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Games, Gamers, and Why We Play

An in depth look at games, Gamers, and why we play

The Cardboard Herald

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Talking Junk Drawer with David Smith & Travis Winstead of Winsmith Games - TCbH Interviews

August 15, 2022 Jack Eddy

Junk Drawer KS here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/junkdrawergame/junk-drawer

Our review here: https://youtu.be/IuyMZyWOWt0

00:00 - Intro

02:37 - Demo'ing at GenCon

07:29 - Design & development

10:44 - No player interaction = puzzle not game?

16:05 - Feelings on the campaign

23:37 - How KS has changed since the pandemic

29:40 - What's on the horizon?

Links:

Our Site - https://www.cardboardherald.com

Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=9669551

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Justin Kemppainen on Leviathan Wilds, Storytelling, Game Design & Moon Crab Games - TCbH Interview

March 9, 2022 Jack Eddy

Please note that there are prototype game images, gifs, and screenshots from the available rulebook that are all subject to change. Links to all the important stuff below.

00:00 - Intro

01:07 - Entry point into game design

02:36 - FFG / Z-Man vets forming Moon Crab

05:08 - Why not pitch?

07:21 - Leviathan Wilds = Shadow of the Colossus + Gloomhaven?

10:31 - How the AI Works

13:19 - Dungeon Crawl Trends

18:03 - Reward structure & the great fail-forward debate

23:02 - Transitioning from established to new IPs

28:35 - Visual design for the world

32:27 - Biggest iteration (so far)

35:58 - Future Moon Crab projects

Moon Crab Links:

Leviathan Wilds Rulebook: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VmXlouus0QL6wE2-DBEDhGq54fGPHRDFfgsMTa0maig/edit?usp=sharing

Leviathan Wilds TTS Mod: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2757524665

Our Links:

Our Site - www.cardboardherald.com

Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=9669551

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Talking Bloc by Bloc: Uprising with Designers T.L. Simons & Greg Loring-Albright

February 15, 2022 Jack Eddy

Recorded this audio interview in anticipation of their Gamefound launch on February 15, 2022, back it here: https://gamefound.com/projects/draft/zxc58ag7firw48g1aggj8ue80qo

00:00 - Intro & Why switching to Gamefound?

04:33 - Risks in leaving Kickstarter?

09:47 - Revamping the game & getting Greg on-board

14:18 - Design ambitions for Uprising

23:06 - Anticipating backlash?

33:34 - Ambition to change minds

40:00 - Outro

Links:

Our Site - https://www.cardboardherald.com

Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=9669551

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Nicolas Fournier on Megapulse and adapting high-energy racing into a tabletop game - TCbH Interview

November 10, 2021 Jack Eddy

Megapulse just launched, go check it out here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/orion-games/megapulse?ref=discovery&term=megapulse

00:00 - Intro & International Travel in 2021

04:20 - The Megapulse Mega Pitch

07:35 - How to convey momentum in a turn-based board game

10:44 - Rubber banding

14:10 - Scaling player counts

16:21 - Going full-time with Orion Games?

18:25 - French-Canadian Tabletop Gaming Scene

22:45 - COVID & Conventions

28:16 - Most challenging aspect of development?

Links:

Our Site - https://www.cardboardherald.com

Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=9669551

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Bruno Cathala on designing during a pandemic, solo gaming & the future of Cyclades - TCbH Interviews

October 11, 2021 Jack Eddy

Talking with one of my favorite designers of all time. I knew that he couldn't share much on Cyclades so I didn't press the issue but I'm glad we got the info we did!

00:00 - Quarantine impact on game design

05:52 - Prototyping & adapting to TTS

08:56 - Thoughts on Solo Gaming

14:34 - Authorial Intent & Fan Variants

19:30 - When to bring in other designers

23:09 - Trek 12

28:11 - Starting a design from theme, mechanism or component

29:20 - Competing with yourself?

