Beyond Solitaire
Society & Culture
About
A podcast all about going not just Beyond Solitaire, but beyond the board! Join your host, Liz Davidson, for interviews that touch on gaming history, historical games, and the cultural significance of the games we play.
Episodes
- Episode 236 - Tilak Vyas on Line by Line
Tilak Vyas joins Beyond Solitaire to discuss Line by Line, his poetry game developed with Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations.
- Episode 235 - Ari Shapiro and Alyssa Stevenski on Library Gaming
This episode features a conversation with Ari Shapiro and Alyssa Stevenski, who manage gaming programs for teenagers within a county library system. The podcast is sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Game…
- Episode 234 - Paul and Liz on the Evolution of Foxes & Lions
The podcast episode features a discussion between Paul Wright and the host about the game Foxes & Lions, covering its development over the past year and looking ahead to future plans. The episode also mentions support for the game on P500…
- Episode 233 - Waleed Ma'arouf on Design at Asmodee
Waleed Ma'arouf shares insights into his design work at Studio Big, his involvement with the Arkham Horror LCG, and his current game design projects. The episode is sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Gam…
- Episode 232 - Esther Wright on Rockstar Games and American History
Dr. Esther Wright, a lecturer at the University of Cardiff, discusses her research on Rockstar Games. The episode explores how these games represent American history and the significance of the narratives told about American culture.
- Episode 231 - Brooks Barber on Hawk & Dove
Brooks Barber joins the podcast to discuss his new historical games publishing business, Hawk & Dove. He shares details about moving his family to the Netherlands while continuing his game design work.
- Episode 230 - Danielle Reynolds on Mass Market Design
Danielle Reynolds joins Beyond Solitaire to discuss her career in game design, her role at Relatable, and her focus on giving back. The episode is sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations.
- Episode 229 - Taylor Shuss on Walkable City
Taylor Shuss discussed his game Walkable City, an urban planning board game, and his historical designs on the podcast Beyond Solitaire. The conversation also touched on design more broadly.
- Episode 228 - Joe Dewhurst on The Pure Land
Joe Dewhurst joins Beyond Solitaire to discuss his upcoming game, The Pure Land. He also shares insights into his ongoing work as a game developer and his expertise in COIN solo mode.
- Episode 227 - Shadi Torbey on inPatience
Shadi Torbey, creator of the Oniverse series, shares insights into solo game development, entrepreneurship, and his experience as an opera singer in this episode of Beyond Solitaire.
- Episode 226 - Bree Woodward on Creative Direction
Bree Woodward of Asmodee's Studio Big joins the podcast to talk about her role as a creative director, her career beginnings in video games, and her dedication to the organization Women in Toys.
- Episode 225 - Dan Bullock on Penitent
Dan Bullock joins the podcast to discuss Penitent, a new release from his game press, Lock Horns. The conversation includes topics on game developers and a mutual dislike for dice.
- Episode 224 - Jason Morningstar on The Blue Way
Jason Morningstar joins Beyond Solitaire to discuss RPG design principles and the upcoming release of his new edition of The Blue Way, which is forthcoming from Central Michigan University.
- Episode 223 - Pam Walls on Independent Game Design
Pam Walls joins Beyond Solitaire to discuss game design and the realities of being a full-time independent game designer. The conversation also touches on a specific game she made for Bush's chili.
- Episode 222 - Jeremiah McCall on Designing Historical Games for Class
Jeremiah McCall discusses his book, Designing History Games for Class, and how he incorporates game design projects into his history curriculum. The conversation explores his approach to creating educational games and teaching students abo…
- Episode 221 - Diana Toma on Meeple Foundry
Diana Toma from Meeple Foundry joins Beyond Solitaire to discuss the process of game translation, graphic design, and the creation of international teams for game development.
- Episode 220 - Adam Blinkinsop on Echo from the Dark
In this episode of Beyond Solitaire, designer and developer Adam Blinkinsop discusses his experience with GMT game development, his approach to game design, and his current project, Echo from the Dark.
