Beyond Solitaire

This week on the pod, Suzanne Sheldon (@425suzanne.bsky.social) drops in to talk about her work at Restoration Games, what it means to "restore" a game, and how to create an experience that really connects with players. 

Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations
Check out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/

Sign up for an online game design class here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations/certificate-in-applied-game-design

All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com

Enjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaire

Contact Me: 
Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.com
Twitter: @beyondsolitaire
Instagram: @beyondsolitaire
Facebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaire
Website: www.beyondsolitaire.net

This week on the pod, Nigel Scarfe drops by to discuss how his company, Imagination Gaming, helps students learn both academic and emotional skills in schools--and how games can also improve life in other settings, including prisons. https://imaginationgaming.co.uk/

Art & System Backerkit: https://cmichpress.com/2025/06/10/new-game-series-art-system-games-for-expanded-play/

Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations
Check out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/

Sign up for an online game design class here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations/certificate-in-applied-game-design

All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com

Enjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaire

Contact Me: 
Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.com
Twitter: @beyondsolitaire
Instagram: @beyondsolitaire
Facebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaire
Website: www.beyondsolitaire.net

This week on the pod, Gabe Barrett, publisher of the Solo Game of the Month series, drops in to talk about how he maintains such an intense publication pace and about what makes a good solo game. https://bestwith1.com/

Art & System Backerkit: https://cmichpress.com/2025/06/10/new-game-series-art-system-games-for-expanded-play/

Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations
Check out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/

Sign up for an online game design class here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations/certificate-in-applied-game-design

All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com

Enjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaire

Contact Me: 
Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.com
Twitter: @beyondsolitaire
Instagram: @beyondsolitaire
Facebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaire
Website: www.beyondsolitaire.net 

This week on the pod, Dr. Emily Friedman (@friede.bsky.social), an English professor at Auburn University, comes by to discuss her work on actual play and how it has become part of her scholarship and classroom practice. You can join her Patreon for free to read her posts: https://www.patreon.com/c/ecfriedman/home

Art & System Backerkit: https://cmichpress.com/2025/06/10/new-game-series-art-system-games-for-expanded-play/

Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations
Check out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/

Sign up for an online game design class here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations/certificate-in-applied-game-design

All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com

Enjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaire

Contact Me: 
Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.com
Twitter: @beyondsolitaire
Instagram: @beyondsolitaire
Facebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaire
Website: www.beyondsolitaire.net 

This week on the pod, J. Rey Lee (@jreylee.bsky.social), author of Unsettling Catan, drops by to talk about his upcoming book--which also happens to be the beginning of a new series of academic books focused on individual board games. Book: https://press.umich.edu/Books/U/Unsettling-Catan

Witch Hunt/Making History Backerkit: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/central-michigan-university-press/witch-hunt-1649-making-history-a-game-double-feature

Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations
Check out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/

Sign up for an online game design class here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations/certificate-in-applied-game-design

All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/

Beyond Solitaire Merch: 
https://sirmeeple.com/collections/beyond-solitaire

Enjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaire

Contact Me: 
Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.com
Twitter: @beyondsolitaire
Instagram: @beyondsolitaire
Facebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaire
Website: www.beyondsolitaire.net 

Welcome to Season 11! We are starting off with a delightful visit from Matteo Menapace, co-designer of Daybreak (Instagram: @ma.tteo.me). We talk about cooperative games, teaching game design, Matteo's future projects, and of course his experiences at the Spiel des Jahres last year. 

Witch Hunt/Making History Backerkit: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/central-michigan-university-press/witch-hunt-1649-making-history-a-game-double-feature

Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations
Check out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/

Sign up for an online game design class here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations/certificate-in-applied-game-design

All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/

Beyond Solitaire Merch: 
https://sirmeeple.com/collections/beyond-solitaire

Enjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaire

Contact Me: 
Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.com
Twitter: @beyondsolitaire
Instagram: @beyondsolitaire
Facebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaire
Website: www.beyondsolitaire.net

We've made it all the way to Episode 200! To celebrate the milestone, this is a mega episode filled with shorter interviews about the state of historical games and of "serious" games criticism. Thanks to all of you for coming along for the ride. 

1:30 Volko Ruhnke
28:35 Efka Bladukas
46:40 Candice Harris
1:01:40 Dan Thurot
1:23:50 David Thompson
1:42:50 Sebastian Bae
2:08:35 Cole Wehrle
2:24:05 Amabel Holland

CLGS will be launching a new Backerkit campaign on July 8: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/16dd740a-2996-4b25-9b52-5ee83a2013ec/landing?ref=bk-ec-55405

Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations
Check out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/

Sign up for an online game design class here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations/certificate-in-applied-game-design

All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/

Beyond Solitaire Merch: 
https://sirmeeple.com/collections/beyond-solitaire

Enjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaire 

Ian O'Toole joins David and me to talk about Night Witches art updates! We're getting there at last! 

CLGS will be launching a new Backerkit campaign on July 8: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/16dd740a-2996-4b25-9b52-5ee83a2013ec/landing?ref=bk-ec-55405

Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations
Check out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/

Sign up for an online game design class here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations/certificate-in-applied-game-design

All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/

Beyond Solitaire Merch: 
https://sirmeeple.com/collections/beyond-solitaire

Enjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaire

Contact Me: 
Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.com
Twitter: @beyondsolitaire
Instagram: @beyondsolitaire
Facebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaire
Website: www.beyondsolitaire.net

This week on the pod, Ananda Gupta, co-designer of Twilight Struggle, stops by to talk about the anniversary edition of his game, but also about new board game work and his life as a designer for Riot Games. 

CLGS will be launching a new Backerkit campaign on July 8: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/16dd740a-2996-4b25-9b52-5ee83a2013ec/landing?ref=bk-ec-55405

Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations
Check out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/

Sign up for an online game design class here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations/certificate-in-applied-game-design

All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/

Beyond Solitaire Merch: 
https://sirmeeple.com/collections/beyond-solitaire

Enjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaire

Contact Me: 
Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.com
Twitter: @beyondsolitaire
Instagram: @beyondsolitaire
Facebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaire
Website: www.beyondsolitaire.net

This week on the pod, religious studies scholar Lars de Wildt discusses the prevalence of religion in "secular" video games--and the line between which religious affectations are considered "neutral" and which are not. Also, his book is free and can be found here: https://www.aup.nl/en/book/9789048555130/the-pop-theology-of-videogames

Keep the Faith campaign: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/ffdefab3-adb6-48aa-8335-797e720c58a1/landing 

Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations
Check out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/

Sign up for an online game design class here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations/certificate-in-applied-game-design

All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/

Beyond Solitaire Merch: 
https://sirmeeple.com/collections/beyond-solitaire

Enjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaire

Contact Me: 
Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.com
Twitter: @beyondsolitaire
Instagram: @beyondsolitaire
Facebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaire
Website: www.beyondsolitaire.net