33:47 - New edition of Cyclades

39:55 - Kingdomino: Origins

43:55 - Nicodemus

Links:

Our Site - https://www.cardboardherald.com

Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=9669551

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From film maker to game creator, Malachi Rempen talks Roll Camera & B Movie - TCbH Interviews

October 3, 2021 Jack Eddy
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Roll Camera's new expansion hits kickstarter this week! Check it out at these links: https://bit.ly/2VAFmNM & Keen Bean Studio: www.keenbean.studio

00:00 - Intro

01:56 - Unique considerations when doing it all yourself

06:40 - Why fly solo

10:30 - Studying games vs film

14:44 - Capturing the actual film industry

21:02 - Compromising theme for game design

29:09 - Going full-time & avoiding retail

34:59 - Fairly representing B Movies

41:15 - How bringing in a developer helped

Links:

Our Site - https://www.cardboardherald.com

Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=9669551

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Puzzles, Collaboration and The Light in The Mist with Rita Orlov of PostCurious - TCbH Interview

September 20, 2021 Jack Eddy
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The Light in the Mist is an exciting new puzzle game by Post Curious, makers of The Emerald Flame & The Tale of Ord. The kickstarter launches Sept 21 at this link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/postcurious/the-light-in-the-mist

00:00 - Intro & scope of the game

06:04 - Why bring in a collaborator?

10:19 - The design process

13:24 - Why make something smaller

15:52 - Gaging the right level of challenge

22:21 - Non-linear structure & multiuse components

25:04 - Writing the story

30:56 - Post-kickstarter endeavors & The future of PostCurious

Other Links:

Our Site - https://www.cardboardherald.com

Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=9669551

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From digital to cardboard; talking with Eduardo "Edo" Baraf of Pencil First Games - TCbH Interview

September 3, 2021 Jack Eddy
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You may know Eduardo Baraf as a game designer and owner of Pencil First Games, but may more will know him from his popular review channel Gaming With Edo.

00:00 - Intro

01:10 - Designer; Publisher; Content Creator

03:35 - Emphasizing smaller publishers

06:42 - Perception of reviewers

11:37 - Contacting publishers for reviews

16:46 - Ed & Ed Trash Games

17:42 - The spark to create games

22:30 - Switching creative focus from video to tabletop

29:04 - Inspirations & Aspirations

33:34 - Skulk Hollow Design & Development

37:43 - Preference for Collaborative Design

47:32 - Maul Peak & Solo

Links:

Pencil First - https://www.pencilfirstgames.com

Gaming with Edo - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpvwHi-2kifAtpvZ64gBv9A

Our Site - https://www.cardboardherald.com

Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=9669551

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Licensed Games: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly - Off The Table Aug 16, 2021

August 19, 2021 Jack Eddy
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Potent theme delivery systems or sinister cash grabs preying on your nostalgia? Today we talk about licensed games.

Defining IP

Cynical cash grabs or a source of joy?

What makes something look promising or damning?

Games where fighting IPs are the platform (unmatched, Funko Battles, VS System)

IP Games in our collections

Lovecraft vs. the Mythos & Public Domain

Licensing & preventing games getting

Best/Worst that we’ve seen

What IPs are you dying to see?

LINKS:

Our Site - https://www.cardboardherald.com

Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=9669551

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Sorting through what's wicked & what's wise with designer & full-time game producer Fertessa Alysse

August 9, 2021 Jack Eddy
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This was a great chat with Fertessa and a rare opportunity to dive deep with a full-timer at a game company. Wicked & Wise is live on Kickstarter August 10th, here's the link: http://weirdgiraffegames.com/WW17

00:00 - Intro

00:48 - Staffer or Freelancer?

02:19 - Funco, Production & Prospero Hall

07:09 - History with tabletop games

11:44 - Alternate career paths

13:31 - Buy in from family?

16:10 - Pitching to Weird Giraffe

18:53 - Design & development of Wicked & Wise

19:45 - The problem with cooperative games

24:57 - Establishing Theme

26:29 - Design & Development sacrifices

29:28 - Inspiration to improve output?

