Space-Biff! Space-Cast!

Once again we're joined by Amabel Holland. This year, we discuss her forthcoming freebie game Watch Out! That's a Dracula!, along with legacy games, textually queer games, and a transition in the tone of her work.

After a bit of a pause, the Space-Biff! Book-Space! returns to discuss natural magic vs. orderly magic, crusty old wizards vs. vigorous young witches, and Naomi Novik's Uprooted.

Have you ever gone mad pursuing a parent's ambition? That's the topic of T.C. Petty III's My Father's Work, a game of intergenerational trauma, weird science, and scaring off your loved ones. Also an app.

Today on the Space-Cast!, we're joined by Matilda Simonsson, designer (and crafter) of Turncoats. Listen in as we discuss the inspirations, production, and implications of a game that seems ten times its size.

Come to hear about Jeff Warrender's The Acts of the Evangelists, stay for the rambling discussion about New Testament scholarship. Or don't. Stay away, all ye who fear extended chats about religion, independent publication, and games as devotion.

Everybody knows psychics aren't real. What Mind MGMT presupposes is... what if they are? Join Brock, Summer, and Dan as we discuss Matt Kindt's graphic novel, including professional conspiracy theories, non-professional relationship advice, and our mutual bewilderment when people say they don't like the art.

In the midst of a time of social unrest, one game dares to investigate the polarities of popular protest. That game is Bloc by Bloc by T.L. Simons and Greg Loring-Albright. For today's episode, join Dan, T.L., and Greg as we discuss how their game offers both contradiction and clarity in politics, violent and nonviolent disobedience, popular expropriation, and the danger of having an uprising stolen from under your feet.

For the first time ever,* game designer, instructor, writer, and overall wizard Geoff Engelstein appears on a podcast to discuss a trio of his games, along with some insider baseball. Join us as we discuss getting an author's permission to treat a protagonist like a doofus, what it's like to gamify a peace conference, and why "gravity" is one of the greatest gaming metaphors of the decade. (*Not the first time ever.)

What goes up must come down. That's the proposition of James Naylor's Magnate: The First City, the modern Monopoly that sees its housing boom through to the inevitable bust. Today, James joins Dan to chat about real estate development, game development, and what makes Humbleburg more of a "first" city than the many counter-examples that are undoubtedly popping into your head.

Nearly seventeen hundred years ago, a bunch of theology nerds were called together to answer one simple question: what is the nature of God? Their answer has shaped the way we've thought about the divine ever since. That's the topic of Amabel Holland's Nicaea, plus an irreverent twist or two. Today, Amabel joins us to chat about orthodoxy,  heresy, and the politicking that happened in between the extremes all those years ago.

Andy Weir got famous writing about a man stranded in an isolated environment who uses science and pluck to solve his way out of danger; in Project Hail Mary, he flexes his authorial talents to their limit with a novel about a man stranded in an isolated environment who uses science and pluck to solve his way out of danger. Join Brock, Summer, and Dan as we discuss Ryland Grace's portentous name, watching aliens poop, and how Weir blends hard and soft science fiction to tremendous effect. 

There's something dangerous in those bushes over there. A sabre-tooth tiger? A handful of poisonous berries? Nope, it's designer Peter Rustemeyer, here to chat about the origins, development, and history of Paleo, the 2021 winner of the prestigious Kennerspiel des Jahres.

Ever developed a robust opinion about the possibility of intercourse with a robot? And we're not talking about conversation here. Neither had Summer,  Brock, or Dan. Good thing we read Autonomous by Annalee Newitz! Now we're bubbling over with perspectives on robo-love, pharmaceutical monopolies, and how to make pharma pirates seem boring.

For today's "podcast," our topic of discussion is everything about Mind MGMT by Sen-Foong Lim and Jay Cormier. Over the course of a single episode, we discuss Sen and Jay's psychic powers, origin stories, and the process of designing, iterating, and activating latent psychics — sorry, I mean adapting Matt Kindt's comic series.

This week on the Space-Biff! Space-Cast!, we're joined by Ryan Laukat to discuss his latest game, Sleeping Gods! In the process, we also discuss open-world video games, open-world board games, and how to adapt the former into the latter.

