The State of Games, Ep. 123: The One About A Table For One

Ah, Valentine’s Day is here and love is in the air! Not only do we love all the boundless cardboard bits in our favorite board games, but we also love sharing them with our significant others! And, as per usual with any podcast around this time, we should just follow suit and share our favorite games for two. Right? WRONG. We’re here to talk about how to enjoy all those delightful games with yourself! You don’t need anyone else to relish in board gaming! Not that there’s anything wrong with that… Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 122: The One About Bits & Pieces

We love having special guests on The State of Games, and this time around we get to talk to the always awesome Chris Matthew of Panda Game Manufacturing. We take a big look behind the green curtain of game production and all the decisions that go into which components are the best for a game, and how to keep costs down while making sure the production is awesome. We also talk in-depth about some of the changes in the industry over the past couple of years in terms of component quality escalation and how it can affect the board game market. Oh, we also talk about awesome games we’ve played, so there’s that. Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 116: The One About Exceptions that Make the Rule

If we’ve learned one thing over the years, it’s that not all games are for all people. We all have individual tastes in types of games that we like, and often times will steer clear of other games of those same types down the road. This podcast is all about those little gems that have surprised us over the years, made us rethink why we never liked these types of games in the first place, and that we’re eager to share now with all of you dear listeners. Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 115: The One About The Hotness

If there’s one thing most of us gamers get all excited about, it’s the new shiny in cardboard. Board games are growing in leaps and bounds, and each month sees an exponential increase in board game releases. Some titles somehow tap into the zeitgeist and hurtle skyward with tons of hype, while other, equally-worthy, titles inexplicably tumble down into obscurity. We’re here to talk about this very thing, and how BGG’s The Hotness can make or break a game, and, sometimes, even a company. Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 112 – The One About Gen Con 2016

The summer is drawing to a close and, with it, so is the season for big conventions. None are bigger each year than Gen Con, and this year was the biggest yet, scattering all four of us from the podcast to the four winds only to see each other sporadically. But, with the distance comes opportunity, as we all get to share very different experiences for all of you to enjoy, dear listeners. Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 111 – The One About Running With The Bulls

It’s time for the really big show! That’s right, it’s time to get our butts to Indianapolis for Gen Con! It’s hard to believe it’s here again so soon, and even as I post this a day before I’m leaving I still have about a week’s worth of work to do. It’ll all be worth it, though, to see the sights, the spectacles, and the super gamers having fun. Also, I’m really looking forward to some super spicy shrimp cocktail. Seriously. Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 110 – The One About Mt. Gamesmore

Coming at you live from RuthCon, it’s The State of Games! Jessica and I got a chance to record in person this episode at RuthCon 2016, hosted by our friend Ruth Boyack. It was pretty awesome, and better organized than both Origins and GenCon combined. TC joined us via Skype and we talked about some pretty geeky game design business, but it turned out to be one of our best episodes yet. So get comfy, grab your encyclopedia of classic game design, and crank it up! Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 109 – The One About Origins 2016

Hey there, it’s time for con season! Veteran podcast listeners know what to to expect around this time, but also veteran readers know what to expect for Origins Game Fair! That’s right, we love our time at the North Market, eating waffles and crepes at Taste of Belgium, plus naming our favorite ice cream flavors from Jeni’s! Beyond that, you’d best lay back and listen to our best bits from enjoying everything at the Origins Game Fair if you weren’t able to attend. It’ll be like you were there in person. Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 108 – The One About Heading to Columbus

It’s officially convention season! And it’s time to head out to one of the biggest shows of the year – Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio! Other than PrezCon, this is probably my favorite show of the year. It’s big, but not so big that you don’t have time to catch up with all your favorite people and play some of your favorite games – and discover new favorites! So download and listen on your drive or flight; we’ll fill you in on all the good stuff to see and do! Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 106 – The One About the Here and Now

Since we are a podcast all about boardgames, sometimes we all just like to dig into some good discussion of the best and brightest we’ve played in the here and now. We’ve all done our top 10 of all time in the past, but it’s often good to remember that a top 10 is not necessarily a “hot 10”, and some of those classics we love don’t hit the table nearly as much as some more recent, modern classics that definitely deserve some love! Read More  Read More