34:20 - Day to day routine as a games producer

40:42 - Dream game with dream IP

LINKS:

Fertessa's Twitter https://twitter.com/fertessa

Our Site - www.cardboardherald.com

Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=9669551

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First Impressions of Kemet: Blood & Sand - Off The Table Aug 2, 2021

August 3, 2021 Jack Eddy
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We've gotten it to the table, some of us more than once! Gonna talk through our opinions of the new release of this modern classic.

SHOW NOTES:

Hypecicles

-Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition

-MTG D&D

-Descent: Legends of the Dark

History of Kemet

Game 2012 - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/127023/kemet

Ta Seti 2015 - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/161842/kemet-ta-seti

Seth 2018 - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/254543/kemet-seth

Blood & Sand KS 2020 - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/matagot/kemet-blood-and-sand

Our History with the game

Blood & Sand

-How many times we’ve played?

-Does it feel like the same game?

Highlights:

-How scaling powers are handled

-Balance

-Power trays

-Cosmetics (dem pyramids)

Low Points:

-Board design

-Rules wording

-Errata!? https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2694291/rulebooks-revision-availableWe've gotten it to the table, some of us more than once! Gonna talk through our opinions of the new release of this modern classic.

SHOW NOTES:

Hypecicles

-Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition

-MTG D&D

-Descent: Legends of the Dark

History of Kemet

Game 2012 - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/127023/kemet

Ta Seti 2015 - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/161842/kemet-ta-seti

Seth 2018 - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/254543/kemet-seth

Blood & Sand KS 2020 - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/matagot/kemet-blood-and-sand

Our History with the game

Blood & Sand

-How many times we’ve played?

-Does it feel like the same game?

Highlights:

-How scaling powers are handled

-Balance

-Power trays

-Cosmetics (dem pyramids)

Low Points:

-Board design

-Rules wording

-Errata!? https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/2694291/rulebooks-revision-available

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Making Sense of BGG's Rankings - Off The Table Jul 26, 2021

July 28, 2021 Jack Eddy

Going over the history, the methodology (that we know of) and how much importance we should place on the BGG rankings & top 100. Come talk to us on discord: https://discord.gg/6nGJsA6NNp

Our notes for the podcast:

What is it?

BGG founded in 2000 https://boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/BoardGameGeek_History#

By 2001 they had rankings

Uses an undisclosed algorithm that seeds some votes and incorporates user ratings

Ratings are not about quality, necessarily, but about desire to play https://boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/ratings

10 - Outstanding. Always want to play and expect this will never change.

9 - Excellent game. Always want to play it.

8 - Very good game. I like to play. Probably I'll suggest it and will never turn down a game.

7 - Good game, usually willing to play.

6 - Ok game, some fun or challenge at least, will play sporadically if in the right mood.

5 - Average game, slightly boring, take it or leave it.

4 - Not so good, it doesn't get me but could be talked into it on occasion.

3 - Likely won't play this again although could be convinced. Bad.

2 - Extremely annoying game, won't play this ever again.

1 - Defies description of a game. You won't catch me dead playing this. Clearly broken

What do we know about the methodology for ranking?

30 ratings to be eligible for ranking, seeded with 100 votes of 5.5, and apparently more dummy votes are added the more rankings a game has: https://boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/ratings

Entropy?

Moderation to avoid false fraud votes

Past # 1 games

Tigris & Euphrates

Puerto Rico

Agricola

Twilight Struggle

Pandemic Legacy Season 1

Gloomhaven

Of the top 100 - Jack’s played 56

Jack’s most surprising game that’s not in the top 100 - Kemet

John’s most surprising game that is in the top 100 - Nemesis

Other cool stuff:

Our Site - https://www.cardboardherald.com

Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=9669551

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Talking Art, Inspiration, Oath and Animals with Kyle Ferrin of Leder Games - TCbH Interviews

July 23, 2021 Jack Eddy
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01:46 Childhood expressions

04:36 Cartooning inspirations

08:20 Is being part of a studio restrictive?

12:35 Using art to get people into the game

14:31 Translating the abstract

19:18 Oath's visual identity

23:12 Oath's Worldbuilding

30:56 Fort's visual identity

31:56 How do you organize your day?

