Josh Wood, designer and developer at AEG, joins the show as I lead him on a tour of my great home state, Wisconsin. Despite my chaotic whims as a tour guide, Josh had some say in the destination choices, “drafting” between one of two locations for our third through sixth stops—with those selections discarding a different set of prepared questions. Fortunately for you, the third member of this trip, you were in for a treat no matter what locations/questions were selected, as Josh’s attention to detail, place, movement, stories, art, and experience leave you with a fantastic episode (and awesome games; go check out Josh’s games).

Josh’s:

BGG Page

Instagram

Bluesky

Let’s Go! To Japan Designer Diary #1…. and #2

Pre-timestamp/chapter notes note:

As the structure of this a selection between locations that each have their own linked question, these notes won’t explicitly spell out “where” we’re going or what the question is explicitly, but there will be a high-level idea mentioned. The first two locations were kind of linked to some introductory thoughts, so those will be more normal. Additionally, the travel distances will be posted on the Games Mentioned in this Episode Google Doc (click if you listened, otherwise you’ll be spoiled a bit).

Show Introduction and the Apostle Islands (0:00)

How Josh’s background in visual effects has entered his game design mixed in with some stories behind his art/art direction.

Spring Green/House on the Rock (10:33)

Josh talks about the story behind Let’s Go! To Japan and other autobiographical elements of his design. Some of the aforementioned focus on place and theme take place here as well.

[Semi-related, but I misspoke and said this was a Frank Lloyd Wright design. While he is a part of the story, he definitely wasn’t the person who designed it, as that was Alex Jordan Jr., so look up more of that story because it’s pretty interesting.]

All That Glitters is not Bronze? (28:33)

The first selected location!

Production, pieces, and tactility.

Dark of the Moon (37:50)

Development and curation.

On the Shoulders of Mammoths (46:24)

Movement as an extra dimension in games.

Burratahead (54:31)

Green and gold and cheesy goodness.

Wrap-up Questions (1:00:25)

We take an unexpected final stop to talk about the show’s expected final questions: some texts on Josh’s mind as well as designs and developments to look out for from him.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you like this show, liking it on whatever platform you listen to and writing a review would mean so much! Furthermore, it's as independent as it gets, so any financial support would help with the subscriptions that make this project go smoothly. That can be done here: Buy Me a Coffee

[email protected]

Bluesky — @intertextuality.bsky.social

Check out my game, Oversized Sandwich, on BGG and DriveThruCards (to purchase)‬