Calvin's Corner - Of Dreams and Shadows “My sisters wake from the same nightmares,” begins Selene, seer of the White Rose. “A skeletal hand, pale and white as snow, grasping out from darkness." Of Dreams and Shadows is a co-operative adventure board game whose roots drink deeply of the blood flowing through designer Gordon Alford’s veins. Fed on the years spent either side of a Game Master’s screen, the game radiates the feeling of a fully-fleshed world lurking just off the edge of your vision. There’s a sense that if you peeled 09/26/2017
“My sisters wake from the same nightmares,” begins Selene, seer of the White Rose. “A skeletal hand, pale and white as snow, grasping out from darkness." Of Dreams and Shadows is a co-operative adventure board game whose roots drink deeply of the blood flowing through designer Gordon Alford’s veins. Fed on the years spent either side of a Game Master’s screen, the game radiates the feeling of a fully-fleshed world lurking just off the edge of your vision. There’s a sense that if you peeled
Spotlight - Isaac Vega On this edition of Spotlight we’re talking to Isaac Vega, designer of such gaming icons as Dead of Winter and Ashes: Rise of the Phoenixborn. We talk about his design process, what genres he’d like to work in, what he’s excited about, and whether he’ll ever return to cyberpunk. Onward! This interview was lightly edited for clarity. Why don't we start with you telling everyone very briefly who you are. My name is Isaac Vega, I am the VP of research and design at Plaid Hat Games, I've been 09/16/2017
On this edition of Spotlight we’re talking to Isaac Vega, designer of such gaming icons as Dead of Winter and Ashes: Rise of the Phoenixborn. We talk about his design process, what genres he’d like to work in, what he’s excited about, and whether he’ll ever return to cyberpunk. Onward! This interview was lightly edited for clarity. Why don't we start with you telling everyone very briefly who you are. My name is Isaac Vega, I am the VP of research and design at Plaid Hat Games, I've been
Episode 51 - This War of Mine Review Raf talks about secret words and abstracts, Charlie talks about werewolves and packs of gum. Both talk about the emotional roller coaster of This War of Mine the board game. Excited About - 1:30 Boo/Shy - 8:40 Codenames Duet - 19:40 Folklore: The Affliction - 29:30 Seikatsu - 42:45 This War of Mine Review - 54:55 iTunes Soundcloud Podcast RSS Stitcher 09/13/2017
Raf talks about secret words and abstracts, Charlie talks about werewolves and packs of gum. Both talk about the emotional roller coaster of This War of Mine the board game. Excited About - 1:30 Boo/Shy - 8:40 Codenames Duet - 19:40 Folklore: The Affliction - 29:30 Seikatsu - 42:45 This War of Mine Review - 54:55 iTunes Soundcloud Podcast RSS Stitcher
Raf Reviews - [email protected] The most fun I’ve ever had playing a board game was a game of [email protected] I know that sounds like hyperbole but it really isn’t. The game occurred at a friend’s birthday party and I asked if anyone wanted to play a silly improv game about making a newscast in a “world gone weird”. 4 of us played the first game and the group quickly swelled to 7 after hearing the laughs that erupted from the table. Unfortunately, describing that particular game is impossible. Trying to describe a game of [email protected] 09/13/2017
The most fun I’ve ever had playing a board game was a game of [email protected] I know that sounds like hyperbole but it really isn’t. The game occurred at a friend’s birthday party and I asked if anyone wanted to play a silly improv game about making a newscast in a “world gone weird”. 4 of us played the first game and the group quickly swelled to 7 after hearing the laughs that erupted from the table. Unfortunately, describing that particular game is impossible. Trying to describe a game of [email protected]
Charlie's Take - Cosmic Kaboom I love dexterity games; they shortcut the connection between action and emotion. While satisfying in their own way, large strategy games can take hours for that payout to emerge. Dexterity games are about no fuss and lining up to take that perfect flick with a gorilla's belly worth of drama hanging in the air. "Ooh ooh ah ah" kid. Cosmic Kaboom is an exciting prospect. It blends the beloved sci-fi genre with these physical designs. Ascending Empires did this masterfully and remains a classic to 09/01/2017
I love dexterity games; they shortcut the connection between action and emotion. While satisfying in their own way, large strategy games can take hours for that payout to emerge. Dexterity games are about no fuss and lining up to take that perfect flick with a gorilla's belly worth of drama hanging in the air. "Ooh ooh ah ah" kid. Cosmic Kaboom is an exciting prospect. It blends the beloved sci-fi genre with these physical designs. Ascending Empires did this masterfully and remains a classic to
Episode 50 - Gen Con Wrap-up and Listener Questions The best/worst of Gen Con to kick things off, then Raf and Charlie dive into listener questions to celebrate 50 episodes. Don't miss the new listener poll at the end! Gen Con Best/Worst - 2:40 Super Mario Level Up - 16:35 Tiefe Taschen - 23:50 Listener Questions - 39:45 Listener Poll - 1:34:12 iTunes Soundcloud Podcast RSS Stitcher 08/30/2017
The best/worst of Gen Con to kick things off, then Raf and Charlie dive into listener questions to celebrate 50 episodes. Don't miss the new listener poll at the end! Gen Con Best/Worst - 2:40 Super Mario Level Up - 16:35 Tiefe Taschen - 23:50 Listener Questions - 39:45 Listener Poll - 1:34:12 iTunes Soundcloud Podcast RSS Stitcher
Raf Reviews - Gridstones Humans have been naming the stars for as long as we’ve been able to look up in wonder. In our need to understand the universe and give order to it, we’ve named constellations and woven them into ancient myths and legends. Gridstones: Night Sky takes inspiration from these constellations to wrap a simple abstract game of pattern recognition in a setting that is both evocative and a perfect match. Like the astronomers of old, the point of Gridstones is to find patterns in the night sky. Your 08/28/2017
Humans have been naming the stars for as long as we’ve been able to look up in wonder. In our need to understand the universe and give order to it, we’ve named constellations and woven them into ancient myths and legends. Gridstones: Night Sky takes inspiration from these constellations to wrap a simple abstract game of pattern recognition in a setting that is both evocative and a perfect match. Like the astronomers of old, the point of Gridstones is to find patterns in the night sky. Your
Calvin's Corner - Crisis Crisis is my favorite eurogame of all time, period. Slick, gorgeous, topical; bursting with intelligence and narrative - finally a worker placement game which ends ALL of my problems with worker placement games, right down to having to count score at the end. Dapper polar bear sold separately. Axia. The board comes double sided with a sepia option for visual clarity and colorblindness issues. Unable to pay its creditors, the nation of Axia is placed under crippling austerity measures by the 08/14/2017
Crisis is my favorite eurogame of all time, period. Slick, gorgeous, topical; bursting with intelligence and narrative - finally a worker placement game which ends ALL of my problems with worker placement games, right down to having to count score at the end. Dapper polar bear sold separately. Axia. The board comes double sided with a sepia option for visual clarity and colorblindness issues. Unable to pay its creditors, the nation of Axia is placed under crippling austerity measures by the