37:41 Impact on & advice for the next generation

40:30 What makes the Leder team so special

44:37 Art for engagement

47:59 Fort Cats & Dogs

51:05 Capturing animal personalities

54:08 Grounding Oath with animals

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Conflict in Games - Off The Table Jul 12, 2021

July 12, 2021 Jack Eddy
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Talking about the different forms conflict can take in games. Come talk to us on discord: https://discord.gg/6nGJsA6NNp

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Are Expansions Good? - Off The Table July 5, 2021

July 5, 2021 Jack Eddy
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Come talk to us on discord: https://discord.gg/JZYZHUgqGR

I can easily answer no to "are expansions bad?", but it's much harder to answer if they are good. So John and I talk it through.

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Dave Beck of Paverson Games talks Game Design, Academia and Distilled - TCbH Interview

July 2, 2021 Jack Eddy
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00:11 Who are you and what are you doing here?

01:59 - Acceptance of game design theory in academia

05:59 - Getting into board games

08:38 - Did you want to design board games right away?

11:07 - Start with theme or mechanics?

11:37 - When did you know when Distilled was something special?

14:59 - Concerns about an alcohol focussed theme?

16:47 - Overcooking a game

20:37 - Luck vs. skill

23:48 - Other designs in the works?

26:32 - Targetting kickstarter

TASTY LINKS:

Richard Garfield Lecture - https://youtu.be/av5Hf7uOu-o

Our Site - https://www.cardboardherald.com

Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=9669551

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Purging Games - Off The Table Jun 28, 2021

June 28, 2021 Jack Eddy
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Tackling the what, when, and how of trimming down the game collection. Also here are the links to the other stuffs:

New Gale Force 9 Dune - https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2021/06/new-dune-board-game-coming-later-this-year.html

Terraforming Mars - Ares Expedition kickstarter fire - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/strongholdgames/ares-expedition-the-terraforming-mars-card-game/posts/3224358

Fort - Cats & Dogs - https://ledergames.com/products/fort-cats-dogs-expansion

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Top 10 Board Game Inserts - Casual Friday ft. Jennifer Graham-Macht of Keymaster Games

April 16, 2021 Jack Eddy
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Jen makes an excellent subject matter expert due to PARKS having the dopest insert ever.

Check the vid version here: https://youtu.be/tLnnELnfliA

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Top 10 Games to Play Over Coffee - Casual Friday ft. Chris Douglas DA

April 9, 2021 Jack Eddy
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Games to play over a nice warm cup of Joe. (or Tea, I guess. If you must...)

02:31 - Azul: Summer Pavillion

03:37 - Sagrada

05:23 - Splendor

07:33 - Harbour

10:38 - Istanbul

12:49 - Cartographers

15:02 - Crystallo

19:02 - Carcassonne

21:32 - Terraforming Mars

23:27 - Jaipur

HOT LINKS:

Our Site - https://www.cardboardherald.com

Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=9669551

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Joe Arthur Ellis of Plaid Hat Games on Summoner Wars 2.0, Forgotten Waters, Apps and more

April 6, 2021 Jack Eddy
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J. Arthur Ellis is the co/designer of Forgotten Waters, Raxxon and more. It was great to talk to one of the OG Dougs who joined the PHG team, now developing their digital products.

01:14 - Entry into Plaid Hat Games

03:45 - Tackling Summoner Wars 2.0 as a fan

05:49 - PHG's Goals with Summoner Wars 2.0

09:47 - Web based vs. Installed Applications

13:04 - Transition from web guy to game designer

14:30 - Raxxon

15:54 - Collaborative Game Design

19:58 - Asmodee to Independent

25:17 - Changes to Summoner Wars 2.0 most looking forward to

31:03 - Scope for Summoner Wars vs. Ashes

34:54 - Physical versions of digital solo content?

HOT LINKS:

Our Site - https://www.cardboardherald.com

Our Video Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TheCardboardHerald

Our Twitter - https://twitter.com/CardboardHerald

Our Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=9669551

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