Experience Points

AP Table Talk: Tug of War In this episode of AP Table Talk, Brian and Dave dig into the tug-of-war mechanic , where a shared marker moves back and forth along a track toward opposing ends, creating a zero-sum struggle in which one player's gain is the other's loss. From minimalist gems like Hanamikoji to heavyweight political thrillers like Twilight Struggle and Watergate , to modern two...

What are Military Simulations? Some of the most well-known games - chess, checkers, and Go - can all trace their lineage to battles, warfare, and general conflict. These games are related, at least in some way, to how humans have waged war against one another for millennia. But if these games are based on warfare, then what was their original purpose? Why recreate battles and tactics in this forma...

Escape Rooms for Learning You know that feeling when the clock is ticking, and you’re scrambling to solve a puzzle before time runs out? Maybe you're searching for a hidden key under a rug, decoding a cipher on a whiteboard, or yelling, “Hey! Try this combination!” as your team races to escape a locked room? Then you’ve probably already done an escape room before! Now, what if I told you that...

Victoria Ichizli-Bartels on Be Your Best Game Master This episode of Experience Points features self-gamification pioneer Victoria Ichizli-Bartels , who reveals how treating everyday life as a game can spark joy, reduce stress, and boost productivity. Victoria shares how combining role-playing , kaizen , and playful design helps people navigate challenges with curiosity and self-compassion. Drawin...

Raul Mora on Understanding Second Language Users as Gamers In this episode of Experience Points, Dr. Raul Alberto Mora shares insights from his book Understanding Second Language Users as Gamers: Language as Victory . He explores how gamers learn English through play, not for school, but to win, connect, and belong in gaming spaces. Mora emphasizes the value of research by gamers, highlighting how...

Jon Spike on Games as Creative Constraint In this episode of Experience Points, Jon Spike explores how creative constraint drives innovation in game design and learning. A former K–12 English teacher now working at University of Wisconsin–Whitewater , Jon shares how classroom experimentation led him to design tabletop educational games through GamestormEDU . He highlights Gamestormers , which uses...

AP Table Talk: Race In this episode of AP Table Talk, Brian and Dave dig into the race mechanic , where players compete toward a shared finish line and the first to cross it ends the game. From childhood staples like Chutes and Ladders and Candy Land to modern classics like Catan , Splendor , Heat: Pedal to the Metal , and Cosmoctopus , they unpack how race structures create tension, pacing, and d...

Katrin Becker on Learning through Playful Experiences In this episode of Experience Points, serious games expert Katrin Becker explores why “good enough” may be more powerful than perfection in gamified learning . She argues that focusing on defined criteria rather than comparison increases student agency and supports a wider range of learners; not just top performers. Katrin highlights safety and...

Hostile Players Today we’re diving into something that affects every gamer at some point: hostile players. You probably already know the type… Those people who turn a fun session into a cesspit of negativity. I’m talking about cynics, trolls, griefers... and the downright toxic folks who seem to thrive on ruining the vibe. But here’s the twist: these players aren’t just villains. They’re symptoms....

Meghan Gardner on Gamification for Emotional Engagement This episode of Experience Points features transformative design expert Meghan Gardner, who shares how gamification can create emotionally engaging, healing, and educational experiences. Meghan explains how structured play and role-playing ; using techniques like “alibi” and safety signals—help learners explore tough topics while feeling safe...

Mary-Ellen Fimbel on Game Design Principles for Education This episode of Experience Points features game designer and educator Mary-Ellen Fimbel , who shares how game design principles can transform classroom learning. She discusses “teaching like a game dev,” using storytelling, interactivity, and even puppets as playful avatars to deliver authentic feedback and spark curiosity. Mary-Ellen expla...

What are Role-Playing Games? Today, we’re diving into one of the most fascinating - and frankly, most misunderstood - forms of interactive play: Role-Playing Games, or RPGs. So what are RPGs? Are they just about dice rolls and dragons? Are they all swords and stats? Or is there something deeper, and something profoundly human, about stepping into someone else’s shoes in a world that is not quite o...

Amber Sewell on Games as Information Literacy In this episode of Experience Points, Dave Eng talks with Amber Sewell , a Teaching and Learning Librarian at UNLV , about using games to teach information literacy . Amber shares how her classroom activity Authority Argle Bargle turns debates about academic majors into playful, critical discussions on credibility and source evaluation. She also reflec...