If our last episode left you confused, today we're doubling down! Twice the confusion! Double! Times two! Continuing the futuristic saga of a golden age on the brink of disaster, we discuss unreliable narrators, miracles real and invented, and what happens when you name your sniper character Sniper. Come along as we dive into Seven Surrenders by Ada Palmer.

This month on the Space-Cast!, we're investigating a difficult topic — the representation of slavery in board games. To help navigate these waters, we're joined by Patrick Rael, Professor of History at Bowdoin College, to discuss how board games have depicted slavery in the past, what they're doing right now, and how we can use them to learn about sensitive historical issues.

As promised, today we're talking about nothing but tech trees — specifically, Dennis Chan's Beyond the Sun, a game about exploring the far reaches of the galaxy by climbing the branches of the humble technology tree. Along the way, we discuss some of Dennis's inspirations, favorite tech systems, and whether Dan is bad at traversing outer space.

Smooch! For the Space-Biff! Space-Cast!'s decepisode, today I'm joined by Ben Madison to discuss The Mission: Early Christianity from the Crucifixion to the Crusades. Along the way, we discuss religion as an inspiration in game design, including an examination of what happens when playthings, religious beliefs, history, and personal faith journeys intersect.

At last! A book written for Dan and nobody else. Join Brock, Summer, and Dan as we discuss utopias, renaissances, and golden ages, along with theology, miracles, and messiahs both unapproachable and childlike. It's Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer.

I'm as surprised as you are — it's the ninth episode of the Space-Biff! Space-Cast! Today I'm joined by Armando Canales, Lyndon Martin, and Brian Willcutt, the designers of this year's controversial title The Cost. We discuss the game itself, along with broader concepts of moral game design and how to focus a game's intended story on the elements that matter most.

Today on the Space-Biff! Space-Cast!, Dan is joined by physicist, inventor, and game designer Janice Turner to discuss Assembly and Sensor Ghosts, the constraints and possibilities of smaller design formats, and designing with a mind toward disability and accessibility.

Today on the Space-Biff! Space-Cast!, Dan is joined by Tom Russell, who answers questions about his controversial title This Guilty Land, discusses research and responsibility in crafting board games, and answers the two most difficult questions of them all: what is your favorite dinosaur, and what is art?

The problem with time loops is the time. Also the loops. Join Brock, Summer, and Dan as we discuss Groundhog Days, philosophy of mind, and how many male voices can fit into a single synopsis. It's The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton!

Today on the Space-Biff! Space-Cast!, Dan Thurot is joined by TauCeti Deichmann to discuss his confusingly titled real-time asymmetrical science fiction trade game, Faraway Convergence! I mean Constellation Meeting! I mean Sidereal Confluence! There it is. Listen in as we discuss the game's origins, its intricate negotiations, and how rational actors would easily arrange better trade deals than humans.

This month on the Space-Biff! Book-Space!, Brock, Summer, and Dan are joined by Cole Wehrle to discuss civilization, colonization, and memory transfer from A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine!

You've probably heard of Cole Wehrle. But have you heard Cole Wehrle arguing? On today's episode of the Space-Biff! Space-Cast!, join Dan and Cole as we talk about argument and simulation in board games, explore a few deeply accusatory questions about second editions, and settle the conundrum of how Rome fell.

John Clowdus is best known for his small designs. And, naturally, in today's episode of the Space-Biff! Space-Cast!, he's willing to talk to Dan Thurot about small games old and new, including which of his titles he prefers to Omen: A Reign of War. But now Clowdus is also a bona fide big-box game designer thanks to Mezo. Listen in as he spills the beans about the challenges and advantages of designing a game that can't fit into your pocket.

What does a hive mind do when it's no longer a hive mind? Rent a helicopter, of course. Join Brock, Summer, and Dan as we discuss Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie, and chat about colonial empires, undying rulers, and pronouns.

For today's Space-Cast!, Dan Thurot speaks with a new friend in the form of Tom Chick, veteran reviewer of video and board games alike. They discuss the state of games criticism, dirty words that should never appear in a critique, and some of the lessons Tom has learned about writing reviews and writing in general.

As the world is ravaged by toilet paper shortages, Dan Thurot is joined by Erin Lee Escobedo to discuss the ins and outs of tactical starvation in her game Meltwater, how its spiritual grandparents would make for history's oddest couple, the artificiality of some of gaming's biggest narrative "choices," and the difficulty of conceding defeat. Cheery stuff!

After three unbearable years, the Space-Biff! Space-Cast! is back! And to celebrate this momentous occasion, Dan Thurot and Brock Poulsen are joined by Colby Dauch to talk about a much more important revival: the independence of Plaid Hat Games. We also chat about Summoner Wars old and new, Dungeon Run (that's Brock's fault), and Forgotten Waters.

Magic and technology. Technology and magic. Forces as old as... well, one of them is older than the other, but they've both got a few winters under their belt. Join Brock, Summer, and Dan as we discuss All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders. Featuring Bay Area relationship problems, a benevolent social media network (suspension of disbelief broken) and a special guest appearance by Elon Musk.

We're going to the moon! Maybe! Join Brock, Summer, and Dan as we discuss Mary Robinette Kowal's The Calculating Stars, a futuristic take on the sexism, racism, and other -isms of the 1950s space program. Expect high stakes, bad takes, and more rocket euphemisms than you can shake your Atlas launch vehicle at.

In our first swing at a truly massive epic fantasy, Brock, Summer, and Dan discuss how to name your weapon, whether Brock would amplify ableism in order to solve racism and sexism, and why you shouldn't date someone who's been radicalized on YouTube. In other words, it's Master of Sorrows by Justin Call!

Build walls, flood the land, and ride the lighting; or, the episode in which Brock, Summer, and Dan talk about living gods, life on the reservation, and how Rebecca Roanhorse portrays a post-apocalyptic but current-renaissance Navajo nation in Trail of Lightning.

Go with the Flow and join Brock, Summer, and Dan as we discuss how to browbeat supporting characters into divulging information, why all space ships should be named after Elton John songs, and whether The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi espouses a proper pronunciation for "emperox."

What's the commonality between a frozen ice planet, a pastiche of the Prime Directive, and Brock forgetting to use the correct mic? The ninth episode of the Space-Biff! Book-Space!, of course! Join Brock, Summer, and Dan as we discuss A Darkling Sea by James L. Cambias.

What do two men and their daughter have in common? Being trapped in a cabin by psychopaths, of course! Join Brock, Summer, and Dan as they discuss the fearsome nature of farmers, magical realism novels, and whether The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay is worthy of your time.

Magic, shmagic. Join us as we discuss whether stone should weigh more than flesh, why Schaffa is the best character of the entire trilogy, and why they didn’t just travel through the center of the Evil Earth in the first place. It’s The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin. For the last time for real this time.

So that’s what a moon is for! Join us as we discuss magic, social justice, and how cool it is that somebody won the Hugo three years in a row! It’s The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin. For the last time. Yes, that’s an inside joke.

We always knew the day would come — for the Space-Biff! Space-Cast!’s first-ever episode about a book with no numbers in the title! We’re talking about court intrigues, elvish-on-goblin racism, and how on earth to pronounce “Csevet.” It’s The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison, synopsized and dissected for your listening pleasure.

What do microphone problems, a four-year-old wandering out of her room two hours after bedtime, and dead internet have in common? They all love to interrupt the Space-Biff! Book-Space! Never fear, we’re still talking about intestines, unwanted pregnancies, and Kameron Hurley’s oh-so-sticky The Stars Are Legion — while featuring our friend and special guest, Tim Fowers!

At last! A book we don’t love! Join Brock, Summer, and Dan as they engage in the third-ever episode of the Space-Biff! Book-Space! to talk about the legality of cloning, what our AI-selves would be in charge of, and how little is too little for a Catholic priest to know about the Bible. It’s Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty.

In the second-ever episode of the Space-Biff! Book-Space!, Brock, Summer, and Dan read about physics conundrums, bad video games, and what happens when a convention of virtual reality nerds makes decisions for the rest of the world. That’s right, it’s The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin, winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2015.

Finally, in the first-ever episode of the Space-Biff! Book-Space!, we discover a novel about how people spend so much time focusing on their own problems that they can’t be bothered with what’s right above their own heads. Join Brock, Summer, and Dan as they discuss The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin, winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2016.