PlayDNA

We can all agree- games are fun! But does the fact that they are enjoyable place them outside the realm of "Art?" Damon talks about what makes something art, and whether games can fit into this definition. 

A new once a month series of curation and design challenges- this month, what games will make an 8+ person gaming party a hit. No teaming up spouses ever again!

Children's board games are quite a mixed bag, encompassing everything from edu-games to games that involve stepping in rubber 'poop'. But there are a lot of gems in the children's space that both kid and adult players alike can enjoy. Sarah takes us through some of her favorite children's games and we discuss competing philosophies on what makes a children's game good...

Is chess a sport? Many players think so, and there has be a push to get chess declared an official Olympic sport for over 20 years. Cassandra discusses the many ways the chess community has tried to prove their sport status, from forming an international governing body to administrating doping tests at tournaments. Oh, and she discusses the joys of Chess Boxing.

Following the release of Magic The Gathering in 1993 there was an explosion of unique and branded collectible card games, many of questionable quality. Many have fallen into obscurity only to be found in the darkest corners of ebay and craigslist. Damon takes us through the best CCG's, both the well known and the forgotten, and gives tips on how to get into the world of CCG's without bre...

From ball mazes, to Blow Football, to Meeple Circus, dexterity games have blossomed and grown into a rich, diverse genre of tabletop experiences. Sarah takes us through some historical delights and modern favorites.

Considered by many to be the first "modern" board game, The Game of the Goose has grown and evolved with European culture for 400 year. Cassandra takes us through its strange rise to popularity and the proceeding explosion in branded and rethemed versions of the game.

Not every game is for every gamer. And choosing the perfect game is often more complicated than just staying inside of a single genre or theme. So how should you go about choosing a game that everyone in your group will love? Damon discusses how to discover someone's gamer personality, and how you can use that knowledge during game selection.

Inductive reasoning games are as rare as they are spectacularly fun. Cassandra discusses her favorite genre and the differences between induction and deduction.  Warning: We do discuss spoilers relating to the card game Mao!

We've all experienced it- trying to teach a board game to a friend or parent utterly unfamiliar with the gaming world and getting nowhere. This week Damon discusses game literacy and how we can design and teach games differently to reduce the stress of learning and get closer to the coveted "let's just play." 

Archaeologists have found hundreds of ancient board games dating back thousands of years, most of which, unsurprisingly, had no instruction manual included. The Digital Ludeme Research Project is using artificial intelligence to discover how these games were played.

Which came first, the playing card, or the tarot card? From Tarot decks in the 18th century to the Satanic Panic and backlash against Ouija in the 90's, board games and fortunetelling have evolved in parallel, and often intersected.

The tactile feeling of a game can make or break the experience. Damon talks about how a game can be elevated (or hindered) by the materials it is made up of, and the board games that offer the most unique and satisfying tactile experiences.

Horror board games- how are they defined, and how do they differ from horror movies, video games, and books? Sarah goes over some of the best horror games out there. Find podcast notes at www.playdnapodcast.com Check out Tabatha's horror podcast Test Pattern at www.testpatternshow.com/

In the 16th century, a mysterious human-shaped automaton called The Turk toured Europe beating thousands of human players in Chess. Its eerily human intelligence inspired a technology revolution. Find episode notes at www.playdnapodcast.com

Damon gives us a list of games with elegant, simple mechanics that simulate complex real-world situations.

The card game Tichu was released in 1991, with a wacky origin story to go with it. But similar climbing games have existed for generations both in China and worldwide. Find episode notes at  https://playdnapodcast.com/index.php/episode-7-lets-teach-you-tichu/

Digital board gaming spaces make playing and socializing with others easy, during quarantine or simply when looking to game long distance . Cassandra lays out the plethora of online gaming options available. Find episode notes at  https://playdnapodcast.com/index.php/episode-6-gaming-under-quarantine/

Linear narrative games like TimeStories aren't the only ones that can tell us stories. Legacy games, roleplaying games, deception games, and even CCG's can deliver compelling narratives in surprising ways. Find episode notes at  https://playdnapodcast.com/index.php/episode-5-games-that-tell-us-stories/

Love them or hate them, abstract strategy games are the most enduring genre of tabletop games. So what makes them so polarizing? Find episode notes at  https://playdnapodcast.com/index.php/episode-4-abstract-strategy-games/

Humans have a strong instinct to play make believe, but it doesn't stop when we are children. Board games create a magic circle, a place to experience imaginative play with others. Find episode notes at  https://playdnapodcast.com/index.php/episode-3-psychology-of-play/

From soul-saving in Snakes and Ladders to cash-grabbing in The Checkered Game of Life, the landscape of American board games has undergone remarkable changes. Find episode notes at  https://playdnapodcast.com/index.php/episode-2-a-history-of-board-games-in-the-united-states/

*If this is your first PlayDNA episode, welcome! We apologize for our poor audio quality, don't worry, we figure ourselves out over the next few episodes* Cribbage may have been designed in the 18th century, but it still has enthusiasts all over the world. It's Britain's national card game, and the only one you can legally play and gamble on in public! Find episode notes at https://...