Victoria Banks on Dungeons, Dragons, and Discourse In this episode of Experience Points, Dave Eng interviews Victoria Banks, a Clemson University PhD student and video game scriptwriter, on using Dungeons & Dragons –inspired course design to engage students. She explains how mechanics like levels, boss battles, and character creation boost motivation and agency , while linking game rhetoric to...

AP Table Talk: Variable Player Powers In this episode of AP Table Talk, Brian and Dave explore Variable Player Powers , where players get unique abilities (or flaws!) that shape strategy and spark replayability. From the classic HeroQuest and Battlestar Galactica to asymmetric gems like Root , Sky Team , and Star Wars: Rebellion , they break down how this mechanic fuels dynamic gameplay, negotiati...

Richard Durham on Learning through Engaging Gameplay In this episode of Experience Points, Dave Eng speaks with Richard Durham , a prolific game designer, creative director, and educator at Wondertree Studios. Richard shares insights from designing over 30 games across mediums—from street festivals and museum activations to tabletop and secret events—driven by curiosity and a focus on player exper...

Game Design Constraints and Scope Creep Today, we’re diving into two little words that have the power to either catapult your project forward… or completely derail it. Those words? Constraints and scope creep. Maybe you’ve heard them thrown around in design meetings. Maybe you’ve bumped into them the hard way on your own projects. Either way, by the end of this episode, you’ll see why understandin...

Designing the Core Dynamics Today, we’re diving deep into a concept that sits right at the heart of game design: core dynamics. What makes a game engaging? Why do some games pull us in and keep us coming back? It’s not just the artwork or the theme. It's not even the mechanics alone. It’s something deeper. It’s the dynamic that drives player action, interaction, and emotion. Today’s episode i...

Josefine Schwarzer Applied Games and Mental Health In this episode of Experience Points , Dave Eng interviews Josefine Schwarzer , a German occupational therapist exploring how tabletop RPGs and LARPs support mental health. Josefine shares how role-play creates safe, expressive spaces that boost self-esteem and break from anxiety. She recounts clients using fantasy roles to assert themselves and e...

Michael Low and Luna Uni: A New World of RPG Writing Instruction In this episode of Experience Points, host Dave Eng welcomes Michael Low—educator, game designer, and creator of Stories RPG . Michael shares the powerful story behind Luna Uni , a tabletop role-playing curriculum that transforms writing instruction through collaborative storytelling. From 100% student writing gains to building emoti...

Shaun McMillan on Turning Lectures into Games In this episode of Experience Points, host Dave Eng interviews educational game designer Shaun McMillan about transforming traditional lectures into interactive, game-like experiences. Shaun shares his framework for designing lectures around a single compelling multiple-choice scenario, enabling students to engage deeply with content by making critical...

AP Table Talk: Take That In this episode of AP Table Talk, Brian and Dave dig into the “ Take That ” game mechanic. From classics like UNO, Sorry!, and Risk to modern favorites like Munchkin , Blood Rage , and King of Tokyo: Duel , they explore how denial, betrayal, and revenge fuel tension, drama, and unforgettable tabletop stories. If you liked this episode please consider commenting, sharing, a...

Types of Games Today, we’re diving into something that might seem simple on the surface, but as it turns out, it's anything but. In this episode, we’re going to be talking about game types, and not just your usual categories like board games or video games. We’re digging deeper: into the psychology, the structure, and the social impact of how we play. So let’s get ready to explore the worlds...

Ercan Altug Yilmaz Gamification in Action The TOY Framework In this episode, Dave Eng interviews Ercan Altuğ Yilmaz , a leading gamification expert and creator of the TOY Framework—an evolution of existing models like Werbach’s D6 and Octalysis . Drawing from over a decade of experience and 100+ projects, Yilmaz explains how TOY’s ten-step structure blends theory with practical business needs, emp...

Games as Mediums for Interactions In today’s episode, we’re diving into how games function as mediums for interaction: as art, as social spaces, and as powerful tools for learning. We’ll explore everything from virtual worlds to tabletop classics and even some of the more unexpected ways games impact real life.  If you liked this episode please consider commenting, sharing, and subscribing. Subscr...