The State of Games, Ep. 128: The One About House Rules

Jessica’s back in the house, and just in time for a jaunty discussion on house rules! I’ve covered house rules a time or two here on Dice Hate Me, most notably a couple of articles on some big changes we brought to Bang! during #lunchgames back in the day. But there are many more games out there whose rules could either benefit from an intelligent house rule, or just become more fun for a particular gaming group. Be sure to send us yours! Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 127: The One About Intelligent Design

Completely rudderless without our podcast editor, Jessica, Darrell, TC, and I decide to go completely off the rails and talk some inside baseball about game design. Don’t worry, though, it’s not too dark down that rabbit hole, and you may just find a wonderland of marvelous fun and information! Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 126: The One About Unpub Prime

For seven years now, game designers and plucky playtesters alike have gathered together at the Unpublished Games Festival. Once a small affair held in Dover, Delaware, Unpub has grown exponentially in the last three years, expanding to the Baltimore Convention Center and drawing huge crowds. The fundamentals and fun have not changed over the years, though; Unpub is still the best place for designers to make their unpublished creations the best they can be, and for playtesters to try out the next Big Thing before it hits the shelves! Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 124: The One About PrezCon 2017

Many of us on podcast attend a ton of conventions during the year, but none are as relaxing or as enjoyable as PrezCon. There are no work duties, no meetings, no networking – nothing but kicking back, playing games, and spending some quality time with old friends. This year’s con was a bit sleepier than most, but all the usual suspects were still around to make sure it was just as memorable a tradition, as always. Read More  Read More

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. 121: The One About the Best Games of 2016

It’s the second most wonderful time of the year – that time when we look back on the best and brightest games of the previous year! This year it’s really pretty cool, as there is very little overlap in the games that Darrell, TC, Jessica, and myself have picked for our Games and Discoveries of the years, which means much more quality goodness and variety for all of you, dear listeners! As much as 2016 was a mixed bag of quality in the industry, it still turned out to be a tough task for all of us to narrow down what we like the best. Listen up, and please let us know what were your favorites of 2016! Read More  Read More

The State of Games, Ep. 120: The One About Holidays With Friends

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and what better way to spend it than with some good friends and great games! We’re all about tradition around here, and one of our greatest traditions is the annual holiday retreat each year at Casa de Louder. We had an amazing time sharing stories, swapping gifts, and, of c0urse, playing some amazing games – and it’s not even over! So sit back, grab some egg nog, have a listen, and, above all, have a great holiday and a Happy New Year! Read More  Read More

The 2016 Dice Hate Me Holiday Gift Guide

Ho Ho Holy cow… the holidays are upon us once again! That means it’s time for my favorite yearly tradition: The Dice Hate Me Holiday Gift Guide! I’m back this year with a whole passel of possible presents for your favorite players and cube pushers. Some selections may be a bit esoteric, but I guarantee they’ll all satisfy those special someone’s on your list. Whew, that was a lot of alliteration! So relax, pour yourself some cocoa or a glass or three of eggnog, and allow me to help you out with your shopping lists, Dear Readers. May all your rolls be sixes and your resource cubes be plentiful. Happy Holidays and Happy Gaming! 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