PlayDNA

Perhaps the most famous toy inventor of all time, Marvin Glass rocked the toy world with hits such as wind up chattering teeth and Rock'em Sock'em Robots. With the creation of Mousetrap and Operation he changed the board game industry forever. Despite his incredible success, Glass led a life filled with depression and paranoia.

Have you ever played a game that used simple technologies in such fresh and novel ways that they felt absolutely magical? Damon discusses some of the games that have successfully used magnets, mirrors, and light to achieve truly magical play experiences.

Going on a trip? We've got you covered! Here are some great small games to throw into your carry on before boarding the plane including Jaipur, Cribbage, and A Fake Artist Goes to New York.

When you're gaming all the time, you are bound to come across things you don't like. Sarah and special guest Glenn go over the design choices and mechanics that have annoyed and baffled them the most.

Perhaps you've heard the buzzword gamification, but what exactly is it? Games are highly motivating because they tap into our core drives as humans. Cassandra goes over these core drives and how they have been used to "gamify" learning, mental health, productivity, and even grocery shopping.

We can all agree- games are fun! But does the fact that they are enjoyable place them outside the realm of "Art?" Damon talks about what makes something art, and whether games can fit into this definition. 

A new once a month series of curation and design challenges- this month, what games will make an 8+ person gaming party a hit. No teaming up spouses ever again!

Children's board games are quite a mixed bag, encompassing everything from edu-games to games that involve stepping in rubber 'poop'. But there are a lot of gems in the children's space that both kid and adult players alike can enjoy. Sarah takes us through some of her favorite children's games and we discuss competing philosophies on what makes a children's game good.

Is chess a sport? Many players think so, and there has be a push to get chess declared an official Olympic sport for over 20 years. Cassandra discusses the many ways the chess community has tried to prove their sport status, from forming an international governing body to administrating doping tests at tournaments. Oh, and she discusses the joys of Chess Boxing.

Following the release of Magic The Gathering in 1993 there was an explosion of unique and branded collectible card games, many of questionable quality. Many have fallen into obscurity only to be found in the darkest corners of ebay and craigslist. Damon takes us through the best CCG's, both the well known and the forgotten, and gives tips on how to get into the world of CCG's without breaking the bank.