Beyond Solitaire

In this episode, Dr. Josh Hartman talks about playing games with his Greek students to help them practice the language, then has fascinating things to say about Puerto Rican authors and their interpretation of classical texts. AWESOME. He would like you to know that he meant Constantine the VII (not Constantine IX) and Khosrow I (not Khosrow II).  Puerto Rican poets mentioned:  Ramón Emeterio Beta...

This week, Alex Knight (@landandfreedom1) joins us for a discussion about Land and Freedom, his semi-cooperative game about fighting fascism during the Spanish Civil War.  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/college...

Dr. Sherria Ayuandini and Dr. Christienne Hinz (@xpelicious) team up to talk about the upcoming Kartini: From Darkness to Light, which will be published by ION Game Design and will include a curriculum guide in collaboration with CMU's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations. This is a great conversation about gaming, education, authorial perspectives, and more.  Beyond Solitaire is...

This week on the pod, Dr. Frank Klaassen stops by to talk about medieval magical practitioners and about Virtus, a game he co-designed with students about medieval masculinity.  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/c...

In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Maurice Suckling (@writegameread) talks about his upcoming scholarly work on games, his work in both video and board games, and some of his current 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:/...

Podcast regular Jason Perez of Shelf Stories drops by for a book review! Book found here: https://www.amazon.com/Playing-Oppression-Legacy-Conquest-Colonialist/dp/0262047918/ref=sr_1_1?crid=H667EWI6I9OW&keywords=playing+oppression&qid=1680140977&sprefix=playing+oppression%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1 Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learn...

This week on the pod, Dr. Nick Proctor, current director of Reacting to the Past, talks about where the Reacting Consortium is heading and how he games with his own students. https://reactingconsortium.org/ 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...

In this episode, Dr. Martha McGill, an expert on Scottish ghosts and other awesome topics, talks about Witch Hunt 1649—a two-game project about Scottish witch hunts that included her students as co-designers. Check it out here: https://marthamcgill.co.uk/witchhunt1649/ Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, whe...

This week, Ian Brown joins the pod to talk about his work at the Krulak Center, his interest in professional wargaming, and some of his own 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/Cente...

This week on the pod, Dr. Kate Cook (@katexe) discuss her research, which focuses on how women are presented in Classical video games.  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.a...

In this episode, Dr. Ray Kimball (@42edgames) and Dr. Kimberly Redding talk about their educational game, Eyeball to Eyeball, designed to give university and high school students a taste of the Cold War.  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 he...

This week on the pod, Gary Mengle (@ardwful) of Ardwulf's Lair discusses his new role as Director of the Charles S. Roberts Awards. What goes on behind the scenes of a wargaming award? Find out in this episode. Details about the Charlies can be found here: https://charlessrobertsawards.com/ Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through...

This week, Professor Adrienne Shaw joins the pod to talk about video games, representation, and how and why it matters. To read more of her work, check out her book, Gaming at the Edge.  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.cm...

This week, Dr. Jason Cox joins the show to talk about his upcoming game, Five Hundred Year Old Vampire, a cooperative role playing game that is inspired by Thousand Year Old Vampire. It will be published through CMU Press, so look out for the KS campaign in the coming months! Learn more about Jason here: https://www.utoledo.edu/al/art/faculty/cox.html Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Centr...

Welcome back to the Beyond Solitaire Podcast! We are kicking off Season 6 with Julián Pombo, both because today is his birthday and because he has interesting things to say about thematic Euro games. His recent design, Pampero, provides fascinating insights into the development of wind farming in Uruguay.  Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learn...

I never thought I would get to 100 episodes of this podcast, but here we are! In this episode, I celebrate with a series of mini-interviews from: Volko Ruhnke (@Volko26) Jason Perez (@ShelfStoriesGBL) David Thompson (@djackthompson) Amabel Holland (@amabelholland) Cole Wehrle (@colewehrle) Christienne Hinz (@xpelicious) Sebastian Bae (@sebastianbae) Dan Thurot (@danthurot) Beyond Solitaire is prou...

In this episode, special guest Kathleen Mercury speaks about her extensive experience as a gifted educator and game design teacher. She is also a designer herself! Kathleen's website: https://www.kathleenmercury.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....

Professional wargamer Emily Yoder stops by the pod to discuss Malign, a game that simulates countries' attempts to influence each other and for which she is a member of the design team. 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://ww...

In this episode, Amabel Holland  (@amabelholland)  Hollandspiele (@Hollandspiele) joins us on the pod to talk about her upcoming solo game, Endurance. Get ready for a brutal and deeply human gaming experience about surviving an Antarctic expedition.  Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be...

This week on the pod, Beth LaPensée discusses her game designs, their use in educational and social settings, and their expression of different ways of knowing. http://www.elizabethlapensee.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:...

Favorite contributor Jason Perez of Shelf Stories(@shelfstories) drops by the pod to discuss his experiences as a board game cultural consultant.  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/Page...

This week on the pod, Tory Brown (@torylynn) discusses her upcoming game, Votes for Women, and how her passion for activism and history inspired her to design it.  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/...

This week on the pod, Fred Serval (@fredserval)  drops in to talk about his game, Red Flag Over Paris, about historical games in general, and about his excellent YouTube channel, Homo Ludens. https://www.youtube.com/c/HomoLudens1871 Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and c...

This week on the pod, Jim Dietz (@foundationdietz) talks about the work he's doing with The Dietz Foundation, both in support of education and in support of games with interesting things to say. Learn more at https://dietzfoundation.org/ Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both pla...

This week on the pod, Lamaro Smith, an artist and graphic designer, tells us about his work in board games—and gives us insight into what his course for CMU's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations will be about. Check out his work at www.lamarosmith.com.  Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations,...