Going Analog Show

Guest Timm Metivier of Meepleville (a board game cafe in Vegas and a channel for board game content) joins us to discuss the top 3 games we can't wait to get to the table, the business of running a board game cafe (you'd be surprised how he works around COVID), how we discover the games we want to buy, and more. The games talked about on this episode: Timm's topic: The top games we can't wait to g...

The big games of the year have been announced. What do we think of them? The Dice Tower's Roy Cannaday joins us to discuss the Spiel and Kennerspiel des Jahres 2020 nominees/winners; if we still use "Euro" and "Ameritrash" to define those genres; video production during quarantine times; and his new, upcoming game, Last Light. The games we talk about on this episode: Intro: Last Light Eclipse Twil...

Game designers Jon Gilmour (Dead of Winter, Dinosaur Island) and Ian Moss (Duelosaur Island, Wonderland's War) join us to discuss video games that would make cool board games, what video games have taught them about game design, our ideal gaming group, and how new RPGs make themselves stand out from the crowd. Here are the games covered on the show: Intro Dead of Winter Dinosaur Island Wasteland E...

It's our 50th episode! We celebrate by discussing: Our top 3 games in BoardGameGeek's top 100 Our favorite genres (and our favorite game in that genre) The best moments from our podcast so far The board game that got us into board gaming Here are the games we mention on the show: Mike's topic: Favorite game in our favorite genre Gloomhaven Hansa Teutonica 7 Wonders Libertalia Campy Creatures R (Br...

Two guests! Nick Brachmann (Leder Games) and John de Campos (Terrible Games) join us to discuss their upcoming games (Fort and Token Terrors Battlegrounds, respectively) and our four new topics: Deckbuilding games with a unique twist Our other hobbies that we'd like to see brought to life for tabletop gaming The differences between "design" and "development" Establishing a visual identity for a ga...

We're talking so many "favorites" today: our favorite games where points don't matter, favorite games that revolve around illustrations (not necessarily drawing), favorite board game universes, and favorite game-induced social interactions. Our guest is Eric Slauson, designer of Tattoo Stories, Nerd Words, and the upcoming MonsDRAWsity. Here's a list of the games discussed on the show: Intro Tatto...

What do we really mean when we want to play a "storytelling" game? Designers Sen-Foong Lim and Banana Chan join to discuss this as well as the upcoming Jiangshi RPG, our favorite board game themes, and board game cultural appreciation vs. appropriation. Here's a full list of games discussed on the show: Intro Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall Scooby-Doo: Betrayal at Mystery Mansion Sea of Legend...

Uber content creator Ruel Gaviola (Geek & Sundry plus a million other things) joins us this week to talk about under-the-radar games that need more love, games we can play outside that won't get blown away, genres we don't like (and exceptions to them), and online communities. Here's a full list of games discussed on the show: Mike's topic: Games we can play outdoors Heckmeck Pickomino Q.E. Hanabi...

We talk (non-roll-and-write) board games that are perfect for streaming to your friends, and we delve into how a game company like The Op works with so many big-name licenses (Marvel, Harry Potter, and...um, Golden Girls). Plus, what is that X factor that makes a game really great? And Mike Zipkin gives impressions on Nintendo's Clubhouse Games. Here's a full list of games discussed on the show: I...

How should game publishers and designers respond to recent political events? We also talk about premium components (the business behind them and how we do our own upgrading) and reissued/remade games like King of Tokyo Dark and Kemet: Blood and Sand. James Hudson, senior director of tabletop gaming at Skybound Games (Sorcerer City, Superfight, Tidal Blades) joins us this week for this discussion....

We talk about Plaid Hat's new storytelling adventure game Forgotten Waters, our other favorite pirate-themed games, and some of the most memorable characters in board gaming. But...is quarantining slowly killing our love for board games? We have three special guests! Video game designer Tim Schafer (whose work on The Secret of Monkey Island influenced Forgotten Waters), and Forgotten Waters co-des...

What are our favorite two-player, solo, and roll-and-write games? Do you want to restart or fail forward when you lose a cooperative adventure? And we all love designer Uwe Rosenberg! With guest Jamey Stegmaier of Stonemaier Games (Wingspan, Tapestry, Scythe). Here's a full list of games discussed on the show: Intro Wingspan Viticulture Scythe Euphoria Tapestry Shoe's topic: What are our favorite...

Which games transport us to new places or worlds? What makes a good asynchronous digital game? And how does sheltering in place change how a designer goes about his business? Board game designer Emerson Matsuuchi (Century series, Metal Gear Solid, Specter Ops) joins us to discuss. Here's a full list of games discussed on the show: Intro Century Metal Gear Solid Foundations of Rome Christina's topi...

