On your marks - the SnakesCast team discuss games about racing this week! Today, Monday May 15th 2017, we begin by looking at the question of why racing is fun, both in gaming and in real life, and we ask what challenges racing presents to a game designer, including the runaway leader problem, and consider how they might be solved, using video game design as an example of something that can have a similar problem.

It might be a very popular song, but Ticket to Ride is also a very popular board game, and the SnakesCast is looking at that this week. Today, Friday May 12th, we have a look at a few of the large variety of expansions that are available - from big boxes to maps to... aliens? - and we discuss what we like about them, and how they solve some of the problems we mentioned on Wednesday.

It might be a very popular song, but Ticket to Ride is also a very popular board game, and the SnakesCast is looking at that this week. Today, Wednesday May 10th, we bring Steve into the discussion, and talk about the flaws the game has and why it is a good gateway game both as a starting point and a stepping stone to other things, but not necessarily something you'd want to play every day.

It might be a very popular song, but Ticket to Ride is also a very popular board game, and the SnakesCast is looking at that this week. Today, Monday May 8th, we begin by looking at the gameplay, the success of the game, and ask what is the appeal that has made this game such an icon both in and out of the gaming world.

Get ready to roll the bones as the SnakesCast puts the spotlight on dice in gaming. Steve joins the team for this week's discussion and today, Friday May 5th, we look at more dice games, including games that use dice in different ways, games that include custom dice that are not just six-sided with pips on them, and dice versions of games that already existed using a different primary component or mechanism.

Get ready to roll the bones as the SnakesCast puts the spotlight on dice in gaming. Steve joins the team for this week's discussion and today, Wednesday May 3rd, we discuss some classic dice-rolling games, some contemporary examples that are centred on dice rolling, and mentioned a great dice game for kids and a great tip for teaching it!

Get ready to roll the bones as the SnakesCast puts the spotlight on dice in gaming. Steve joins the team for this week's discussion and today, Monday May 1st, we briefly wonder at how old dice are, before asking why they are such a great component and why mechanisms that involve dice are so appealing and universal in gaming.

Grab a knife and fork this week with the SnakesCast, as we set the table to talk about food as a theme in games. Today, Friday April 28th, dessert comes along, in the form of a conversation about the many ways you can incorporate the theme of food into board games - from fighting with it to preparing it!

Grab a knife and fork this week with the SnakesCast, as we set the table to talk about food as a theme in games. Today, Wednesday April 26th, we offer up an entrée in which we discuss the variety of games in which food is a key mechanism within the game - your characters need to eat sometimes!

Grab a knife and fork this week with the SnakesCast, as we set the table to talk about food as a theme in games. Today, Monday April 24th, we serve the appetiser - a brief discussion about food as a theme in games, and then some examples of games that feature food as a veneer, but not as a part of the games' mechanisms.