- Episode 219 - Ted Caya on Take
Ted Caya from Leder Games discusses his new board game, Take, which is centered around the theme of heists. The conversation covers why heists are considered charming crimes and how this concept was adapted into the board game format.
- Episode 218 - Jaysen Headley (Ezeekat) on Book + Game Coverage
Jaysen Headley, also known as Ezeekat, joins the podcast to discuss his dual roles as a Booktoker and a creator of board game videos. He also shares details about his imprint with Bindery, focusing on publishing books.
- Episode 217 - Carlos Ureta on the Art of Queen of Spies
Carlos Ureta, the illustrator for the game Queen of Spies, was a guest on the podcast to discuss his contributions to the game's artwork. The episode also touches on the upcoming Gamefound release and related projects.
- Episode 216 - Fertessa Allyse on Designing for IPs
Fertessa Allyse, a game designer, shares her experiences in the field, including starting out, working in large teams, and designing games specifically for children. The episode also mentions Prospero Hall and resources like "The Cracked M…
- Episode 215 - Ricky Royal on Deckers and Oath
Ricky Royal returns to the podcast to discuss his recent projects, collaborations, and solo design in board games. The episode references his YouTube channel "Box of Delights" for solo gaming content.
- Episode 214 - Hannah Fair on Playing with the Anthropocene
In this episode of Beyond Solitaire, Hannah Fair, an environmental impact researcher, talks about her article concerning the depiction of islands and humans in board games within the context of the Anthropocene.
- Episode 213 - Gonzalo Maldonado on Salt & Pepper Games
Gonzalo Maldonado, co-founder of Salt & Pepper Games, joins the podcast to discuss his path to becoming a game publisher and the evolution of his company. The discussion touches on the upcoming release of "Queen of Spies," a game co-design…
- Episode 212 - Rachel Billingsley on Marketing at GMT
Rachel Billingsley joins Beyond Solitaire to discuss her experience as Director of Marketing at GMT, a family-operated wargame business.
- Episode 211 - Carly Kocurek on Coin-Operated Americans
In this episode of Beyond Solitaire, Dr. Carly Kocurek discusses the history of arcade culture and examines the development of the perception that video games are primarily for men.
- Episode 210 - Liam Liwanag Burke on Dog Eat Dog
Liam Liwanag Burke, designer of the game Dog Eat Dog, joins Beyond Solitaire to discuss his creation. A new edition of the game is being released by Central Michigan University as part of their Art & System series.
- Episode 209 - Efka Bladukas on Game Coverage as Story
Efka Bladukas joins Beyond Solitaire to discuss game coverage viewed through the lens of storytelling. The episode is sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations.
- Episode 208 - Pat Harrigan on Zones of Control
Pat Harrigan joins the podcast to discuss "Zones of Control," an academic volume he co-edited with Matthew Kirschenbaum. Beyond Solitaire is sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations.
- Episode 207 - Clifford Ando on the Humanities Crisis at UChicago
Professor Clifford Ando joins the podcast to discuss the impact of cuts to humanities programs at the University of Chicago. The conversation highlights the relevance of this issue to historical games enthusiasts.
- Episode 206 - Suzanne Sheldon on Restoration Games
Suzanne Sheldon joins Beyond Solitaire to discuss her role at Restoration Games, defining game restoration, and the process of crafting immersive player experiences.
- Episode 205 - Nigel Scarfe on Imagination Gaming
Nigel Scarfe discusses Imagination Gaming, a company that utilizes games to foster academic and emotional development in students. The conversation also explores the broader applicability of games in various environments, including correct…
- Episode 204 - Gabe Barrett on Best with 1 Games
Gabe Barrett, publisher of the Solo Game of the Month series, joins Beyond Solitaire to discuss his prolific publication schedule and the criteria for an effective solo game. The podcast is sponsored by Central Michigan University.
