com/ Adelyne Rizzo: http://www.adelynerizzo.com/ All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyon...

In this episode, Dávid Turczi, prolific designer of both board games and solo modes, talks about the importance of theme and mechanism in his work, the value he places on collaboration, and his never-ending quest to grow as a designer.  All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/ Enjoy my work? Consider getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko...

Kevin Bertram of Fort Circle Games talks about his new press, his interest in American history, and his goal to print historical games that are accessible for a wide audience both in and out of the hobby games community.  All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/ Enjoy my work? Consider getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyonds...

In this episode, Liz interviews game industry pro Jess Cassady (@Boardgame_girl1) about her work in game development, including development for games with historical themes.  All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/ Enjoy my work? Consider getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaire To see all of my solo reviews and vide...

This week, Liz interviews Besime Uyanik, CEO of ION Game Design, about her very first game design, Sammu-ramat. Sammu-ramat (known to the Greeks as Semiramis) was a powerful Assyrian queen about whom we know little, but whose reputation reached mythic proportions. A sneak peek at the game cover: https://ionsmg.com/blogs/news/first-look-at-pax-shammuramat All episodes of my podcast are available he...

Jonathan Truitt returns to talk about his role as Director of the Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations at Central Michigan University. One of his current projects is the creation of an academic games press that will allow professors to design games for their classrooms and turn them into peer-reviewed publications. Check out the center here: https://www.cmich.edu/colleges/class/Center...

Jonathan Truitt, Professor of Latin American History and Director of Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, joins Liz on the podcast to talk about gaming in Mexico during the colonial period.  Center for Learning Through Games: https://www.cmich.edu/colleges/class/Centers/CLGS/Pages/default.aspx Some Bibliography:  Cohen, Thomas M., Jay T. Harrison, David Rex Galindo. The Franciscans i...

The Beyond Solitaire Podcast is back for a third season, and kicking things off with a favorite guest: Amabel Holland! Amabel talks all about Hollandspiele's upcoming big release, Nicaea, as well as church history and to approach it. Amabel can be found at https://hollandspiele.com/ or at @amabelholland on Twitter.  All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsp...