Episode 290- The Beauty of Games with Frank Lantz

Brendan chats in this episode with game designer and professor Frank Lantz.  They talk about his book The Beauty of Games and also dig into taste, expression, depth and donkey space.

https://www.franklantz.net/

https://franklantz.substack.com/ 

Time Stamps
1:50- games as an aesthetic form
13:00- games as a search for truth
25:30- about taste
33:45- expressive play and donkey space
54:00- insights and meaning from games
1:02:00- what is depth?

Preplanners

Next week we talk about game development with Jamey Stegmaier.

Music and Sound Credits

Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/. 

Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact

Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].

This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

Byeee!

Episode 289- Shinzawathon

Pete and Paul create a tier list for every game designed by Taiki Shinzawa.  They are joined by trick-taking expert Taylor Reiner, which is good because one of these games has only one total rating on BGG and it is from Taylor himself.  That's how serious this guy is.

Time Stamps
18:00- early games
20:15- Maskmen
26:30- Charms
34:30- Luz
40:15- 9 Lives
44:30- Players Play
47:25- Ghosts of Christmas
49:00- Inflation!
52:15- American Bookshop
57:00- Cinderella's Dance
59:00- Planet etuC
1:01:00- Trick to the Future
1:07:00- Big Top
1:13:00- Combo Trax
1:14:15- Pin Combi Trio
1:16:30- Fives
1:21:00- Shihou Dealer
1:22:00- No Loose Ends
1:27:45- 6 Forces
1:29:30- Quattro Trick-Taking
1:32:00- Quashars
1:34:00- Dodicitre
1:35:30- Can't Win
1:42:40- Octopus Order

Preplanners

Next week is a interview with NYU's Frank Lantz, the guy who coined the phrase "Donkey Space"!

Music and Sound Credits

Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/. 

Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact

Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].

This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

Byeee!

Episode 288- Modern Art

An old school deep dive of an old school game! Pete and Brendan examine Knizia's classic auction game Modern Art and discuss what makes this game so thematic and thrilling over thirty years later.

Link to the 5 of a Kind kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/boardgametables/through-the-mountains-through-the-desert-deluxe-more

Link to Pete's 5 of a Kind design diary: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/boardgametables/through-the-mountains-through-the-desert-deluxe-more

Preplanners

Next week is a countdown of the best games by Taiki Shinzawa!

Music and Sound Credits

Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/. 

Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact

Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].

This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

Byeee!

Episode 287- Playing OGs Together

All four hosts are together for a discussion of the Old School games they played together during Brendan's visit to St. Louis.  That Stefan Dorra... so hot right now...

Time Stamps
4:50- BattleCON: War of Indines
17:00- Hellas
30:00- Big Shot
48:15- Witch's Brew
1:03:00- Medina

Preplanners

Next week is a deep dive of Modern Art and after that we'll be making a tier list of the best games by Taiki Shinzawa

Music and Sound Credits

Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/. 

Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact

Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].

This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

Byeee!

Episode 286- Cole Wehrle on Economic Games and An Infamous Traffic

Pete chats with Cole Wehrle about his history with economic games like Container and how these nasty designs inspired An Infamous Traffic, which currently has a second edition in development for Wehrlegig Games.

An Infamous Traffic on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/colewehrle/an-infamous-traffic-second-edition

Cole's design diaries: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/475323/an-infamous-traffic-second-edition/forums/0 

Time Stamps
3:10- economic games
27:15- Container
50:30- An Infamous Traffic

Games Mentioned

Modern Art, The Estates, 1817, Indonesia, Reef Encounter, Automobile, Neuland, Nippon: Zaibatsu, Sol: Last Days of a Star, Container, An Infamous Traffic, Brass, John Company

Preplanners

Next week we'll talk about games we played together as a group while Brendan was in town!

Music and Sound Credits

Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/. 

Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact

Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].

This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

Byeee!

Episode 285- Stonemaier Design Day 2026

All four hosts are together to share their experiences of hanging out together IN PERSON for Stonemaier Design Day.  Paul talks about games he's working on for GameHead and Pete, Jake, and Brendan discuss the games they brought to showcase at the event.

Time Stamps
6:00- GameHead playtesting
23:00- about Stonemaier Design Day
29:45- Franchise Wars (Pete and Brendan's game)
41:30- Kiuic (Jake's game)
52:15- Among Mortals (Brendan's game)
1:06:00- Teacher's Pest (Jake's game)
1:12:15- other prototypes we played

Preplanners

Next week is the return of a special guest!

Music and Sound Credits

Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/. 

Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact

Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].

This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

Byeee!

Episode 284- Schotten Totten and Lane Battlers

Pete and Brendan explore the card game genre known as lane battlers and deep dive the 1999 Knizia Classic Schotten Totten that gave birth to these dueling games.

Time Stamps
5:15- what is a lane battler?
10:00- Schotten Totten deep dive
44:30- other lane battlers

Games Mentioned

Battle Line, Lost Cities, Hanamikoji, Radlands, Riftforce, Air Land and Sea, Marvel Snap, Compile, Toy Battle, Brawl, Omen Reign of War, The Old King's Crown, Dracula vs Van Helsing

Preplanners

The hosts will be talking about their first 4 host meetup and Stonemaier Design day next week!

Music and Sound Credits

Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/. 

Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact

Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].

This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

Byeee!

Episode 283- Indonesia

Pete is joined by Arnie, Jared and Luke to discuss Splotter's 2005 economic masterpiece Indonesia.  These 4 have played the game sixteen times together this year and have learned a lot.  Listen to their tales of business blunder and triumph!

Arnie's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@analog_arnie

Luke's Podcast: https://rss.com/podcasts/off-board-podcast/

Jared has nothing going on worth sharing.

Preplanners

Deep dive on Schotten Totten and an exploration of Lane Battlers is coming up next.

Music and Sound Credits

Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/. 

Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact

Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].

This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

Byeee!

Episode 282- Gen Con Impressions

Pete and Paul recap their Gen Con experience and give quick impressions of games they picked up there!

Time Stamps
13:15- Trick to the Future
16:15- Jibber Jabble
20:30- Jusayo
24:30- Stonk Market
29:00- The Glorious Guilds of Buttonville
35:30- Soundwave Length
39:00- Grandma I'm Hungry
44:15- Sushi Go Chef's Party
48:00- Brave and Bold Bag Building Combat Game
52:15- Looney Tunes Hunting Wabbits
54:30- Realm of Reckoning
59:15- Big Shot
1:05:30- Bordeaux
1:10:15- Woo
1:12:15- Greylune
1:18:30- Moustache

Preplanners

Deep dive roundtable discussion of Indonesia is coming up next week!

Music and Sound Credits

Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/. 

Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact

Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].

This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

Byeee!

Episode 281- Libertalia and Reimplementations

Paul, Brendan, and Pete discuss the benefits and potential pitfalls of making new editions of old games.  Then they deep dive Paolo Mori's 2012 classic Libertalia and the excellent update from Stonemaier Games in 2022's Winds of Galecrest.

Time Stamps
2:40- second editions and reimplementations
22:00- Libertalia deep dive

Preplanners

Pete and Paul are going to chat about fresh plays of Gen Con hotness!

Music and Sound Credits

Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/. 

Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact

Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].

This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

Byeee!

Episode 280- Listener Questions

We open the mail bag to answer a bunch of questions from the Decision Space community!

Time Stamps
2:15- who would win?
4:50- what is a YOU game?
9:00- design choice you disagree with
18:00- design choice you love
23:20- games for roommates
27:30- games you wish existed
34:30- bad games we like
40:00- who you want to play a game with
44:30- spoiler strategies
50:00- emotional responses to games
53:00- how our tastes have changed
56:30- where do you see the pod in 5 years?
1:00:30- game night pick
1:02:45- deep dive redo
1:05:30- time for games
1:09:00- state of the hobby
1:13:15- superlatives
1:14:15- has the podcast changed you as a gamer?
1:16:45- host disagreements
1:18:00- dueling game advice

Preplanners

We have a deep dive of Paolo Mori's Libertalia coming up!

Music and Sound Credits

Thank you to Hembree for our intro and outro music from their song Reach Out. You can listen to the full song on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQuuRPfOyMw&list=TLGGFNH7VEDPgwgyNTA4MjAyMQ&t=3s

You can find more information about Hembree at https://www.hembreemusic.com/. 

Thank you to Flash Floods for use of their song Palm of Your Hand as a sting from their album Halfway to Anywhere: https://open.spotify.com/album/2fE6LrqzNDKPYWyS5evh3K?si=CCjdAGmeSnOOEui6aV3_nA

Intermission Music:
music elevator ext part 1/3 by Jay_You -- https://freesound.org/s/467243/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Bell with Crows by MKzing -- https://freesound.org/s/474266/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

hammer v2.wav by blukotek -- https://freesound.org/s/337815/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Contact

Follow and reach us on social media on Bluesky @decisionspace.bsky.social.

If you prefer email, then hit us up at [email protected].

This information is all available along with episodes at our new website decisionspacepodcast.com.

Byeee!