The State of Games, Episode 25 – The One About Game Design
It seems as if you can’t attend any gaming convention nowadays without coming across 10 or 20 panels and talks about game design and how mysterious and elusive a successful idea can be. Well, we at Dice Hate Me are here to tell you all that there’s nothing mysterious or elusive about the process – good game design inspiration can come from the most ordinary of things, from a cup of coffee to a really good book. Read More Read More
The State of Games, Episode 24 – The One About Farming
Have you ever been in the presence of a female gamer when a box of Agricola: The Goodies is first cracked open and all those adorable little pigs and cows come spilling out? Have you regained hearing in your ears from the squeal of delight? And why, exactly, is a tiny wooden pumpkin or squash so darn adorable? Honestly, we don’t know either but we’re going to talk about it for at least 15 minutes or so. Come on in! Read More Read More
It’s Time to Get Caffeinated!
Just about all of you dear readers were there when Carnival was announced to the public. And just about the same amount pledged their support on Kickstarter to help us get Dice Hate Me Games off the ground. It was an amazing experience, made only greater by the outpouring of support and encouragement. Now, we’re back. And we’ve brought coffee. Dice Hate Me Games is proud to present VivaJava: The Coffee Game! Designer T.C. Petty III has spent the last three years perfecting this unique and engaging game and now it’s time for it to be sent out into the wild. VivaJava is now available on Kickstarter, and with your help, we can see... Read More
The State of Games, Episode 23 – The One About the Unpublished Masses
There’s nothing like hitting the open road with a box full of hopes and dreams, arriving at a destination, unboxing those dreams and letting a whole bunch of random strangers tear them apart. And believe it or not, that’s a good thing! In this instance, those dreams are board games, and in this episode of The State of Games, we’re all set to tell the stories of those myriad dreamers. Read More Read More
Couples Retreat 2012 Recap
It’s been a quiet few weeks here on Dice Hate Me, but that certainly hasn’t meant much quiet on the homefront. Quite the opposite, actually, as we’ve been gaming through the holidays and working like mad to get VivaJava wrapped and ready for its Kickstarter debut (Wednesday, Jan. 25 – mark your calendars!). If you listened to the last State of Games podcast – and if you haven’t, it’s right over here – you dear readers already know that we took a little gaming retreat with our friends Shawn and Jacki. I also promised a little closer look at some of the titles that hit the table, some for the very... Read More
Dice Hate Me Game of the Year Awards 2011
Wow, what a year for boardgaming – and for Dice Hate Me! There has been a plethora of wonderful games released this year, and Monkey238 and I have been lucky enough to play more than our fair share. At last count, we have learned and played more than 115 new games in 2011 – that’s an average of one game every three days! Last year around this time, I mentioned that 2010 had been a great year for independent success stories, and 2011 has quadrupled that success. This has truly been the year of Kickstarter, and we would definitely know – Carnival was a part of it! Because of the wonderful resources of fans, supporters and... Read More
The State of Games, Episode 21 – The One About Gaming Memories of 2011
Auld lang syne. Many of you have heard the phrase, and many more of you have sang it as the ball in Times Square has dropped, signifying a new year. Essentially, it translates as “long, long ago” – as in “a galaxy far away.” However, in relation to convential transpirations, it simply means “things that happened this year.” And that’s going to be our featured translation as we take a look back on the year that was – in games. Read More Read More
A Cosmic Chat with Seth Jaffee
Dice Hate Me and Go Forth and Game have joined forces to bring you some of the best gaming interviews on the web! That’s right, from time to time here on Dice Hate Me, Tom Gurganus will contribute one of his comprehensive conversations. In this interview, Tom delves into game design with Seth Jaffee, designer of the smash Eminent Domain. Enjoy the interview and be sure to let us know if there are other designers, artists or gaming insiders that you would like to know more about! ________________________________________________ Tom: It’s good to talk to you again Seth. Thanks for joining me. I want to talk about how you design... Read More
The State of Games, Episode 20 – The One About Family Ties
The holidays are upon us, and what signifies the holidays better than family? Gathering around the table, nibbling on turkey, ham, potatoes and pie – all while trying our darndest to best each other in a great game. Yes, we feel that gaming brings the family closer and makes great memories for the holidays and anytime, really. And we’re betting all of you feel the same way as we do. Read More Read More
Kickstarter Preview: Kings of Air & Steam
From time to time, one geek-centric genre trend becomes fashionable; subsequently, the masses yearn and, thus, the creators provide – often in bulk. The latest genre du jour seems to be steampunk – that mixture of wild, cog-driven contraptions and Victorian sensibilities. Of this genre I am not only a fan, but a bit of a connoisseur; I spent many a youthful day glued to the TV watching James West foil the bad guys’ plans with the use of one of Artemus Gordon’s goofy gadgets long before anyone had ever coined the term steampunk. All you dear readers also know by now that I am a sucker for zeppelins, as well. And, so, it... Read More