The world has changed. How are we playing games now? How has coronavirus impacted the game-publishing business? And why is community more important than ever? We cover these big topics with Nolan Nasser (CEO) and Jacob Way (COO) of Deep Water Games (Welcome To..., Hanamikoji). In lighter news, we go on and on about one of our favorite games of 2020 so far: The Crew. It's so amazing, we guaranteed...

How do we pick which board games to cull when we move? What is gaming life like in the military? What's considered a classic nowadays? And what's our ideal convention experience -- deadly viruses aside, that is? Lizzy Funkhouser (Board Game Spotlight) and Derek Funkhouser (Skybound Games) join us to discuss! Here's a full list of games discussed on the show: Intro Medium Q.E. The Walking Dead: Som...

Why we'll never get some of our friends to play board games; the best laugh-so-hard-we-always-cry games; board game movies (our faves and the ones we'd like to see); and whether high-production trailers are good -- and bad -- for Kickstarter campaigns. Games discussed on the show: Mike's topic: board game movies -- the good, the mostly bad, and what we want to see Clue Jumanji Battleship The Castl...

Mike Young (Plan B) explains why game publishing is so tough! Plus, our fave board game franchises and imports. Games mentioned on the show: Shoe's topic: Game franchises Azul Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra Azul: Summer Pavilion Century Century: Golem Edition Chess Othello Ticket to Ride Settlers of Catan Codenames Cottage Garden Indian Summer Spring Meadow Funkoverse Strategy Game Unmatched Androi...

BoardGameGeek just turned 20! Owner/co-founder Scott Alden and Director of Media Lincoln Damerst stop by to talk about the two-decade making of the do-everything board game website, its most underrated games, and much more. Games discussed: Intro & Scott's topic: How did you first hear about BoardGameGeek? Settlers of Catan Manhattan Die Hanse Magic: The Gathering Chess Poker UNO Risk Mahjong Scra...

It's time for Going Analog's 2019 Games of the Year! The crew offers their picks for the best of last year, talks about the state of their board game collections, and makes New Years gaming resolutions. Plus: What are we most excited to play in 2020? Games discussed: Shoe's topic: Games of 2019 Medium Silver: Bullet Letter Jam Ecos: First Continent Sorcerer City Paladins of the West Kingdom Maraca...

BoardGameGeek's Scott Alden (owner) and Lincoln Damerst (host of GameNight!) stops by to offer their thoughts on all three Azul games, the monsterous Abomination, and our favorite popular and under-the-radar games from BGGCON. Games discussed: Intro: Abomination Azul Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra Azul: Summer Pavilion Christina's topic: Best game of BGGCON Aquatica Marvel Champions: The Card Game...

John D. Clair (Ecos, Mystic Vale) talks us through his mechanics-first approach to game design. And the group discusses our favorite Star Wars, deckbuilding, and engine-building games. Games discussed: Intro: Mystic Vale Custom Heroes Space Base Edge of Darkness Ecos: The First Continent Ascension Ascension: Skulls & Sails Shoe's topic: Engine-building games Rise of Augustus Gizmos Great Western T...

Rob Manuel (Indie Megabooth, ex-G4TV/Geek & Sundry) discusses what it takes to be a successful board game content creator, plus how to talk to non-gamers about board games over the holidays, why there aren't more negative game reviews, and some Ravensburger appreciation Games we mentioned: Intro: Age of Steam Christina's topic: How to talk to people about board games over the holidays Monopoly The...

Jerry Hawthorne (Mice and Mystics, Stuffed Fables) talks about how he world-builds for his story-rich adventure games. Also: kid-friendly family games, dopamine (and how game design taps into it), and what we do with the content we never see in adventure/legacy games. Intro: Mice & Mystics Stuffed Fables Comanauts Aftermath Battlelands Christina's topic: How do we feel about the content we might n...

Bebo (Be Bold Games) brings the strangest/coolest topic to date. Also: most anticipated Essen releases, the biggest problems in the industry, and games that are/aren't worth the setup time. Games we discussed: Bebo's topic: Which 3 games in a trench coat are you? Caverna Battleline Junk Orbit Rebel Nox Wingspan Flamme Rouge Web of Spies Detective: City of Angels Deception: Murder in Hong Kong Cave...

Why are some games so hard to buy? Scott Morris of GTS Distribution explains the manufacturing/distribution process for us -- plus recent faves that we've been playing and some of the best worker-placement games (with a twist). Games we discussed: Scott's topic: How games get into stores, why they sell out, why they take so long to restockRoot Batman: Gotham City Chronicles 7th Continent Shoe's to...