- Episode 203 - Emily Friedman on the Study of Actual Play
Dr. Emily Friedman, an English professor, joins the podcast to discuss her academic research on actual play and its application in scholarship and classroom settings. The episode is sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Lea…
- Episode 202 - J. Rey Lee on Unsettling Catan
J. Rey Lee, author of Unsettling Catan, appears on Beyond Solitaire to discuss his new book, which launches a series of academic books about individual board games. The podcast is sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learn…
- Episode 201 - Matteo Menapace on Cooperative Game Design
Matteo Menapace, co-designer of Daybreak, joins Beyond Solitaire to discuss cooperative game design, teaching game design, his upcoming projects, and his experiences with the Spiel des Jahres.
- Episode 200 - Thoughts on the State of Historical Gaming
Beyond Solitaire marks episode 200 with a collection of interviews discussing the state of historical games and serious games criticism. Featured interviewees include Volko Ruhnke, Efka Bladukas, Candice Harris, Dan Thurot, David Thompson,…
- Episode 199 - Ian, David, and Liz on the Art of Night Witches
Ian O'Toole joins the podcast to discuss updates on the art for Night Witches. A new Backerkit campaign for CLGS is scheduled to launch on July 8.
- Episode 198 - Ananda Gupta on Designing for Board and Video Games
Ananda Gupta, co-designer of Twilight Struggle, joins the podcast to discuss the game's anniversary edition. He also shares insights into his new board game work and his career designing for Riot Games.
- Episode 197 - Lars de Wildt on the Pop Theology of Videogames
Religious studies scholar Lars de Wildt spoke on Beyond Solitaire about religion in video games, examining which religious affectations are considered neutral versus non-neutral.
- Episode 196 - Erin Escobedo on Meltwater
Erin Escobedo joins the podcast to discuss Meltwater, a game focused on the aftermath of nuclear war. Originally published by Hollandspiele, a new edition is being released by Capstone. The episode also includes a discussion about fighting…
- Episode 195 - Brooks Barber on Sykes-Picot, Spindletop, and Painkillers
Brooks Barber joins Beyond Solitaire to discuss his upcoming, historically inspired game designs, such as Sykes-Picot.
- Episode 194 - Mark Herman on "Wargames According to Mark"
Mark Herman joins the Beyond Solitaire podcast to discuss his book, "Wargames According to Mark," and shares his professional insights on game design and development.
- Episode 193 - Eric Lang on Design, Activism, and Mentorship
In this episode of Beyond Solitaire, game designer Eric Lang shares his insights on game design principles, what drives project enthusiasm, reflections on his extensive career, and his involvement in mentorship and activism, highlighting t…
- Episode 192 - Jason Matthews on Tariffs, GAMA, and Collective Action
Jason Matthews joins Beyond Solitaire to discuss tariffs impacting the board game industry. The conversation covers the nature of these tariffs, their potential consequences for both publishers and hobbyists, and possible actions that can…
- Episode 191 - Michelle Strayer on Wargame Analysis
Michelle Strayer, a wargame designer and analyst at CNA, joins the podcast to discuss the process of data collection for wargames and how design teams verify the significance of the collected data.
- Episode 190 - Lichao Zhu on the Linguistics of Games
Lichao Zhu appears on Beyond Solitaire to discuss linguistics projects examining the language associated with playing games and its implications.
- Episode 189 - Ada Palmer on LARPing the Renaissance
Ada Palmer joins Beyond Solitaire to discuss her experience LARPing the Renaissance at the University of Chicago. The conversation also covers her work as a sci-fi author and explores how both historical study and fiction can be used to un…
- Episode 188 - Amabel Holland on Cardboard Ghosts
Amabel Holland joins Beyond Solitaire to discuss her book Cardboard Ghosts, her video essay work, and new games from Hollandspiele.
- Episode 187 - Thomas Malaby on Anthropology and Gaming
Thomas Malaby, an anthropologist studying gaming, joins the podcast to discuss his work on contingency, including gambling, and the formation of digital cultures.